Yantsu - 安三

Yantsu has been translated as ‘to maintain purity’, striving to maintain the purity principles and ideals, rather than compromising for the expedient. It is derived from Yansu ('safe three' or 'safe in three ways'), out of the characters Yan - 安, meaning 'safe', and Su - 三, meaning 'three'. The Kata name can therefore be taken to mean ‘safe in three ways’. Three ways are also very important in Buddhist teaching.


Yantsu is an ancient Kata with unknown origin, which is alternately classified as belonging to the Naha-te and Tomari-te Karate tradition. The name is the original of a Chinese soldier from Okinawa in the 19th century. Outside Kyokushin this Kata it is only practiced in Shito-ryu, where it is called Ansan in a slightly longer variant.


The Kyokushin version moves in three directions: one forward and two sideways. Yantsu is an excellent exercise in precision and balance. Although this Kata is short, it is nevertheless of a higher difficulty level, where a correct execution says a lot about the technique and skill of the student.


How the Yantsu Kata was introduced in Kyokushin is unknown, but it is speculated that it Mas Oyama learned the Ansan from Shogo Kuniba sensei (Shito-ryu). So Mas Oyama somehow imported it from Shito-ryu and in a shorter version and a few modifications. He adapted the Kata to the Kyokushin system, with its own modes and techniques, where more emphasis is placed on strength.

Yantsu - 安三
video instructions

# Explanation step by step 1e Kyu
Begin the Kata in FUDO DACHI. Move into MUSUBI DACHI and MOKUSO on the command MOKUSO. On the next command Yantsu, open eyes and wait until the command YOI. Then start perform a slow YOI DACHI with IBUKI that ends in HEIKO DACHI
1. On the command HAJIME/ICHI, in this position, extend both open hands and strike HAITO JODAN MOROTE UCHI, pull both hands back closed into HIKITE, and punch SEIKEN JODAN MOROTE TSUKI and again pull both hands back into HIKITE.
2. Strike right URAKEN JODAN MAWASHI UCHI (start with the right fist at the back, turn body clockwise, the left arm to cover).
3. Strike left URAKEN JODAN MAWASHI UCHI (start with the left fist at the back, turn body clockwise, the right arm to cover).
4. Strike right CHUDAN YONHON NUKITE (left hand also open).
5. Strike left CHUDAN YONHON NUKITE (right hand also open).
6. Slowly pull the left open hand back into HIKITE, continue with closing both hands and moving upwards a little, then open hands, turn outwards and complete the movement into a MOROTE YOKO YONHON NUKITE (palms down).
7. In the samen position, at the same time, block with the left hand SHOTEI CHUDAN UKE, bring the right fist back into HIKITE and move forward (MIGI MAE FUMI ASHI) into right ZENKUTSU DACHI and punch SEIKEN CHUDAN OI TSUKI.
8. Bring the right foot back into NEKO ASHI DACHI and directly block right SHOTEI GEDAN UKE. Continue the movement with a right block KOKEN JODAN UKE, then slowly twist the wrist in a inwards circular motion and slowly push the hand out into SHUTO SAKOTSU UCHI KOMI.
9. Bring the right foot back into MUSUBI DACHI (keep hands in position). Move the left foot forward (HIDARI MAE FUMI ASHI) into left ZENKUTSU DACHI and punch CHUDAN OI TSUKI.
10. Bring the left foot back into NEKO ASHI DACHI and directly block left SHOTEI GEDAN UKE. Continue the movement with a left block KOKEN JODAN UKE, then slowly twist the wrist in a inwards circular motion and push the hand out into SHUTO SAKOTSU UCHI KOMI.
11. Turn 90° clockwise to the right, moving the left foot to the right foot into MUSUBI DACHI and slowly block left SHOTEI CHUDAN UKE.
12. Move the right foot forward (MIGI MAE FUMI ASHI) into right ZENKUTSU DACHI and punch right GEDAN OI TSUKI.
13. Punch left SEIKEN JODAN GYAKU TSUKI and right SEIKEN CHUDAN OI TSUKI with KIAI.
14. With the right arm still extended position, kick left CHUDAN MAE GERI, bring the foot back into NEKO ASHI DACHI, and block right HAITO UCHI UKE (the left hand is closed in HIKITE).
15. Still in NEKO ASHI DACHI directly block right SHOTEI GEDAN UKE. Continue the movement with a right block KOKEN JODAN UKE, then slowly twist the wrist in an inwards circular motion and push the right hand out into SHUTO SAKOTSU UCHI KOMI.
16. Turn 180° copunterclockwise to the left, pulling the left foot back to the right into MUSUBI DACHI and block left SHOTEI CHUDAN UKE (the left hand is closed in HIKITE).
17. Move the left foot forward (HIDARI MAE FUMI ASHI) into left ZENKUTSU DACHI and punch left SEIKEN GEDAN OI TSUKI.
18. Punch right SEIKEN JODAN GYAKU TSUKI and left SEIKEN CHUDAN OI TSUKI with KIAI.
19. With the left arm still in extended position, kick right CHUDAN MAE GERI, bring the foot back into NEKO ASHI DACHI, and block left HAITO UCHI UKE (the right hand is closed in HIKITE).
20. Still in NEKO ASHI DACHI directly block left SHOTEI GEDAN UKE Continue the movement with a left block KOKEN JODAN UKE, then slowly twist the wrist in an inwards circular motion and push the left hand out into SHUTO SAKOTSU UCHI KOMI.
21. Turn 90° clockwise to the right and move the left foot back into MUSUBI DACHI and retain the MOKUSO position.
The Kata is completed with the command NAORE and the FUDO DACHI is taken.

At the command YASMEE relax and at ease.


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Video

Yantsu - 安三
source Youtube


Documentation

Instructions Yantsu


Kihon Waza
Dachi Waza

Fudo Dachi
Mosubi Dachi
Yoi Dachi
Heiko Dachi
Zenkutsu Dachi
Neko Ashi Dachi


Te Waza

Haito Jodan Morote Uchi
Seiken Jodan Morote Tsuki
Uraken Jodan Mawashi Uchi
Chudan Yonhon Nukite
Seiken Chudan Oi Tsuki
Shuto Sakotsu Uchi Komi
Seiken Gedan Oi Tsuki
Seiken Jodan Gyaku Tsuki


Uke Waza

Shotei Gedan Uke
Koken Jodan Uke
Shotei Chudan Uke
Haito Uchi Uke


Geri Waza

Chudan Mae Geri


Kihon Jutsugo

Kamae - 構え, means posture or base. Kamae is to be differentiated from the word Dachi - 立ち. Dachi refers to the position of the body from the waist down, Kamae refers to the posture of the entire body, as well as encompassing one's mental readiness.Kamae
Mokusō - 黙想, means meditation, part of the training of mushin; the call to meditate.Mokuso
Hajime - 始め, means begin.Hajime
Hikite - 引き手 means drawing hand: Hiku - 引き, to draw or pull, and Te - 手, the hand.Hikite
Ibuki is karate’s hard breathing method. Ibuki breathing is a study of tension, which is necessary to truly understand relaxation. While ibuki breathing serves as a dynamic tension exercise, its true value is ki development, since it teaches the breathing control necessary for kiai. Ibuki breathing is performed in two ways, one long, and one short. Ibuki
Normal step to the front in SURI-ASHI (sliding movement).Mae Fumi Ashi
Naore - 直れ, is a command to go back into the beginning Kamae.Naore
Yasumi - 休み, is a command to rest or relax.Yasume