Hanshi Chuck Merriman
Hanshi Merriman is a second-generation student of the founder of Goju-ryu, Chojun Miyagi. Chojun Miyagi was best friends with the founder of our style, Kenwa Mabuni. Kenwa Mabuni got a lot of information for his Shito-ryu syllabus from Chojun Miyagi's teacher, Kanryo Higaonna, and the two spent many years training together.
Since we share these common roots with traditional Goju-ryu practitioners, some of our kata look very similar to Goju-ryu kata--even though they might have different names.
Hanshi Merriman DVDs on Goju-ryu kataHanshi Merriman is a modern-day master of Goju-ryu karate, and he has been studying it for half a century. In addition to spending decades training closely with Okinawan Goju-ryu masters, he has had an illustrious coaching career leading martial artists to winning performances at multiple World Championship events.
Hanshi Chuck MerrimanBlack Belt Magazine named Hanshi Merriman Instructor of the Year way back in 1980 and put him in their hall of fame after he became the first US coach to win his competitors the Gold, Sliver, and Bronze medals at the World Championships. Since then he has earned a host of other lifetime achievement awards and served as the head referee for many prominent international karate events.
Hanshi Merriman on the cover of martial arts magazines over the years
Luckily for us, Hanshi Merriman now makes his home in Phoenix, Arizona and was kind enough to stop by our dojo to teach us some continuous bunkai concepts using the Goju-ryu kata Geki Sai Dai Ichi, which is very similar to our Chi no kata.
Hanshi Merriman at the Arizona BudokanWe started by doing some three-step partner application sequences that were very similar to what we would be doing later during the actual kata bunkai. These gave us a feel for the major blocking and movement concepts first.
Learning the initial sequence as a group
Practicing Geki Sai Dai Ichi
Sensei DeNado (far right) also helped us with the new exercise
Learning the initial sequence as a group
Practicing with partners
Next, we went over the sequence for Geki Sai Dai Ichi. Hanshi Merriman gave us plenty of time to practice the kata so that we would be familiar with it when it was time to move to bunkai application.
Practicing Geki Sai Dai Ichi
Finally, it was time for the in-line renzoku (continuous) bunkai application. Though we typically limit our bunkai practice to one opponent (direction) at a time, Hanshi Merriman taught us how to perform the entire kata in a straight line so that we could bunkai the entire thing without stopping using only one partner. It was definitely challenging, but a whole lot of fun!
Sensei Jerry and Sempai Dawn work renzoku bunkai
with guidance from Hanshi Merriman
with guidance from Hanshi Merriman
Sensei DeNado (far right) also helped us with the new exercise
Everyone came away from the seminar energized and full of new knowledge. We can't wait to practice these concepts further and try to apply them to some of our other kata as well. A huge thanks to Hanshi Merriman for coming by to teach us and to Sensei DeNado for helping out with the big turnout. We look forward to having you back soon!
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