n the Karate of Okinawa, in Gōjū-ryū only Kakie had been used since a long time as a supporting exercise (hojo-undō). In Kakie you face each other, both with the same leg forward, and either in Nekoashi-dachi or in Sanchin dachi. The hands of both persons are connected at the wrist in a hooked (kake) fashion, with the free open hand placed in front of the solarplexus (suigetsu). Both parties now alternately push their hooked hand against that of the other. When pushing forward, therein the hand is rotated, similar as if you would perform a Shutō-uke forward. When moving backwards, it rotates the other way around. Only one hand is used, but occasionally it is supported by the other hand. The mutual tension is maintained at all times so as not to push away the other. Stabilizing legs and loins, flexibly twisting the upper body to the left and right, handling the body well, conversely throwing the opponent off balance, dodge or draw down. When getting tired the hands are alternated, but it is continued as long as possible.
Photographic illustration of the movements of Suparinpe, performed by Iha Koshin. Source: Miyazato Ei’ichi 1978. The sequence starts on the upper right downward, than next row from above downward etc.
The primary purpose of this training lies in the pulling and pushing and pull-push-sensitivity of the hands and arms thus achieved. It is not a competition of force.
In Chinese Kenpō this type of training is called “Tuishou 推手” (pushing hands ) and is either performed with one hand (danshou 単手) or with both hands.
While it trains the physical strength of the whole body, agility is also developed, and through many hours of training the necessary fighting spirit is developed.
- Source: Miyazato Ei’ichi: Okinawa-den Gōjū-ryū Karate-dō. Jitsugyō no Sekaisha, Tōkyō 1978.
- Translation: Andreas Quast.
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