Hangetsu

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Moving forward in hangetsu-dachi

Hangetsu [ han.getsɯ ] ( Japanese 半月 , crescent moon ) is a kata (a stylized fight against several imaginary opponents) in karate of the Shōtōkan style , which consists of 41 individual techniques.

Name and origin

The Kata was adopted from Okinawan Naha-Te, where it was practiced under the Sino-Japanese name Seisan from China.

The name Hangetsu, meaning crescent moon , was given by the founder of the style, Funakoshi Gichin , who uses the name to refer to the position of the feet of the same name, which plays a central role in the kata. The feet are turned inwards about 45 degrees and the knees are tilted slightly inwards while simultaneously tensioning the leg muscles. In this stepping position Hangetsu-dachi (crescent stand) one moves forward with one foot describing a crescent-shaped movement.

A kata comparable to Hangetsu is taught under the original Chinese name Seisan in the styles Wadō-Ryū and Shitō-Ryū .

particularities

Hangetsu is a rather atypical kata of the Shōtōkan style, which contains some very special and sometimes rarely used techniques:

  • Gedan and Chudan Tsukami-uke (block followed by use of lower and middle level )
  • Ippon-ken (double ankle thrust)
  • Yama-gamae (mountain ready position, mountain based on the Japanese character for mountain 山 for the position of the arms)
  • Gedan-tsuki (punch downwards)
  • Neko-ashi-dachi (cat's foot stand, the weight rests on the back leg; the front leg is angled and only touches the ball of the foot)

In addition to the special position, there is another great weight when performing the kata on intensive breathing for training the hara .

literature

Web links