T HE
DANCING OLD MAN
Talking of the relation between
karate and Okinawan dance, it reminds me of an interesting
story which I heard from my father, Seitoku Higa.
A long time ago, there was a karateka whose name was Machaa
Buntoku or Kinjo Matsu in Itoman village, Okinawa. He was
born in 1867. People said that he had been practicing karate
in Fuzhou city, Fujian province, China and mastered the
fighting arts in depth.
Hearing about Machaa Buntoku, Miyagi Sensei, the founder of
Gojuryu, visited him together with Sensei's disciples,
Jin-an Shinzato and Seiko Higa. Miyagi Sensei asked him to
show them his best Kata that he mastered in China. Then
Machaa Buntoku put on Hachimaki (=headband) and performed a
strange dance in front of them. He danced and danced. Seeing
his strange dance, Seiko Higa thought this old man must be
crazy or mad because of his old age. Jin-an Shinzato who was
yet young at that time lost his temper to see his dance and
told him "OK. Dance is enough! Show me your fighting
technique! I will be your opponent." Shinzato delivered a
karate blow at him, but Shinzato was thrown down by the
dancing old man and hurt his back. He lost face. Everyone
there felt awkward about it, so they bowed to the old man
and went home. On the way home no one spoke.
This anecdote was told to my father by Master Seiko Higa.
For the dancing old man, he just showed them his best Kata,
however, they had never supposed that his dancing was his
best fighting technique.
sanzinsoo
Remarks: This
is a part of the article "Sometimes I play karate like
Okinawan dance 'Hamachidori': Karate and Okinawan dance are
the same." written by Mr. Kiyohiko Higa, a teacher of Naha
Technical High School. The article appeared in the monthly
magazine "Aoi Umi" February 1978 issue (No.70) published by
Aoi Umi Shuppansha (page 118).
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