Sushiho
Introduction
Sushiho is an extensive advanced northern Kyokushin kata, related to Shuri-te forms called Gojūshiho or Useishi. It requires mature control of stances, direction, breathing, open hands, nukite, Shōtei/Haitō/Shutō, Uraken, elbows, kicks and bō-tori-like principles. The goal is sustained technical and mental quality through a long sequence, beyond memorising many movements.
Historical background
The northern family links Sushiho to Shuri-te, Shōrin-ryū and Oyama’s Shotokan training under Gichin Funakoshi. Useishi is the Okinawan reading associated with fifty-four; the Japanese form is Gojūshiho, with Dai and Shō versions in Shotokan. The source also suggests northern Chinese influence in varied stances, shuffling advances and palm-, claw- and nukite-like features. Treat those links as traditional/pedagogical background, not a complete historical reconstruction. Oyama adapted the form to Kyokushin strength, stability, kime, direction and practical use; Galaz Dojo therefore places it under northern kata.
Name and meaning
Sushiho (五十四歩) means fifty-four steps: 五十四 is fifty-four; 歩 is step, walking or movement. Pedagogical readings include fifty-four directions or principles and a long form in which each step carries control and zanshin. The name does not require every modern count to equal one of 54 steps: names and technical divisions vary between lineages. This edition follows 50 main teaching counts. Galaz Dojo uses the Kyokushin name Sushiho.
Place in the system
Group: northern / advanced kata. Level: dan / advanced. Prerequisites: Moroashi, Sanchin, Kiba, Zenkutsu and Kokutsu; open-hand surfaces, Uraken/elbows, Yoko/Mae geri, nukite, Kake/Kakete uke, crossed blocks, bō-tori-like control, endurance, kiai and zanshin. Maintain direction and quality across long combinations, gathered slow control, forward pressure and rear-weighted stability.
Technical character
Recurring themes are short forward steps, Sanchin structure, open-hand control, low double shuto, Kake/Kakete, nukite, Uraken, elbows, crosses and Morote techniques. Contrast stillness/movement, slow control/explosive finish, Moroashi/Kokutsu, Sanchin/Kiba, open hand/fist, palm control/nukite, bō-tori-like pulling/direct attack and high/low lines. Maintain hand surfaces, centre and rhythm as endurance is challenged.
Embusen
Track 90°, 135°, 180° and 270° direction changes, repeated Sanchin/Kokutsu sections, lateral Kiba work and return to Musubi. Check opening heel lifts, Sanchin Morote/Kake, side kicks, elbow count 10, Moroashi low shuto, Kokutsu Haitō/Shōtei, bō-tori, close Sanchin combinations, high crosses/low doubles, Kakete, Nukite, the long count-44 sequence and closing Nukite/kiai. Gaze leads completion and crossed footwork is intentional, not an extra adjustment.
Technical diagram
Diagram unavailable: The embusen diagram described in the source is absent from this edition. Follow the directions and movement sequence in the text.
Use the movement sequence as the technical reference for order and direction. It does not replace instruction in stance, footwork, hips, gaze, hand structure or breathing.
Stances
Fudō/Musubi/Yoi/Heikō-dachi: readiness, mokusō, ibuki preparation and initial base. Moroashi-dachi: short active forward steps for heel-lift/Uraken and low shuto. Sanchin-dachi: compact, living structure linked to hara for blocks, Kake, punches and close techniques. Kiba-dachi: stable active lateral base for kicks, bō-tori, low shuto and Nukite. Zenkutsu-dachi: strong forward Gyaku tsuki and crossed blocks. Kokutsu-dachi: rear-weighted stable Haitō, Shōtei, Kakete and final Nukite. Ushiro kosa ashi and Mae kosa ashi are transitional footwork, not principal stances equivalent to these dachi. Finish stance and technique together.
Principal techniques
- Kakato ushiro age geri, 1–2: heel-lift kick linked directly to Shōtei control and Uraken oroshi ganmen uchi in Moroashi. The source uses “kagato”; this edition retains the usual kakato spelling. Downward Uraken finishes with the elbow against the open hand where specified.
