Seipai
Introduction
Seipai is an advanced southern Kyokushin kata combining close open-hand control, circular movement, balance, high kicks, elbows, jumps, low attacks and Nukite. Techniques work in connected defence/counter and kick/hand sequences, alternating lateral stability and forward force, low/high lines, slow control and explosive completion. The table preserves 30 numbered source points: 1–29 technical movements and 30 the return to Musubi-dachi.
Historical background
Seipai is associated with older Naha-te and Gōjū-ryū, often through Kanryō Higaonna and Chōjun Miyagi. Accounts differ, and this is a Kyokushin version of an older southern form; traditions do not all execute it identically. Modern accounts describe hard/soft actions, circular responses to close attacks, grips, locks, throw-like principles and varying ranges. Kyokushin links the form to Oyama’s Gōjū-influenced training under Nei-Chu So, emphasising short movement, close control, breathing and gathered body structure.
Name and meaning
Seipai (十八手) means eighteen hands, with pedagogical readings of eighteen techniques, movement principles or kinds of contact. 十八 is eighteen and 手 is hand. The pronunciation is often described as Okinawan or Fujian-influenced: sei corresponds to ten, pai to eight. Traditional symbolic explanations, including the relation of eighteen to thirty-six, are not an exact count of every movement. Galaz Dojo uses Seipai consistently.
Place in the system
Group: southern / advanced / Gōjū-influenced kata. Level: dan / advanced. Establish moving Mae kiba/Kiba, balanced Tsuruashi and kick recovery, Zenkutsu/Kokutsu/Sanchin/Nekoashi/Kake ashi, open hands, elbows, jumps/landings, high kicks, hikite, kime and zanshin. Unite stance, kick, elbow and hands while preserving posture, slow/fast contrast and control before Nukite.
Technical character
Linear and circular techniques, strong stances, high kicks, jumps, low attacks and the controlled finish require technically motivated rhythm. Distinguish slow block/quick thrust, Mae kiba/Zenkutsu, balance/kick, lateral/forward force, open hand/fist, jump/landing and control/attack. Maintain 90°/180° direction changes, close elbows, palm/Haitō/Shutō control, Kake/Nukite and crossed jump landings without losing zanshin.
Embusen
Track 90°/180° turns, lateral steps, Mae kiba groups, Tsuruashi balance, jumps, Kake ashi, Kokutsu and Nekoashi. Check the first 90° Mae kiba/Haishu, transition to Zenkutsu/Oi tsuki, elbow/side kick, slow Haitō/Shutō, flying front kick/elbow landing, Sanchin/Nekoashi, crossed jump, closing Kokutsu and return. Gaze precedes completion; no extra adjustment steps.
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: formal readiness and ibuki preparation; Musubi is point 30. Mae kiba-dachi / Kiba-dachi: stable lateral Haishu, elbows, Haitō, low shuto, rib-line shuto and low double punches. Retain the source’s Mae kiba name where technically relevant, without excessive width/height. Zenkutsu: Oi tsuki, Morote block and forward attacks, not shortened after landing. Sanchin, 9: compact centred Jun tsuki after direction change. Nekoashi: active downward Uraken, Kake, Ura nukite and late transitions. Tsuruashi: controlled balance before/after kicks. Kake ashi: directed stable Yama-tsuki jump landing. Kokutsu: closing circular/combined blocks, Tettsui and low Oi tsuki, without falling forwards. Stance and technique finish together.
Principal techniques
- Chūdan haishu uke, 1: slow structured parry/deflection linked to body direction and left Shōtei cover. Seiken chūdan oi tsuki, 2 and 12: hip-connected counter through the opened line, with hikite and opposite-hand support where specified.
- Hiji jōdan ate, 3 and 7: short body-driven close high elbow. Jōdan yoko geri: from active Tsuruashi, recovered before foot placement. Haitō uchi uke / Shutō gedan barai, 4–5: slow two-level open-hand control with bent wrists as specified.
- Shutō ganmen uchi, 6: protected, directed face-line strike after 90° to Zenkutsu. Tobi mae geri, 7: changes distance and ends in stable Mae kiba with elbow and kiai.
