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By: David “Skipper” Knight

According to Sensei Advincula, during his first tour on Okinawa 1958-1960 Master Shimabuku used a standard curriculum for Isshin-ryu. This curriculum contained 12 subjects starting with “Seisan” kata and ending with “Kumite”. This curriculum  was formatted to fit  the typical Marines Corps Tour of Duty on Okinawa. This means that a new student would earn one kata or subject per month for approximately one year. Now, unless a Marine started the first month he arrived, he would not normally have enough time to learn the entire curriculum especially the “Kumite” as it was taught last.

    
    Photo shows the syllabus taught by Sensei Tatsuo Shimabuku in December 1958.
Photo courtesy of Advincula .

Sensei noticed this when he first started training in the Agena Dojo. Sensei witnessed Senior Marine Students, preparing to leave Okinawa, questioning Master Shimabuku with karate questions. Sensei Advincula listened in and realized they were asking  questions about the “Kumite” techniques that they had not yet learned and realized that he needed to start learning them as soon as he could. As you can see from the list below they seem very cryptic with very little explanation as to exactly how to perform each technique. The students needed to learn them first hand to understand the application and bunkai for each move. 

According to Advincula, he performed Master Shimabuku’s kumite at all the demonstrations they had on Okinawa.

Photo Courtesy of Sensei Advincula

 As a result of these young Marines not fully learning Master Shimabuku’s “Kumite” techniques, they  returned to America not fully understanding them. This has lead to some confusion by some groups within Isshin-ryu. In fact, within some circles they are referred to as the “Secret Scrolls.”

These moves are not secret at all. They are a part of our style and should be preserved.

Of note, the late Sensei Sherman Harrill told me about how he was first exposed to the Kumite techniques. He told me in late 2001 that the Senior Karate students he worked for on Okinawa knew the 45 Kumite techniques and while on break at work they would use him as the uke. He said that “he learned them real quick.”

V/r
Skipper
1. a. Left hand hold right wrist
    b. Two hands hold one wrist
    c. Left hand hold right wrist, from outside position
    d. Right hand hold right wrist
    e. Right hand hold right wrist from top

2. a. Outside block, punch inside
    b. Inside block, punch side
    c. Step forward, punch
    d. Shoulder block
    e. Grab arm, elbow

3. a. Punch back of hand
    b. Punch back of hand side
    c. Punch back of hand knuckle

4. a. Knuckle block for kick, counter kick
    b. Cross arm block
    c. Left hand push right leg inside, counter kick
    d. Knee block, kick
    e. Grab leg, grab Adam’s apple, trip, punch

5. a. Hold arm use against punch
    b. Left kick
    c. Right kick
    d. Twist

6. a. One hand hold gi, grab, twist, kick
    b. Two hand hold gi, push kick
    c. Trip two feet kick

7. a. Full nelson, karate cut groin
    b. Full nelson, grab leg, heel kick
    c. Full nelson, grab both legs, karate cut groin
    d. Back neck breaker and choke hold, cut groin

8. a. Bear hug waist, hands free, grab one finger, break and hit back of hand
    b. Bear hug around arms and waist, grab groin
    c. Head lock, grab groin, and one shoulder break
    d. Head lock, knuckles in side
    e. Head lock, jerk shoulders up kick legs out in front

9. a. Devils hand shake, grab your fist, pull, kick
    b. Devils hand shake, twist over, elbow kick

10. a. Two hand straight choke, break, grab Adam’s apple
     b. Cross arm choke, one arm shoulder up between his arms and grab Adams apple
     c. Smother hold, knuckles in side

11. a. Straight stab, grab hand and wrist, twist, kick, trip, kick

12. a. Ice pick stab, block across, kick

13. a. Straight stab, both hands up, karate cut block, kick

14. a. Straight stab leaning forward, grab hand with both of yours, pull, trap at elbow

15. a. Two knife straight stab, squat kick