- Seiken morote uchi uke, 3: slow centred Sanchin block. Kake jōdan uke, 4 and 6: slow hooking/control/deflection. Nihon seiken chūdan tsuki, 5 and 7: clear double series with hikite.
- Jōdan yoko geri / Seiken jun tsuki, 8–9: recovered kick and stable Kiba punch. Hiji chūdan age ate / Hiji oroshi ate, 10: close rising/downward elbows from the body, ending with kiai.
- Shutō morote gedan barai: body-connected low double control, sometimes expressing a bō-like line. Aite no bō tori: gripping, pulling control and disarming practice within the kata’s logic.
- Haitō uchi uke / Shōtei osae uke / Shōtei chūdan uchi: respectively control the line, lower/press it and attack in Kokutsu. Keep functions distinct.
- Seiken uchi uke / Hiji chūdan ate / Uraken ganmen uchi / Shutō hizō uchi, 22–24: integrated close Sanchin defence–elbow–backfist–shuto work.
- Seiken jūji jōdan uke / Seiken morote gedan barai, 27–28 and 44: clear high crossed structure and following low control. Kake morote chūdan uke / Kakete uke, 29–32: soft, slow circular catching, pulling or redirecting in Kokutsu without losing centre.
- Nukite no kamae / Nihon chūdan yonhon nukite, 35 and 39: control the opponent’s hand before directed double Nukite and kiai.
- Count 44 joins Uraken morote sayū ganmen uchi, Haitō morote jōdan uchi, Seiken morote jōdan tsuki, Seiken jūji jōdan uke and Seiken morote gedan barai as one coherent block/attack/recontrol sequence.
- The form also uses Chūdan mae geri, Shōtei jōdan uke, Te-kote-sasae tsuki, Seiken chūdan gyaku tsuki and Seiken jōdan oi tsuki. Chūdan yonhon nukite ends 49–50, with kiai at 50, directed through the opened centre. Keep correct fingers, hikite, ibuki and zanshin.
Start and finish
Begin Fudō-dachi facing shinden. Mokusō: gather to Musubi-dachi. On Sushiho, open the eyes according to dojo standard. Yoi: slow ibuki into Heikō-dachi. Hajime or ichi starts the first count. The 50 main movements exclude formal preparation/closing commands. After 50, draw the right foot back to Musubi-dachi, keeping mokusō position. Naore: Fudō-dachi. Yasume: rest.
Movement sequence
The following teaching sequence supports practice and revision according to the selected Galaz Dojo/modern Kyokushin standard; it does not replace dojo instruction.
| No. | Direction | Stance | Technique | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forwards | Migi moroashi-dachi | Migi kakato ushiro age geri / migi uraken oroshi ganmen uchi | On hajime/ichi, kick Migi kakato ushiro age geri and lunge forwards into Migi moroashi-dachi. Control the attack with Hidari shōtei and strike Migi uraken oroshi ganmen uchi. Finish with the right elbow against the left haishu/open hand. |
| 2 | Forwards | Migi moroashi-dachi | Migi kakato ushiro age geri / migi uraken oroshi ganmen uchi | Repeat: Migi kakato ushiro age geri, advance into Migi moroashi-dachi, control with Hidari shōtei and perform Migi uraken oroshi ganmen uchi, finishing with the elbow against the open left hand. |
| 3 | Forwards | Hidari sanchin-dachi | Seiken morote uchi uke | Advance into Hidari sanchin-dachi and slowly block Seiken morote uchi uke. Keep the centre, breathing and sanchin structure stable. |
| 4 | Forwards | Migi sanchin-dachi | Migi kake jōdan uke | Advance into Migi sanchin-dachi and slowly block Migi kake jōdan uke. Retract the left hand into closed hikite. |
| 5 | Same position | Migi sanchin-dachi | Hidari nihon seiken chūdan tsuki | Punch Hidari nihon seiken chūdan tsuki, left/right. Keep the hips and hikite connected to the stance. |
| 6 | Forwards | Hidari sanchin-dachi | Hidari kake jōdan uke | Advance into Hidari sanchin-dachi and slowly block Hidari kake jōdan uke. Retract the right hand into closed hikite. |
| 7 | Same position | Hidari sanchin-dachi | Migi nihon seiken chūdan tsuki | Punch Migi nihon seiken chūdan tsuki, right/left. Keep the technique straight, integrated and clearly connected to the body. |
