----- Original Message -----

From: Buddy Govender

To: gojuryu@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 2:04 AM

Subject: [gojuryu] Re: Sanchin-Tensho Kata

Hi, from my understanding (and I may be wrong), I assumed that Sanchin-Tensho kata was 'devised' by the late Gogen Yamaguchi Hanshi of the Goju Kai.  The reason I made that assumption was that during the 70's I was taught by the following excellent Goju Kai instructors Vasi Naidu Sensei (now teaching and residing in Los Angeles), Stan Hart Sensei and Leo Lapinski Shihan (now teaching and residing in London),  and it was there that I was introduced to this amalgamation of Sanchin and Tensho Kata's.  I did not see it practiced anywhere else and in hindsight can only assume that it was devised by the Yamaguchi Goju Kai organization.  Any other suggestions??

 

Best I know is that Yamaguchi Sensei learned Tensho kata and Sanchin kata from Miyagi sensei and Yagi sensei ( Meitoku ). I know for a fact that he attended classes with Yagi sensei in Okinawa & these two kata are done during each and every class. Sanchin is the first kata done and Tensho is the last kata done ( sort of a warm down ) Thus he would have been exposed to them at any rate. Perhaps he was the one who combined them. ( I've never seen this or done it myself ) For what it's worth Yagie Meitatsu hanshi tenth dan does them as two separate kata. This I am absolutely sure of as I have been in classes taught by him & this is how he did it.

 

.........................Tom....................

BTW Yagi Meitatsu is scheduled to come to Canada in April of this year. He will be doing seminars etc. at various places in Canada if anyone is interested.