- Morote seiken uchi uke, 8: reinforced defence with support and centre. Seiken chūdan jun tsuki, 9: straight gathered Sanchin punch. Uraken oroshi ganmen uchi, 10: Nekoashi downward strike ending with the right elbow above the open left hand.
- Kake uke, 11: slow gripping, hooking, pulling or arm control. Shutō hizō uchi, 13: directed side/rib-line strike. Morote gedan tsuki, 15 and 17: gathered downward double thrust coordinated with Kiba placement after the kick sequence. Keep Yoko/Mae geri linked without torso lean.
- Ashi-barai, 19: sweep/balance disruption linked to turn and jump. Seiken yama tsuki: gathered simultaneous high/low double attack on stable Kake ashi landing.
- Shutō mawashi uke, 20 and 27: circular control of an incoming arm; 27 omits the Shōtei strike. The closing work also uses Seiken uchi uke / gedan barai.
- Ura yonhon nukite, 26: slow hara-connected thrust after Haitō opens the line. Tettsui uchi, 28: right Tettsui into the open left hand. Seiken gedan oi tsuki, 29: low attack after control, with left palm supporting right forearm (Te-kote) and kiai. Ibuki and hikite support the form.
Start and finish
Begin Fudō-dachi facing shinden. Mokusō: Musubi-dachi and gathered body/mind. On Seipai, open the eyes according to dojo standard. Yoi: slow ibuki into Heikō-dachi. Hajime or ichi begins. Points 1–29 are technical movements; point 30 returns to Musubi-dachi with mokusō position retained. 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 | Turn 90° anticlockwise | Migi mae kiba-dachi | Migi chūdan haishu uke | Advance the right foot and turn the body 90° anticlockwise. Cover with left shōtei and prepare the right arm for the block. Enter Migi mae kiba-dachi and perform slow Migi chūdan haishu uke, retracting the left hand to hikite. |
| 2 | Turn 90° clockwise | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari seiken chūdan oi tsuki | Turn 90° clockwise and advance into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi. Punch Hidari seiken chūdan oi tsuki, placing the open right hand on the left forearm. |
| 3 | Turn 90° anticlockwise | Migi mae kiba-dachi | Migi hiji jōdan ate | Advance the right foot and turn the body 90° anticlockwise into Migi mae kiba-dachi. Strike Migi hiji jōdan ate, placing the left hand over the right fist. |
| 4 | Kick and 180° turn | Hidari mae kiba-dachi | Migi jōdan yoko geri / migi haitō uchi uke / hidari shutō gedan barai | Retaining the hands, retract the right foot to Migi tsuruashi-dachi and kick Migi jōdan yoko geri. Retract the leg to Tsuruashi-dachi, turn the body 180° clockwise, look left and set the right foot down in Hidari mae kiba-dachi. Slowly block Migi haitō uchi uke and Hidari shutō gedan barai with bent wrists. |
| 5 | Kick and foot placement | Mae kiba-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri / hidari haitō uchi uke / migi shutō gedan barai | Retract the left foot to Hidari tsuruashi-dachi and kick Hidari jōdan yoko geri. Set the left foot down in Mae kiba-dachi, look right and slowly block Hidari haitō uchi uke and Migi shutō gedan barai with bent wrists. |
| 6 | Turn 90° anticlockwise | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Migi shutō ganmen uchi | Cross the left foot to the left, cover with the right elbow and prepare the strike. Complete the 90° anticlockwise turn into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and strike Migi shutō ganmen uchi. Retract the left fist to hikite. |
| 7 | Jump forwards and turn 90° clockwise | Mae kiba-dachi | Hidari tobi mae geri / hidari hiji jōdan ate, kiai | Retaining the hands, kick Hidari tobi mae geri. Land in Mae kiba-dachi after a 90° clockwise turn and strike Hidari hiji jōdan ate, open right hand over the left fist. Finish with kiai. |
| 8 | Turn 90° clockwise | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi morote seiken uchi uke | Cross the right foot, turn 90° clockwise into Migi zenkutsu-dachi and block Migi morote seiken uchi uke, open left hand supporting the right arm. |
