This is the first substantial work to introduce the Isshinryu karate system-one of the most popular Okinawan stules, Steve Armstrong, a leading Isshinryu authority in the United States, has presented a detailed standardization of the Seisan Kata, the first of three forms needed for advancement to green belt. Nearly 100 artistic illlustrations, emphasized by in-depth foot patterens, are graphically used to highlight easy comprehension by the beginning student. Included in this text is a stimulating history of the founder of the Isshinryu sysem, Tatsuo Shimabuku, along with an interesting background of the style's symbolic emblem. Contents About the author Preface Tatsuo Shimabuku Founder of Isshinryu The Isshinryu Karate Emblem A brief history of the Seisan Kata Seisan Kata 1 Contemplation 2 Formal bow 3 Preparation 4 Preparation 5 Ready position 6 Moving to meet your opponent's attack 7 Left hand middle block 8 Right hand straight punch 9 Left hand straight punch 10 Right hand straight punch 11 Preparation for double arm block 12 Execution of double arm block 13 Looking for next opponent 14 Preparation of pivot 15 Pivot 16 Preparation of double knife hand block 17 Double knife hand block 18 On guard position 19 Chicken head block 20 Grasping 21 Pulling 22 On guard position 23 Chicken head block 24 Grasping 25 Pulling 26 On guard 27 Chicken head block 28 Grasping 29 Pulling 30 Preparation to turn 31 Looking for next opponent 32 Left hand middle block 33 Right hand straight punch 34 Left hand straight punch 35 Right foot straight kick 36 Guard position 37 Right hand straight punch 38 Looking for next opponent 39 Turning 40 Preparation to block 41 Right hand middle block 42 Left hand straight punch 43 Right hand straight punch 44 Left foot straight kick 45 Guard position 46 Left hand straight punch 47 Looking for next opponent 48 Turning 49 Left hand middle block 50 Right hand straight punch 51 Left hand straight punch 52 Right foot straight kick 53 Guard position 54 Right hand straight punch 55 Preparation for a side block 56 Left hand side block 57 'T' stance 58 Backhand strike 59 Guard position 60 Advancing toward opponent 61 Right foot straight kick 62 Right hand leg block 63 Left hand straight punch 64 Preparation for a side block 65 Right hand side block 66 Turning 67 Backhand strike 68 Guard position 69 Advancing toward opponent 70 Left foot straight kick 71 Preparation for leg block 72 Left hand leg block 73 Right hand straight punch 74 Preparation for a side block 75 Left hand side block 76 'T' stance 77 Fake backhand strike 78 Right hand leg block 79 Left hand straight punch 80 Preparation for a side block 81 Right hand side block 82 Preparation for a knife hand block 83 Left knife hand block 84 Grasping and kicking 85 Grasping 86 Right hand straight punch 87 Setting a trap 88 Springing the trap 89 Closing the trap 90 Trapped 91 Preparing to finish 92 Returning to calmness 93 Calmness 94 Formal bow 95 Completion

This is the first substantial work to introduce the Isshinryu karate system-one of the most popular Okinawan styles. Steve Armstrong, a leading Isshinryu authority in the United States, has presented a detailed standardization of the Seisan kata, the first of three forms needed for advancement to green belt. Nearly 100 artistic illustrations, emphasized by in-depth foot patterns, are graphically used to highlight easy comprehension by the beginning student. Incuded in this text is a stimulating history of the founder of the Isshinryu system, Tatsuo Shimabuku, along with an interesting background of the style's symbolic emblem. Contents About the author Preface Tatsuo Shimabuku founder of Isshinryu The Isshinryu karate emblem A brief history of the seisan kata Seisan kata