There is an intensity to karate practice and performance that is sometimes difficult to precisely identify, but that you simply “feel” when watching someone perform. This is an observation of Kime (pronounced “ki-meh”), a Japanese word that describes the coordinated focus at the completion of an action.... full article
Here it is… another controversial matter in Karate world. It is controverse because there are lots of written subjects, but almost nothing fully developed to provide more information on the subject. Moreover, some Okinwan Karate schools claim to be “owners” of Buzāganashī image…
So, let’s start with the very obvious question: “Who is Buzāganashī?”
We need a starting point!
Let’s see… I choose a statement that we can easily find widely spread in Japanese sites about Karate. In such sites, there is a photo and a very brief comment that will be our starting kick.The source belongs to the book "沖縄の空手・相撲名人伝" Masters of Karate and Sumō of Okinawa” written by Nagamine Shōshin 長嶺将真 (1986).
(Important) Legal stuff about the photo posted here: “This photographic image was published before December 31st 1956, or photographed before 1946 and not published for 10 years thereafter, under jurisdiction of the Government of Japan. Thus this photographic image is considered to be public domain according to article 23 of old copyright law of Japan and article 2 of supplemental provision of copyright law of Japan.”
--- It simply means that this picture can be used freely!
This photo has the following brief text added:
若き日の宮城長順と許田重発z90;
型分解z89;もしくは武備誌にある九天風火院三田都元帥a288;ブザーガナシーa289;のポーズを模して組手にしたものと思われるz90; “Miyagi Chōjun and Kyoda Jūhatsu in their youth days.
It seems to be a Kata Bunkai or to have been taken from Kumite imitating the pose of Jìu-tian Feng-hûo-yùan San Tían Du Yúanshùai (Buzāganashī) that can be found in Bubishi.”
--- Hummm… “Jìutian Feng-hûo-yùan San Tían Du Yúanshùai” ?!?
According to Chinese culture, Tían Du Yúan Shùai 田都元帥 (“Marshal of Celestial Capital”) is one of the main gods of Taiwanese Opera. His complete name is Jìutian Feng-hûo-yùan San Tían Du Yúanshùai 九天風火院三田都元帥 that means “Marshal Tian Du of the Palace of Wind and Fire in the Nine Heavens” and is mentioned in the Sanjiao Yúanlíu Soushén Dàqúan 三教源流捜神大全 “Compendium of the Origins of the Three Religions” and according to this source, Tían Du 田都 would be a júnior patron god, healing the sick, warding off plagues, singing and dancing, skilled in Martial Arts!
--- Well… And why is Tian Du related to Gōjū-ryū?
According to Okinawan Karate tradition it is said that Miyagi Chōjun went to 福建 Fujian / Fukien on one of his trips with his friend Gokenki 呉賢貴 to buy wulong 烏(845; tea. He heard histories about this god and saw a scroll of Tian Du (Buzāganashī). He brought the scroll back to Okinawa – it is said that Miyagi Sensei venerated the image everyday (according to Miyazato Ei'ichi 宮里 栄一 Sensei). During World War II, Miyagi’s house and dōjō were bombed and the image of Tian Du was destroyed. After the War, one of Miyagi's students - Madanbashi Keiyō 真玉橋景洋 - who had previously made a sketch of the Buzāganashī, was on a trip to the Philippines. Having a picture of Buzāganashī, Medanbashi asked a local sculptor if he could carve a statue just like the picture he had and so the sculptor did. Then, Madanbashi brought the statue back to Okinawa and offered it as a gift to Miyagi Chōjun. Miyagi Sensei then placed it in the Jundōkan dōjō 順道館道場 where it sits to this day.
--- That's the reason why Miyagi Sensei had special interest on Buzāganashī (god of Martial Arts)... I think (^_^)
