[3.2.0] Naihjanchin Section-3 Kaishaku: (Counter Against Two “Back Against the Wall”)

[Source:] Isshin-ryu Black-belt

[Rating:] Difficult

Part-1 Defense Against Two Attackers

Theory: This kaishaku is controversial for many reasons, but I believe it has merit. Shorin-ryu stylists claim that this kata is not fighting with your back against the wall. They believe that you’re moving forwards in a sideways fighting stance against one adversary. If we examine this situation and the possibilities that you are fighting with your back against the wall, we discover that this kata’s flexibility. Remember kata are books and lessons learned. This is a possible life lesson learned by the Okinawan Pechin class. If this theory is valid, it means that not all kata were designed with techniques to fight only one attacker at a time. If it is correct, It opens up new possibilities for the kaishaku within kata.

Theory: In a one-on-one confrontation most karateka would fight in a hips forward position, so they can bring all four weapons to the battle. In a sideways stance you’re limited to two weapons. These weapons are the lead leg and the lead arm. Using either of the rear weapons, in a side stance, takes too long to deliver, and this gives the defender greater time to recognize the attack and defend it.

So why fight in a side stance? What the side stance does do is to allow you to deploy your weapons in multiple directions. Even with this flexibility, your back still remains vulnerable.

Theory: The popular tale about the purpose for Naihanchin kata is that you’re supposedly fighting with your back against the wall. We have already discussed the origins of kata, and that kata is a means to memorize situational self-defense. Naihanchin kata was designed to make a specific transfer of knowledge. Facing multiple attackers is a situation that a policeman might find himself in at any time. An officer would spend hours of training on how to fight a single assailant, but in the course of their everyday activities they might need to have knowledge of how to defend against multiple attackers as well.  Still not all systems agree with this teaching, but by the very nature of the form is allows the karateka to deliver weapons on multiple directions. The weakness in this posture is that you’re exposed from behind. If the wall defends your rear, you only need to defend the front and both sides. Placing your back against a wall provides protection and makes all angles defensible.

Theory: Taking another step, in the back against the wall theory, we know that we can utilize the terrain around us as a weapon. Logically the wall becomes an ally as-well-as a weapon. The use of the wall a weapon is demonstrated in the series 1a third kaishaku. A horse stance allows for that. An example of using your terrain as a weapon would be to hook an attacker by the neck and drive them forwards into the wall using a ridge-hand. If this kata is not for fighting multiple attackers, I don’t know of one.

Theory: The crossover step, in the first move of this kata, according to my previous instructors, was a crossover heel kick. A side benefit, according to these instructors, was that this step covered the groin area, but as the hips turn this exposes the groin when you turn to fight someone from the side, yet if there are two attackers, in front of you, it does remove the groin as a target, so this leads me to believe you’re are being educated on how to fight more than one opponent possibly in a narrow hallway or alleyway.  This would be information that a police officer, corrections officer, or any law enforcement official might need.

Theory: This crossover move can load the crossover heel kick to the attacker standing to your side. This kick can be used to stomp down on the adversary’s leg hyperextend his/her knee. This takes them out of action. Once this happens the second attacker will automatically launch an attack.

[End Series]