| 9 | Turn 90° anticlockwise | Migi sanchin-dachi | Hidari seiken chūdan jun tsuki | Turn the body 90° anticlockwise and bring the right foot to Migi sanchin-dachi. Cover with the right fist while retracting the left hand to hikite. Look left and strike Hidari seiken chūdan jun tsuki. |
| 10 | Turn 90° anticlockwise | Hidari nekoashi-dachi | Migi uraken oroshi ganmen uchi | Advance the right foot, turn 90° anticlockwise into Hidari nekoashi-dachi and strike Migi uraken oroshi ganmen uchi. Finish the right elbow above the open left hand. |
| 11 | Same position | Hidari nekoashi-dachi | Migi kake uke | Retain the stance and left hand position. Open the right hand and perform slow Migi kake uke as gripping or hooking control. |
| 12 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi seiken chūdan oi tsuki | Retract the right hand to hikite, slide forwards into Migi zenkutsu-dachi and punch Migi seiken chūdan oi tsuki. |
| 13 | Turn 90° clockwise | Kiba-dachi | Migi shutō hizō uchi | Retract the right foot, turn the body 90° clockwise into Kiba-dachi, bring the open right hand back over the head and strike Migi oroshi mawashi shutō hizō uchi. Keep the left hand in hikite. |
| 14 | Same position | Migi tsuruashi-dachi | Kick preparation | Raise the right foot to Migi tsuruashi-dachi and place both arms in front of the body, open hands in front of the face. |
| 15 | Kick sequence and foot placement | Kiba-dachi | Migi jōdan yoko geri / migi jōdan mae geri / morote gedan tsuki | From Tsuruashi-dachi, kick Migi jōdan yoko geri. Retract to Tsuruashi-dachi and kick Migi jōdan mae geri. Set down in Kiba-dachi, simultaneously striking Morote gedan tsuki without hikite. |
| 16 | Turn 180° anticlockwise | Hidari tsuruashi-dachi | Kick preparation | Turn 180° anticlockwise into Hidari tsuruashi-dachi and place both arms in front of the body, open hands in front of the face. |
| 17 | Kick sequence and foot placement | Kiba-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri / hidari jōdan mae geri / morote gedan tsuki | From Tsuruashi-dachi, kick Hidari jōdan yoko geri. Retract to Tsuruashi-dachi and kick Hidari jōdan mae geri. Set down in Kiba-dachi, simultaneously striking Morote gedan tsuki without hikite. |
| 18 | Turn 90° anticlockwise | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari seiken gedan barai | Cross the left foot, turn 90° anticlockwise into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and block Hidari seiken gedan barai. |
| 19 | 90° clockwise and jump right | Migi kake ashi-dachi | Migi ashi-barai / hidari seiken yama tsuki, kiai | Retract the fists to Hidari waki no kamae. Perform Migi ashi-barai, turn the body 90° clockwise, look right and jump right into Migi kake ashi-dachi. Strike Hidari seiken yama tsuki, right fist in ura gedan position and left fist high in jōdan. Finish with kiai. |
| 20 | Turn 90° anticlockwise | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Hidari shutō mawashi uke | Advance the left foot, turn 90° anticlockwise into Hidari kokutsu-dachi and block Hidari shutō mawashi uke. |
| 21 | Same position | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Hidari seiken gedan barai | Retain the position and block Hidari seiken gedan barai. |
| 22 | Same position | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Hidari seiken uchi uke | Retain the position and slowly block Hidari seiken uchi uke. |
| 23 | Same position | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Migi seiken uchi uke / gedan barai | Retain the position and perform Migi seiken uchi uke / gedan barai as a combined block. |
| 24 | Same position | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Hidari seiken uchi uke / gedan barai | Repeat the combined block with Hidari seiken uchi uke / gedan barai. Keep Kokutsu-dachi stable and the hips controlled. |
| 25 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan mae geri / migi seiken uchi uke | Retaining the hands, kick Migi jōdan mae geri. Set the foot down in Migi zenkutsu-dachi and block Migi seiken uchi uke. |
