As in the previous installments, I am looking at versions of the Choun no Kon of Yamanni-ryu. This time it is the version by Tamaki Tsuyoshi, a direct student of Kishaba Chogi (1st generation of Kishaba-ha Yamanni-ryu). Watch his Chōun no Kon (Ichi) below.
There are a few differences when compared to the Chōun no Kon Shō I described earlier. First of all, the suffix Ichi and Sho are just preferences; they mean the same kata. Most notably, the beginning and ending of Tamaki’s performance is less formalized and less dramatic than the other version, which I concluded must be the RBKD version under senseis Ōshiro Toshihiro and / or Nishime Kiyoshi. Next, the stances and foot changes differ variously. For instance, while the other (RBKD) version uses a lot of shuffling feet, Tamaki takes a full step every time. Also, what is a forward-bent stance in the other (RBKD) version, is a short rearward-bent stance in case of Tamaki. Also, Tamaki repeats techniques 1. and 2., while the other (RBKD) version only performs 1. and 2. once, but that might have been a modification for performance on their part.
I have also copy-cat-demonstrated the kata here.
Description
I. Stand in Musubi-dachi facing to the front. Hold the bō with the right hand and under your right armpit.
II. Rotate the bō counterclockwise, take hold of it with your left hand as well, and use the left hand to place it at your right shoulder/ armpit. Place the left open hand at the outside of your right thigh, and your right hand holding the bō vertically at the right side of the body, with your right arm hanging down naturally.
III. Bow to the front. While bowing, the bō moves with the upper body.
IV. Yōi 1. Raise the right hand with the bō vertically up to a position between your right pelvis and right lower rib. At the same time, synchronously, raise your left open hand up in a large clockwise circular motion from the outer side of your right thigh up and over to the left side of your head to again reach the position with the left forearm horizontally in front of your forehead, and grab the bō at the right side of your head.
VII. Yōi 2. Step back with your right foot little, in a short rear-bent stance (kōkutsu), assuming a left forward stance. Hold the left tip of the bō to the front, slightly ascending a few degrees, and the rear of the bō placed at your right upper arm close to the elbow.
Front Lane 1
1. Burst forward with the right foot, with a Shōmen-uchi, into a right Shiko-dachi, and immediately pull back the front tip to assume kamae.
2. Burst forward with the left foot, into a left short rear-bent stance (kōkutsu), with Gedan-uke, and immediately follow-through with a Gedan-nuki.
3. Same as 1.
4. Same as 2.
5. Same as 1. and 3.
Side Lane 1
6. Rotate 90° counterclockwise, to your left, pull your left foot towards your right foot and place the left foot forward in absolute direction left, in a in left short rear-bent stance (kōkutsu). Simultaneously, change the grip on the bō and perform a left vertical defense (tate-uke). Perform the following combination: Left front strike (shōmen-uchi), pull left foot back into Musubi-dachi with upward swing (furi-age-uchi), downward swing (furi-sage-uchi), burst forward with your left foot into Shiko-dachi with a right front strike (shōmen-uchi), and finally assume kamae.
Side Lane 2
7. Rotate 180° clockwise, to your rear, in absolute direction right, in a short rear-bent stance (kōkutsu). Simultaneously, change the grip on the bō and perform a right vertical defense (tate-uke). Perform the same combination as in number 4., just on the right side: Right front strike (shōmen-uchi), pull right foot back into Musubi-dachi with upward swing (furi-age-uchi), downward swing (furi-sage-uchi), burst forward with your right foot into Shiko-dachi with a right front strike (shōmen-uchi), and finally assume kamae.
Front Lane 2
8. With your right foot in place, rotate 90° counterclockwise, to absolute direction front, and place your left foot forward, into a left short rear-bent stance (kōkutsu), with Gedan-uke, and immediately follow-through with a Gedan-nuki.
9. Burst forward with the right foot, with a Shōmen-uchi, into a right Shiko-dachi, and immediately pull back the front tip to assume kamae.
Rear Lane 1
10. With the right foot as the pivot, rotate 180° clockwise, to your rear, in absolute direction rear, and place your left foot backward, in a cross-legged stance (kōsa-dachi). Perform a knocking strike to the lower level (gedan tataki-uchi) and immediately burst forward with the right foot, in a right shiko-dachi with a right front strike (Shōmen-uchi), and immediately pull back the front tip to assume kamae.
11. In a flow of movement, take your left hand to your left ear and your right hand in front of your right chest, then pull back your right foot to your left foot, in Musubi-dachi, and assume the initial posture of the kata (as described at the end of number VI. Yōi 1).
12. Burst forward with the left foot, into a left short rear-bent stance (kōkutsu), with Gedan-uke, and immediately follow-through with a Gedan-nuki.
13. Burst forward with the right foot, with a Shōmen-uchi, into a right Shiko-dachi, and immediately pull back the front tip to assume kamae.
14. Burst forward with the left foot, into a left short rear-bent stance (kōkutsu), with Gedan-uke, and immediately follow-through with a Gedan-nuki.
15. Burst forward with the right foot, with a Shōmen-uchi, into a right Shiko-dachi, and immediately pull back the front tip to assume kamae.
Front Lane 3
16. With the right foot as the pivot, rotate 180° clockwise, to your rear, in absolute direction front, and place your left foot backward, in a cross-legged stance (kōsa-dachi). Perform a knocking strike to the lower level (gedan tataki-uchi) and immediately burst forward with the right foot, in a right shiko-dachi with a right front strike (Shōmen-uchi), and immediately pull back the front tip to assume kamae.
Finish
I. In a flow of movement, take your left hand to your left ear and your right hand in front of your right chest, then pull back your right foot to your left foot, in Musubi-dachi, and assume the initial posture of the kata (as described at the end of number VI. Yōi 1), with the bō held vertically at a position between your right pelvis and right lower rib.
II. In a large clockwise circular motion from the left side of your head over and down, place your left open hand at the outside of your right thigh, and lower your right hand holding the bō vertically at the right side of the body, so that both your arms hanging down naturally.
III. Rotate the bō counterclockwise, bring it under your armpit and hold it with your right hand.
IV. Bow to the front.
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