| 8 | 45° clockwise | Kiba-dachi | Migi jōdan yoko geri / migi seiken jun tsuki | Look right and kick from kagi tsuki no kamae, 45° clockwise, with Migi jōdan yoko geri. Set down in Kiba-dachi on the same diagonal and strike Migi seiken jun tsuki. |
| 9 | 90° anticlockwise | Kiba-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri / hidari seiken jun tsuki | Look left and kick from kagi tsuki no kamae, 90° anticlockwise, with Hidari jōdan yoko geri. Set down in Kiba-dachi on the left diagonal and strike Hidari seiken jun tsuki. |
| 10 | 45° clockwise | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi → Kiba-dachi | Migi hiji chūdan age ate / migi hiji oroshi ate, kiai | From Kiba-dachi, pivot 45° clockwise into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and perform Migi hiji chūdan age ate. Bring the right foot in towards the left into Heikō-dachi, immediately move it right into Kiba-dachi and continue with Migi hiji chūdan age ate. Finish with downward Migi hiji oroshi ate and kiai. |
| 11 | Forwards | Migi moroashi-dachi | Shutō morote gedan barai | Open both hands in front of the face, palms outwards. Advance into Migi moroashi-dachi, simultaneously blocking Shutō morote gedan barai. |
| 12 | Forwards | Migi moroashi-dachi | Shutō morote gedan barai | Again bring both open hands in front of the face, palms outwards. Advance into Migi moroashi-dachi and block Shutō morote gedan barai a second time. |
| 13 | 180° anticlockwise | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Hidari haitō uchi uke / hidari shōtei osae uke / migi shōtei chūdan uchi | Cross the right foot and turn 180° anticlockwise into Hidari kokutsu-dachi. Block Hidari haitō uchi uke, follow with Hidari shōtei osae uke and immediately strike Migi shōtei chūdan uchi. Leave the left hand in place as control. |
| 14 | Forwards | Migi kokutsu-dachi | Migi haitō uchi uke / migi shōtei osae uke / hidari shōtei chūdan uchi | Advance into Migi kokutsu-dachi. Block Migi haitō uchi uke, follow with Migi shōtei osae uke and immediately strike Hidari shōtei chūdan uchi. |
| 15 | Forwards | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Hidari haitō uchi uke / hidari shōtei osae uke / migi shōtei chūdan uchi | Advance into Hidari kokutsu-dachi. Block Hidari haitō uchi uke, follow with Hidari shōtei osae uke and immediately strike Migi shōtei chūdan uchi. |
| 16 | 90° anticlockwise | Kiba-dachi | Hidari shutō morote gedan barai | Advance the left foot and slide into Kiba-dachi while turning the body 90° anticlockwise. Block Hidari shutō morote gedan barai with both open hands from upper right to lower left, as if controlling a bō. |
| 17 | Backwards with ushiro kosa ashi | Kiba-dachi | Hidari shutō morote gedan barai / aite no bō tori, kiai | Move back with Ushiro kosa ashi, left behind right, into Kiba-dachi and block Hidari shutō morote gedan barai. Look towards the opponent's bō above right, grip and perform Aite no bō tori with kiai. Finish looking forwards. |
| 18 | Same position | Kiba-dachi | Migi shutō morote gedan barai | Look right and block Migi shutō morote gedan barai with both open hands from upper left to lower right, as if controlling a bō. |
| 19 | Backwards with ushiro kosa ashi | Kiba-dachi | Migi shutō morote gedan barai / aite no bō tori, kiai | Move back with Ushiro kosa ashi, right behind left, into Kiba-dachi and block Migi shutō morote gedan barai. Look towards the opponent's bō above left, grip and perform Aite no bō tori with kiai. Finish looking forwards. |
| 20 | Same position | Kiba-dachi | Hidari shutō morote gedan barai | Look left and block Hidari shutō morote gedan barai with both open hands from upper left to lower left. Keep Kiba-dachi stable. |
| 21 | 90° anticlockwise | Migi moroashi-dachi | Migi uraken oroshi ganmen uchi | Turn 90° anticlockwise and lunge forwards into Migi moroashi-dachi. Control the attack with Hidari shōtei and strike Migi uraken oroshi ganmen uchi. Finish with the right elbow against the left haishu/open hand. |