| 26 | Turn 180° anticlockwise | Hidari nekoashi-dachi | Haitō-position / hidari ura yonhon nukite | Pivot 180° anticlockwise on the right foot into Hidari nekoashi-dachi. Place the open right hand in haitō position and the open left hand ready to strike. At the end of the movement, the left hand slowly thrusts Hidari ura yonhon nukite. |
| 27 | Same position | Hidari nekoashi-dachi | Shutō mawashi uke | Retain the position and block Shutō mawashi uke without a shōtei strike. Keep the movement circular and controlled, finishing with stable Nekoashi-dachi. |
| 28 | Backwards | Migi kokutsu-dachi | Migi tettsui uchi into hidari shōtei | Move the right foot back into Migi kokutsu-dachi as both hands thrust upwards. Quickly circle both hands outwards and downwards, close the right hand and strike Migi oroshi mawashi tettsui uchi into the open left hand. |
| 29 | Backwards | Kokutsu-dachi | Migi seiken gedan oi tsuki, kiai | Move the left foot back into Kokutsu-dachi. Draw both fists to the ready position and punch Migi seiken gedan oi tsuki towards the centre with kiai. The left palm supports the right forearm, fingers down according to the te-kote principle. |
| 30 | Return | Musubi-dachi | Mokusō-position | Retract the right foot to Musubi-dachi, retaining mokusō. Finish on the command naore by returning to Fudō-dachi. |
Breathing and rhythm
Distinguish slow Haishu and Haitō/Shutō, quick Oi tsuki, elbow/side kick, protected shuto, flying kick/elbow, Morote/Jun tsuki, Uraken/Kake, linked Yoko/Mae geri, low double thrusts, sweep/jump/Yama and the final circular/Nukite/low-punch sequence. Slow control gathers through hara; exhalation/kiai matches explosive completion. Preserve zanshin after major finishes.
Kiai
Kiai: 7, 19 and 29. 7: Hidari hiji jōdan ate after flying front kick and Mae kiba landing. 19: Hidari seiken yama tsuki in Migi kake ashi-dachi after right Ashi-barai and rightward jump. 29: Migi seiken gedan oi tsuki in Kokutsu with the left palm supporting the right forearm. Centre, stable stance, kime and zanshin coincide.
Technical key points
Apply the count-specific support hands, hand shapes and stance requirements above. Keep the first 90° precise, Haishu slow, Oi tsuki hip-driven, elbows short, Tsuruashi active and kicks recovered. Preserve two-level Haitō/Shutō, stable technical jump landings, supported Morote, gathered Sanchin/Jun tsuki, functional Kake, united low double thrusts and Yama, directed Nukite and the low supported final counter.
Common errors
Avoid uniform rhythm, unstructured Haishu, arm-only Oi tsuki or swinging elbows, high/wide Mae kiba, rushed balance, unretracted kicks, confused open-block levels, unprotected shuto, display jumps without completion, missing support hands, stiff Sanchin, passive Nekoashi, decorative Kake, separated low double punches, a sweep disconnected from the jump, unstable crossed landing, off-centre Yama/Nukite and kiai without kime.
Bunkai and application
Explore close hand/arm/line control, kick and direct counter, elbow, jumping distance change and final Nukite using the functions above. Practise with a partner under control. High kicks, jumps, elbows and Nukite carry particular risks, so adapt applications to the partner’s level and safety.
Training method
- Learn start, mokusō, yoi and ibuki separately.
- Practise the first Haishu sequence slowly.
- Practise Zenkutsu/Oi tsuki transition.
- Isolate Hiji jōdan ate in Mae kiba.
- Practise Tsuruashi before/after Jōdan yoko geri.
- Practise Haitō/low shuto slowly.
- Practise Shutō ganmen uchi with correct cover/direction.
- Practise Tobi mae geri and elbow landing.
- Practise Morote uchi uke and Jun tsuki.
- Practise downward Uraken and Kake.
- Practise Yoko/Mae geri combinations.
- Practise Morote gedan tsuki in Kiba.
- Practise sweep and jump to Kake ashi.
- Practise Yama tsuki with kiai.
- Practise closing shuto, Haitō position and Ura nukite.
- Practise final low Oi tsuki with kiai.
- Add breath and rhythm.
- Practise kiai at 7, 19 and 29.
- Perform slowly without counting.
- Practise simple partner bunkai.
- Return and correct stance, direction, kick recovery, jump and zanshin.