Sensei Arcenio J.
Advincula waited until he was 55 years old before he created his first
karate kata. When Sensei Advincula had his Oceanside, CA dojo, he taught
Escrima, Combat Judo, Hindiandi, Ryukonkai Kobudo, Isshin-Ryu Karate &
Kobudo, Ryukonkai Kobudo, and combat judo. At that time, Sensei Advincula's Hindiandi students had only two empty hand kata to study.
Because his Hindiandi students wanted to study more than two empty hand kata,
Sensei Advincula created a kata for them to study. The date this kata was
created is not specific because it took some time to establish the base line
for this kata.
Mr. Zane Legg, one of Sensei Advincula's Hindiandi students from the
Oceanside Dojo, returned from a Marine Corps tour of duty on Okinawa in
November 1993. Upon his return, Mr. Legg observed Sensei Advincula working
on a new kata. Mr. Legg, who studied Uechi-ryu on Okinawa, remembers this
because there is a takedown taught in Uechi-ryu's Kanshiwa kata. This take
down is similar to the one he saw in Sensei Advincula's new kata. Mr. Legg
believed Sensei Advincula's techniques were better than the Uechi-ryu
technique. Mr. Legg surmised that this new kata was created from November
1993 to January 1994. Sensei Advincula finished this new kata in late 1994,
and first taught it at a seminar for Carol Womack later that same year. This
seminar was held at Carol Womack's Gilmer Road Dojo in Longview, Texas. This
new kata would ultimately become Katagwa.
The genesis for this kata came from an instructor's selfless service to his
students. This kata is a product of over 50 years of martial arts training,
teaching, and personal hand-to-hand combat experience. The year 1994 was
when Sensei Advincula put the kata together; however, I would argue that
Sensei Advincula spent a lifetime perfecting the techniques he learned to
make this kata. Because of this, I think the birth date of Katagwa is 1946
when Sensei Advincula first started his martial arts training (ref:
Advincula's 40th Isshin-Ryu Birthday, by Cherry Douglas). This kata is a
result of all those years of training. A wealth of knowledge and inspiration
is contained in Katagwa. As the article name implies, this is a "combat
proven kata".
The first name Sensei Advincula used for his kata was Goncho. Mark Riddle
recommended to Sensei Advincula the kata be called Goncho. Goncho means
"Glasses". One of Sensei Advincula's nicknames on Okinawa was Goncho.
Obviously, Sensei Advincula was called Goncho because he wears glasses.
Sensei Advincula then told me he wanted to change the name again because the
Okinawans call everyone who wears glasses Goncho. This name does not last
long and Sensei Advincula changes the name to AJA around 1995. The name AJA
comes from Sensei Advincula's initials, Arcenio J. Advincula. In 1997,
Sensei Advincula was in Mississippi at a seminar for Mark Riddle. At this
seminar Sensei Advincula met an Aikido instructor, who is Italian, and
learned that AJA means, "gas" as in human gas. Obviously, Sensei Advincula
did not like the idea of his kata being referred to as a "gassy" kata. He
wanted a unique name. Sensei Advincula then changes the name to Katagwa in
late 1997 or early 1998. Katagwa means "kata man" (kata=kata gwa=man).
Sensei Advincula picked this because Master Tatsuo Shimabuku (the founder of
Isshin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo) called Sensei Advincula Katagwa. Master
Shimabuku called Sensei Advincula Katagwa because when Sensei Advincula was
on Okinawa, he performed kata at all the Isshin-Ryu demonstrations held by
Master Shimabuku. Sensei Advincula's reputation as a kata and bunkai expert
grew because of this. Sensei Advincula confirmed this on a 1997 trip to
Okinawa. Sensei Advincula spoke to Tokumura, Kensho about this nickname.
Tokumura, Kensho verified that Master Shimabuku called Sensei Advincula "Katagwa".
Thus, Sensei Advincula decided to use Katagwa as the name of his kata. After
finally naming the kata Sensei Advincula changed the order of the kata. What
was once called AJA I would become Katagwa II because it was a harder kata
for a more advanced student. AJA II is a simpler kata and best used for
beginners; so, Sensei Advincula made that one Katagwa I. The name Katagwa is
unique and symbolic in its origin. The name Katagwa coming from Master
Shimabuku is appropriate and just another example of Sensei Advincula's
commitment to Master Shimabuku.
So, which styles make up Katagwa I and II? I asked Sensei Advincula this
question in 1995 and he said "from all of them". Later in 1998 I asked
again, "What style had the most influence on Katagwa." He replied, "all the
styles I studied". "OK" I said, " I understand, but which one was the most
important?" He looked at me and said " What part of ALL don't you understand
private?" I was expecting to hear that one had more influence over the
others, but it's just not there. When you do the kata you can see all sorts
of things Sensei Advincula teaches in each stance and move. Katagwa 1 and 2
come from several styles and both share some commonalties. The basic Seisan
stance and applicability are just two examples. Sensei Advincula also
incorporates a little Advincula-Do (this is Sensei Advincula's own
teachings) in the kata. Some people think this is an Isshin-Ryu kata.