| 22 | 180° anticlockwise | Hidari sanchin-dachi | Hidari seiken uchi uke / hidari hiji chūdan ate / hidari uraken ganmen uchi / migi shutō hizō uchi | Cross the left foot and turn 180° anticlockwise into Hidari sanchin-dachi. Block Hidari seiken uchi uke, retract that arm to hikite, strike Hidari hiji chūdan ate, follow with Hidari uraken ganmen uchi, cover with the left arm and strike Migi shutō hizō uchi. |
| 23 | Forwards | Migi sanchin-dachi | Migi seiken uchi uke / migi hiji chūdan ate / migi uraken ganmen uchi / hidari shutō hizō uchi | Advance into Migi sanchin-dachi. Block Migi seiken uchi uke, retract that arm to hikite, strike Migi hiji chūdan ate, follow with Migi uraken ganmen uchi, cover with the right arm and strike Hidari shutō hizō uchi. |
| 24 | Forwards | Hidari sanchin-dachi | Hidari seiken uchi uke / hidari hiji chūdan ate / hidari uraken ganmen uchi / migi shutō hizō uchi | Advance into Hidari sanchin-dachi. Block Hidari seiken uchi uke, retract that arm to hikite, strike Hidari hiji chūdan ate, follow with Hidari uraken ganmen uchi, cover with the left arm and strike Migi shutō hizō uchi. |
| 25 | Same position | Hidari sanchin-dachi | Migi shōtei jōdan uke | Remain in the stance and slowly raise the right hand to Shōtei jōdan uke, as a lifting control of a jōdan attack. |
| 26 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi chūdan mae geri / hidari seiken chūdan gyaku tsuki | Keeping the hands in position, kick Migi chūdan mae geri. Enter Migi zenkutsu-dachi and strike Hidari seiken chūdan gyaku tsuki, using the right shōtei against the top of the right forearm as support according to the Te-kote-sasae principle. |
| 27 | 135° anticlockwise | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Seiken jūji jōdan uke / seiken morote gedan barai | Quickly change direction by turning the hips 135° anticlockwise into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi. Raise both arms in the crossed block Seiken jūji jōdan uke, then continue to Seiken morote gedan barai with both hands in a movement resembling kake wake uke. |
| 28 | 45° anticlockwise | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Seiken jūji jōdan uke / seiken morote gedan barai | Slowly circle both arms fully inwards and upwards, crossing at the centre, then raise them again to Seiken jūji jōdan uke. Hold briefly, turn 45° anticlockwise into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and finish with Seiken morote gedan barai. |
| 29 | Forwards | Migi kokutsu-dachi | Migi kakete uke | Advance into Migi kokutsu-dachi and slowly block Migi kake morote chūdan uke / kakete uke. Start the block on the left side of the body and follow a soft semicircle. |
| 30 | Forwards | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Hidari kakete uke | Advance into Hidari kokutsu-dachi and slowly block Hidari kakete uke. Keep the movement circular, controlled and connected to the centre. |
| 31 | Forwards | Migi kokutsu-dachi | Migi kakete uke | Advance into Migi kokutsu-dachi and slowly block Migi kakete uke. |
| 32 | 270° anticlockwise | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Hidari kakete uke | Cross the left foot over the right and turn the body 270° anticlockwise into Hidari kokutsu-dachi. Block Hidari kakete uke. |
| 33 | Mae kosa ashi | Kiba-dachi | Hidari shutō morote gedan barai | Keeping the arms in position, advance with Mae kosa ashi, right in front of left, into Kiba-dachi while turning 90° clockwise. Look left and block Hidari shutō morote gedan barai from upper right to lower left, as if controlling a bō. |
| 34 | Forwards | Kiba-dachi | Hidari shōtei osae uke / migi uraken oroshi ganmen uchi | Look forwards, block with Hidari shōtei osae uke while preparing Migi uraken oroshi. Strike Migi uraken oroshi ganmen uchi, finishing with the right elbow against the left haishu/open hand. |
| 35 | Same position | Kiba-dachi | Migi nukite no kamae / hidari nihon chūdan yonhon nukite, kiai | Immediately enter Migi nukite no kamae to control the opponent's hand and punch Hidari nihon chūdan yonhon nukite, left/right, with kiai. |
