Seisan Seisan The karate kata (alternate names Sesan, Seishan, Jusan, Hangetsu) literally means '13'. Some people refer to the kata as '13 Hands', '13 Fists', '13 Techniques', '13 Steps' or even '13 killing positions'. However, these names have no historical basis. Seisan is thought to be one of the oldest kata, being quite spread among other Nahate schools. Shito-ryu has its own version and different versions are now practised even in Shuri-te derivatives like Shotokan (called Hangetsu) and in Wado-ryu (called Seishan). Isshin-ryū also adopted this kata. This kata is also practiced in Korean styles such as Tang Soo Do and
Tachikawa-ryu as smoke which rises to the heavens. Thus by allowing the smoke to pass through the eyes (the eyes are the windows to the soul) the pure distilled intention is captured and condensed with the enclosed cranium of the skull. Shinjō also provides notes in a short Q&A at the end. Tachikawa-ryu Tachikawa-ryu is a former branch of Shingon Mikkyo founded by the monk Ninkan. In another unorthodox branch of shingon, Ono-ryu (小野流). As such it is a school of esoteric Buddhism founded on the principal of using energy to control supernatural and cosmic forces and through these energetic rites