Hakutsuru no Mai, aka Tama Tetsu

[CStephens]

Hello;

I was wondering if anyone had information pertaining to the form Tama Tetsu, also known as the Hakutsuru no Mai. From what I learned from a previous Tama Tetsu thread on the White Crane Research board, it was formulated by a Sensei Toguchi as a composite of many of the koryu forms of Gojuryu. It was originally performed to music.

My big question currently is in two parts:

1) Which is the proper name for the form, Tama Tetsu or Hakutsuru no Mai?

2) What is the correct translation for Tama Tetsu?

Thanks in advance!

[Gojumaster]

Hello,

I was the person who was discussing this form with you on the other forum.

My understanding is that this form is called "Hakutsuru No Mai" or "Dance of the White Crane".

Tama Tetsu, I believe, means "Iron Ball", but I am not 100% certain, since my exposure has been oral.

Kimo Wall Sensei teaches both Tensho and Hakutsuru No Mai using the Tama Tetsu for health / qigong purposes.

Best Regards,

Russ

CStephens said:

Hello;

I was wondering if anyone had information pertaining to the form Tama Tetsu, also known as the Hakutsuru no Mai. From what I learned from a previous Tama Tetsu thread on the White Crane Research board, it was formulated by a Sensei Toguchi as a composite of many of the koryu forms of Gojuryu. It was originally performed to music.

My big question currently is in two parts:

1) Which is the proper name for the form, Tama Tetsu or Hakutsuru no Mai?

2) What is the correct translation for Tama Tetsu?

Thanks in advance!

[CStephens]

Thanks very much!

Gojumaster said:

Hello,

I was the person who was discussing this form with you on the other forum.

My understanding is that this form is called "Hakutsuru No Mai" or "Dance of the White Crane".

Tama Tetsu, I believe, means "Iron Ball", but I am not 100% certain, since my exposure has been oral.

Kimo Wall Sensei teaches both Tensho and Hakutsuru No Mai using the Tama Tetsu for health / qigong purposes.

Best Regards,

Russ

[CStephens]

Okay, so I've started working on this form. I have to say, it's one of the longer kata I've seen. And, despite it's appearance, it is much more difficult that I thought it would be. The applications being pulled from it, though, are great.

It's nice to have a different view of the techniques and theories which helped shape my current art.

[Gojumaster]

CStephens,

If you learn that form, you'll have picked up almost then entire Goju-Ryu kata syllabus!

Seriously, though, there are pieces of almost all of the classical forms in that kata.

Best Regards,

Russ

CStephens said:

Okay, so I've started working on this form. I have to say, it's one of the longer kata I've seen. And, despite it's appearance, it is much more difficult that I thought it would be. The applications being pulled from it, though, are great.

It's nice to have a different view of the techniques and theories which helped shape my current art.

[CStephens]

Gojumaster said:

CStephens,

If you learn that form, you'll have picked up almost then entire Goju-Ryu kata syllabus!

Seriously, though, there are pieces of almost all of the classical forms in that kata.

Best Regards,

Russ

Oi Vay!

It seems to be a very interesting kata. I can already see some great applications. It also gives a different way to look at our Sanchin and Seiunchin kata.

[CEB]

FWIW - Tetsu Tama is iron ball training. It can be integrated into all of your forms.

[Mercury]

Hakutsuru no mai, I also understand was created by Toguchi but likely in conjunction with Seiko Higa whose karate was ‘lighter’ than what might be described as mainstream Goju.

I do not see this as a composite form of Goju techniques but instead an expression of what were the known White Crane principles by those teachers.

By example the typical karate punch is straight and hard without pull back. Certainly how I have been taught is to make the punch (and other techniques) whippy so that it extends out then bounces/drops back on the recoil. The feeling is like a stone on the end of a piece of elastic.

[Nataraya]

"Hakatsuru Kamae".

[CEB]

That is from Kojo Ryu. This is not related to the Hakutsuru no Mai of ShoreiKan Goju Ryu.

But it is a nice picture. What Mark Bishop says in his book about that kamae is interesting.