| 36 | Same position | Kiba-dachi | Migi shutō morote gedan barai | Look right and block Migi shutō morote gedan barai from upper left to lower right, as if controlling a bō. |
| 37 | Mae kosa ashi | Kiba-dachi | Migi shutō morote gedan barai | Keeping the arms in position, move right with Mae kosa ashi, left in front of right, into Kiba-dachi. Look right and block Migi shutō morote gedan barai. |
| 38 | Forwards | Kiba-dachi | Migi shōtei osae uke / hidari uraken oroshi ganmen uchi | Look forwards, block with Migi shōtei osae uke while preparing Hidari uraken oroshi. Strike Hidari uraken oroshi ganmen uchi, finishing with the left elbow against the right haishu/open hand. |
| 39 | Same position | Kiba-dachi | Hidari nukite no kamae / migi nihon chūdan yonhon nukite, kiai | Immediately enter Hidari nukite no kamae to control the opponent's hand and punch Migi nihon chūdan yonhon nukite, right/left, with kiai. |
| 40 | Forwards | Migi kokutsu-dachi | Seiken jōdan oi tsuki | Advance the right foot into Migi kokutsu-dachi and punch Seiken jōdan oi tsuki. |
| 41 | Forwards | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Seiken jōdan oi tsuki | Advance into Hidari kokutsu-dachi and punch Seiken jōdan oi tsuki. |
| 42 | Forwards | Migi kokutsu-dachi | Seiken jōdan oi tsuki | Advance into Migi kokutsu-dachi and punch Seiken jōdan oi tsuki. |
| 43 | 90° anticlockwise | Hidari sanchin-dachi | Uraken morote sayū no kamae | Pivot both feet into Hidari sanchin-dachi, turn the body 90° anticlockwise and bring both closed fists to Uraken morote sayū no kamae. Keep the elbows approximately at shoulder height. |
| 44 | Same position | Hidari sanchin-dachi | Morote uraken / haitō / morote tsuki / jūji uke / morote gedan barai | Strike Uraken morote sayū ganmen uchi and return to kamae. Strike Haitō morote jōdan uchi from a low start and return to hikite, closing the hands. Immediately follow with Seiken morote jōdan tsuki and return to hikite. Then block Hidari seiken jūji jōdan uke, quickly followed by Hidari seiken morote gedan barai. Continue with a slow full circle inwards–outwards, from below, upwards, downwards, finishing high with Hidari seiken jūji jōdan uke, followed by quick Hidari seiken morote gedan barai. |
| 45 | 90° anticlockwise | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Seiken chūdan gyaku tsuki | Move the left foot, turn the body 90° anticlockwise into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and punch Seiken chūdan gyaku tsuki directly from the preceding kamae. |
| 46 | Forwards | Migi moroashi-dachi | Shutō morote gedan barai | Advance into Migi moroashi-dachi, simultaneously blocking Shutō morote gedan barai. |
| 47 | Forwards | Migi moroashi-dachi | Shutō morote gedan barai | Advance into Migi moroashi-dachi and block Shutō morote gedan barai a second time. |
| 48 | Forwards | Migi moroashi-dachi | Shutō morote gedan barai | Advance into Migi moroashi-dachi and block Shutō morote gedan barai a third time. |
| 49 | 180° anticlockwise | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Hidari shōtei osae uke / migi chūdan yonhon nukite | Cross the right foot and turn the body 180° into Hidari kokutsu-dachi. Block Hidari shōtei osae uke and punch Migi chūdan yonhon nukite. |
| 50 | Forwards | Migi kokutsu-dachi | Migi shōtei osae uke / hidari chūdan yonhon nukite, kiai | Advance into Migi kokutsu-dachi. Block Migi shōtei osae uke and punch Hidari chūdan yonhon nukite with kiai. After completion, retract the right foot to Musubi-dachi, retaining the mokusō position. |
Breathing and rhythm
Breathing supports technique without stiffness; slow sections gather through hara, while exhalation/kiai marks explosive completion. Distinguish the opening heel/Uraken, Sanchin Morote/Kake/punches, side kick/Jun tsuki, elbows, Moroashi low shuto, Kokutsu Haitō/palm work, bō-tori, close Sanchin combinations, crosses, Kakete, Nukite, count 44 and the final return. The long form needs coherent rhythm and inner gathering.
