Seisan Kata and more

The karate kata Seisan (十三) (also called Seishan, Hangetsu, or Ban Wol) literally means '13'. Some people translate this as '13 Hands', '13 Fists', '13 Techniques', ‘13 fights’, '13 Steps' or even '13 killing positions'. It could also mean, “thirteen-year-old” which was the age of maturity in the old Ryukyu Kingdom.

Akio Kinjo, Karate master and Okinawan karate researcher, maintains that this kata originally had only 13 techniques.

Seisan is practiced in different Okinawan styles descended from Shuri-te, Tomari-te and Naha-te, such as Goju-Ryu, Isshin-ryū, Chito-Ryu, Shōrin-Ryu, Shito-Ryu, Ryūei-ryū, Seito Matsumura-ryu, Shōrin-ryū Seibukan, Wadō-Ryu, Pangainoon, Meibukan, and Uechi-Ryu; in Japanese styles such as Shotokan and Wado-Ryū. Also Korean styles such as Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan and even Tae Kwon Do have Seisan in their curriculum.

It is possibly the oldest Okinawan kata. In 1867, Seisho Aragaki (1840-1920) demonstrated Seisan before the last Sappushi (Chinese Imperial envoy), Xin Zhao. Aragaki even has a version named after him, Aragaki Seisan.

I believe that the ‘13’ in the name refers to the 13th pressure point in each of the available Meridians of the body. These points are all within easy reach of a martial artist’s techniques and require only a little practice to find and manipulate them. I stress “available” because the Lung and Heart meridians do not have 13 points.

Conception Vessel 13 is located on the front of the body, below the sternum on the centerline of the body.

Governing Vessel 13 is located on the back of the body, on the spine, also on the body centerline.

Liver 13 is located on the lateral side of the abdomen, just below the free end of the eleventh floating rib. You can find this point by letting your arms hang at your sides, then pressing your elbows in. The tip of your elbows is at this point. This is a bilateral pressure point, meaning that it is located on both sides of the body.

Small intestine 13 is located on the back side of the body, near where the shoulder blade meets the spine. It is also bi-lateral.

Stomach 13 is located just beneath the clavicle, centered, and is bilateral.

Triple Warmer 13 is located in the cleft where the arm meets the chest.

I have been intentionally vague about the exact spots, because it is tradition to not describe too exactly where the points are located. This helps to prevent misuse, but also encourages the practitioner to find the information for themselves. It reinforces the knowledge by making us work for it.

Keep in mind that just knowing where the points are located, does not teach you how to strike, press, pinch or otherwise manipulate them.