Katagwa I and II are not Isshin-Ryu kata nor are they required for Isshin-Ryu
training. In fact Sensei Advincula starts both kata off with a Gung Fu bow
so as not to be confused with Isshin-Ryu.
Most kata also have a primary technique they teach. This is also true of
Katagwa I and II. Katagwa I is primarily patterned off of Seisan kata from
Isshin-Ryu Karate with some Hindiandi influence. This is a more basic kata.
You learn to punch and palm heel your opponent. As you strike him you close
the gap and strike again. Katagwa I primarily teaches you to hit and pursue
your opponent. Another distinct bunkai in Katagwa I is catching a foot. In
this kata you catch a kick to the mid-section with the ridge of the hand
between the thumb and the wrist. When I first learned this kata, Sensei
Advincula taught to catch the heel of the foot with the top of the hand,
with fingers loose pointing down and away. By 2001 it had changed. Instead
of the fingers pointing down and away, the fingers point down and in with
the palm facing you. This is an example of slight modifications in Katagwa I. The first technique was harder to perform and students often couldn't
catch the foot. Sensei Advincula continued to test this technique and
decided to change it. I teach both the first and second technique. The new
technique taught in 2001 is easier to catch the foot but the first technique
was the original. The point is that this kata is evolving. Slightly but
steadily. It's important to teach the old and the new techniques of Katagwa.
It's also important to explain the reasons for the change.
Katagwa II comes from Goju-ryu, Isshin-Ryu, Hindiandi Gung Fu and combat
judo. Katagwa II teaches to step behind your opponent's leg and take him
down. Katagwa II also uses the "Propeller technique" (predominantly found in Hindiandi and a little in Isshin-Ryu) The propeller technique was named by
Sensei Advincula. (Propeller technique = left hand open middle block
in/right hand open middle block out and vise versa). Katagwa II's primary
stance is the Isshin-Ryu Seisan stance with the hands open palms facing
away, hands level with the shoulders. The elbows are one fist away from the
rib cage. From this position the defender can execute all the moves in
Katagwa. It looks very natural and it's also very deceptive. The reason it's
deceptive is because this stance doesn't look like a stance. It looks like a
person just trying to talk to an attacker. You're ready to execute and the
attacker has no idea.
On one occasion, Sensei Advincula was returning from his first tour of duty
on Okinawa in March of 1960. Sensei Advincula's port of demarcation was at
the Treasure Island Navy Base, San Francisco, CA. Sensei Advincula, then a
Marine Corps Corporal (E3), tried to break up two different groups of
Marines who were fighting at the dock. One of the groups was the returning
Marines from Okinawa who were on the same ship as Sensei Advincula. The
second group was Marines who had just finished basic training and were going
overseas. The group returning from Okinawa wore a Class "A" Jersey wool
uniform while those going overseas were wearing civilian clothes. Because of
this, it was easy to distinguish between each group. At Sensei Advincula's
command to stop fighting, both groups stopped and began gathering into their
two separate groups. In the group of Marines wearing civilian clothes, a
large Marine, who latter was identified as starting the fight, came toward
Sensei Advincula in a Shotokan type kamae and in a zenkutsu stance. He
stated that he didn't like NCO's. Instead of telling the opponent he knew
karate, which might further provoke the antagonist, Sensei Advincula raised
his hands in front of him with the palms facing the belligerent aggressor
and stated he wasn't looking for any trouble and just wanted to stop the
fight. This only bolstered the ego of the belligerent who threw a reverse
middle punch at Sensei Advincula's chest. Sensei Advincula countered and
used the propeller technique and kicked his opponent, which knocked him to
the ground. While slowly getting up from the ground and holding his groin,
the attacker, as if in a tournament, gave Sensei a compliment saying 'good
kick.' After getting up and regaining his senses, he again attempted to
attack Sensei, but was constantly thwarted. The attacker eventually tired
and left, unaware Sensei Advincula was using karate techniques. This
experience influenced the basic kamae of Katagwa II. This basic kamae in
Katagwa II uses the natural raising of the hands with the palms facing toward
the opponent.
Katagwa II's movements and directions are based on the "Kenpo Gokui" with
emphasis on the eight directions. Katagwa II also introduces students to
Sensei Advincula's famous FLS. FLS stands for "funny little stance". This
comes from the Seiunchin stance in Isshin-Ryu. Sensei Advincula uses a lower
Seiunchin stance that supports tacking your opponent down but still allows
you to quickly transition into Seisan stance to fight another opponent as in
the kata Wansu. The Seiunchin and the Seisan stance both allow for the
defender to fight multiple opponents in multiple directions. This particular
aspect of the kata shows Sensei Advincula's emphasis on, and experience with
fighting multiple attackers. Of special note, Sensei Advincula used his
Hindiandi and Isshin-Ryu training as a defensive line coach for the San
Diego Chargers. One of his primary tasks as a coach was to help teach the
defensive lineman how to get past the offensive line as quickly as possible.