Kiai
Kiai: 10, 17, 19, 35, 39 and 50. 10: Migi hiji oroshi ate after Migi hiji chūdan age ate in Kiba. 17/19: Aite no bō tori after left/right Shutō morote gedan barai in Kiba. 35: Hidari nihon chūdan yonhon nukite after Migi uraken oroshi ganmen uchi. 39: the right Nukite after left Uraken. 50: Hidari chūdan yonhon nukite after Migi shōtei osae uke in Migi kokutsu-dachi. Centre, technical finish, kime and zanshin coincide.
Technical key points
Keep the opening calm with clear ibuki; link heel lifts directly to palm control and Uraken. Preserve short Moroashi, living Sanchin, stable Kiba/Kokutsu, slow functional Kake/Kakete, clean double punches and recovered kicks. Make the downward elbow body-driven and low shuto clearly low. Give bō-tori a real gripping/pulling direction. Keep the close Sanchin and count-44 combinations coherent and Nukite controlled through the finish.
Common errors
Avoid a list without rhythm, unclear heel lifts, Uraken missing its specified elbow/palm finish, stiff Sanchin, empty Kake circles, arm-only punches/elbows, unretracted side kicks, Kiba rising with fatigue, low shuto losing its line, formal bō-tori without grip, forward-collapsing Kokutsu, confused palm control/attack, poor Nukite fingers, rushed disconnected count 44 and a return without kime/zanshin.
Bunkai and application
Use small controlled partner sections to explore the technical functions above: opening a line, short attacks, hooks and redirection, low or weapon-like control, bō-tori-like pulling/disarming, close combinations, high/low crossed control, hand control before Nukite and block/attack/recontrol in count 44. Divide the long form into manageable parts and keep applications within its technical level.
Training method
- Learn start, mokusō, yoi and ibuki separately.
- Practise 1–2: heel lift, Shōtei control and Uraken.
- Practise Sanchin Morote, Kake and Nihon tsuki.
- Isolate Jōdan yoko geri and Seiken jun tsuki.
- Practise count-10 elbows and kiai.
- Practise Moroashi with Shutō morote gedan barai.
- Practise Kokutsu Haitō, Shōtei osae and Shōtei chūdan uchi.
- Practise bō-tori in 16–20.
- Practise 21 as a return to the opening Uraken principle.
- Break Sanchin 22–24 into small parts.
- Practise Shōtei jōdan uke, Mae geri and Te-kote-sasae tsuki.
- Practise high cross/low double in 27–28.
- Practise Kokutsu Kakete in 29–32.
- Practise Kiba bō-control, Uraken and Nukite.
- Practise kiai in 35 and 39.
- Practise Seiken jōdan oi tsuki in Kokutsu.
- Practise 43–44 slowly as a separate block.
- Practise 45–48 with Gyaku tsuki and low double shuto.
- Practise closing 49–50 with Shōtei osae/Nukite.
- Add breathing and rhythm.
- Practise kiai in 10, 17, 19, 35, 39 and 50.
- Perform slowly without counting.
- Repeat logical blocks separately.
- Practise simple partner bunkai.
- Return and correct direction, stance, hand form, kiai and zanshin.