Sensei Advincula practiced and tested his martial arts skills on these
football players. There's a technique in the kata that comes from this
experience. The techniques I'm referring to is, pushing your left knee into
the outside of your opponent's right knee and pushing his upper torso left
with the right palm. This technique pushes your opponent out of your way.
Usually the opponent ends up on the ground. Sensei Advincula also uses his
vast experience of personal self-defense situations he encountered
throughout his military career as a United States Marine.
In 1995 I asked Sensei Advincula why he
chose the moves he did when he created Katagwa I and II. Sensei Advincula
replied. "Because all the moves in Katagwa are combat tested, they work."
Sensei Advincula, being in the Marine Corps and having served one full tour
of duty and two partial tours in Vietnam, has had multiple opportunities to
implement self-defense techniques. Sensei Advincula has used all the moves
in Katagwa 1 and 2 in real situations. In fact, in 1961, while in Okinawa,
Sensei Advincula used the choke found in Katagwa II (technique from Combat
judo which he studied in 1946) so effectively the Okinawan authorities told
Sensei Advincula to leave the Island and not return. Later, Sensei Advincula
would re-enlist in the Marine Corps and civilian authorities could not stop
his return.
Another example of Katagwa's continued evolution and development was in May
2001. Heather Zeigler, a student of Sensei Advincula's from the Oceanside
Dojo, and I were at a seminar in New Jersey. Sensei Advincula was asked to
do Katagwa 1 for the group. Heather and I both new the kata and were
perplexed when Sensei Advincula asked Sensei Glen Wargo, the senior
instructor, "Which version of Katagwa 1 do you want to do?" Heather and I
only knew one version. We certainly had never heard of multiple versions.
Come to find out, there are three versions of Katagwa I and only one version
of Katagwa II. It's interesting to note that there are three stars on the Isshin-Ryu Megami. One meaning of these three stars is the # 1. One as in
"One Heart Style". Katagwa I has three versions, which equal one. I believe
this is symbolic of Isshin-Ryu's influence on the kata. As I said earlier,
both the kata are being slightly modified. What I want the reader to take
away from this is that Sensei Advincula is teaching three different versions
of Katagwa I. All three versions use the same pattern, but differ in the
types of middle blocks and strikes used. One version uses only punches and
hard middle blocks. The other two versions use a combination of palm heel
strikes, punches, and open and closed middle blocks. Students who learn this kata must be diligent to determine which version they are learning. The key
to this story is that the environment exists in which two different students
can learn Katagwa I, but learn a different version of the kata. However,
both these versions would be correct.
How could this environment be created? Sensei Advincula has often told me
that Master Shimabuku changed and modified his kata over time. Unless you
kept doing the kata with Master Shimabuku, you would miss the modifications.
Sensei Advincula continued to go back to Okinawa to study in Master
Shimabuku's dojo. Since I first learned Katagwa in 1995, I have seen Sensei
Advincula make slight modifications to the kata. I started seeing the slight
modifications and noticed that some students were only getting snap shots of
the kata. This started to cause students to question each other and debate
the correctness of these different Katagwa kata's. I have seen this in
several states and find it similar to what happened to Isshin-Ryu after
Master Shimabuku died. I confirmed with Sensei Advincula that this is what
he's doing and that this is what Master Shimabuku did. So readers beware,
these kata will continue to be modified as long as Sensei Advincula is
alive. It's incumbent upon us as students to understand this kata and learn
the modifications. Don't get me wrong. I understand students will always
discuss bunkai and techniques. This is a good thing. But we in Isshin-Ryu
and Isshinkai must do our very best to preserve the teachings of Sensei
Advincula. We must learn from history. We must not allow controversy to
surround this kata. We in Isshinkai can reduce this controversy by being
aware of and understanding the beginning and background of this kata. It's
our duty as respectful students.
Finally, Sensei Advincula created Isshinkai after Tokumura's Okinawan
Isshinkai, to preserve the teachings of Master Shimabuku. Those of us who
have come to follow Sensei Advincula were searching for the truth in
Isshin-Ryu, and would eventually become members of Isshinkai. I have seen
many different schools of thought on Isshin-Ryu even within Isshinkai.
Katagwa must be beyond that. The common fabric that binds us together in
Isshinkai is Katagwa. No matter what our upbringing was in Isshin-Ryu,
Katagwa is Sensei Advincula's kata, and it should only be modified after the
original version or versions are taught. This will preserve Sensei
Advincula's teachings.