Kururunfa

Kururunfa is an advanced kata brought back from China. It features Tai Sabaki (evasive maneuvers) and very quick movement.

The following thoughts on the kanji for this kata are from an e-mail conversation with Chuck TC Kwan (kwantc@globalserve.net):

1st kanji means "a long length of time".

2nd kanji implies a sense of to remain/stay behind/detain, (eg: inviting a friend over for dinner and not wanting him to leave, wanting him to stay longer). Interestingly, a sense of usage of this 2nd kanji can also be seen in a Wing Chun MA saying "lui lao (lao=2nd kanji in Cantonese) hui soong, lut sao jik chung" (ie: "as my opponent comes in, I receive him; as he leaves, I escort him; upon loss of contact, I charge forward") This idea/concept of "lao" is, I believe, a common one in Chinese MA (eg: TaiChi, Mantis), though it may be expressed/interpreted differently.

3rd kanji is translated as "suddenly", or abruptly.

4th kanji, can be "tearing"...the kanji consists of 2 radicals, the left one meaning 'stone' and the right side meaning 'skin' ie implying a sense of destroying, 'tearing' apart, solving a problem, or even a sense of breaking through a defence.

When I see the 4 kanji for "Kururunfa" I see/speculate a kata suggesting a strategy of a "yin" reception to an attack, a sense of "sucking" the attack in , perhaps to invite an over-extension of the attack, and then suddenly and abruptly, with devastaing effect, destroy the opponent with your own counter.

It opens with a sliding step to the right into left Neko Ashi Dachi, while performing a right open-hand Chudan Osae Uke and then a left open-hand Chudan Kuri Uke, followed by a Sokuto Kansetsu Geri with the left leg. Slide the left foot over and repeat the same movements in mirror image.

After the kick, bring the left foot forward in an arc into right Heiko Dachi. The right hand moves up in a scooping motion , executing a right Chudan Sukui Uke, with the left hand executing a Gedan Shotei Osae Uke, beginning at the solar plexus. Next, pivot to the left into left Heiko Dachi while executing a right open-hand Gedan Harai Uke, chambering the left hand at the solar plexus.

Snap quickly back into right Heiko Dachi facing Shomen and execute right Chudan Sukui Uke and left Gedan Osae Uke. Step forward with the left foot into left Heiko Dachi and perform a mirror image of the hand techniques. Pivot quickly to the right into right Heiko Dachi while executing a left open-hand Gedan Harai Uke with the right hand chambered at the solar plexus.

Bring the hips quickly to face Shomen in left Heiko Dachi and perform the same scooping right hand Chudan Sukui Uke and left hand Gedan Shotei Osae Uke combination. Next, steo forward into left Heiko Dachi and repeat the same hand techniques, followed by a pivot to the left into left Heiko Dachi and repeating all the techniques as in the previous pivot, ending up twisting to Shomen and repeating those hand techniques as well.

Step back 45 degrees with the left leg into left Neko Ashi Dachi while bringing the left hand from the right side in an arc, and execute a left Chudan Haishu Mawashi Osae Uke, with the left hand crossing behind and chambering at the solar plexus. Slide the roight foot forward, stilkl facing 45 degrees into left Heiko Dachi while executing a right Chudan Osae Uke and a left Age Tsuki, followed by a right Mae Geri, stomping the foot down into Shiko Dachi and perform a right open-hand Age Hiji Ate, left hand chambered at the solar plexus.

Bring the right leg back into left Neko Ashi Dachi pulling both hands to the abdomen into Ninoji No Kamae. Next, slide left with the left foot into right Neko Ashi Dachi, facing the opposite 45 degree angle and perform a mirror image of the previous techniques, ending up in right Neko Ashi Dachi wiht the hands in Ninoji No Kamae.

Pivot to the left to face Shomen in the same stance and perform a Tora Guchi, ending with the left hand at Jodan and the right at Gedan. Then, pivot 90 degrees to the left into left Heiko Dachi while executing a left Chudan Ura Kake Uke, with the open right hand chambered at the side. next, pivot to the left, right foot crossing the left, into left Heiko Dachi, and execute right Ushiro Hiji Ate, grabbing with the left hand and pulling to the abdomen. Step into right Heiko Dachi and perform a right Chudan Ura Kake Uke, followed by 180 degree turn and a mirror image of the Ushiro Hiji Ate technique, ending up in right Heiko Dachi.

Pull the left foot over into Shiko Dachi facing Shomen, moving the hands parallel in front of the chest, right over left. Raise the hips so that the stance becomes a wide Hachiji Dachi while extending the arms out to either side, palms down. bend both elbows so that the forearms face straight up, palms towards the head, bringing the hands together behind the head. Rotate both hands so that the knuckles are together with the palms outward, bring the hands over the head, clenching into fists. Drop into Shiko Dachi and pulls the arms together in front of the chest, knuckles forward, elbows at the solar plexus, and execute a Koto Ate.

Open both hands and execute a Ryosho Gedan Osae Oshi in front of the abdomen, left hand on top. Step forward into right Zenkutsu Dachi and perform a Furi Sute to the rear with both hands. Bring both hands into an open-hand Jodan Kosa Uke. Next, bring the left foot up to the right, pivot to the left 180 degrees into Musubi Dachi, drop into Kosa Dachi, closing the hands into fists and pulling down.

Step right 45 degrees into right Zenkutsu Dachi, scooping with the right hand and pushing with the left. Step left 45 degrees and perform a mirror image of the scoop and push. Slide the right foot forward, rotate to the left 180 degrees facing Shomen, bringing the left foot over into left Neko Ashi Dachi, and execute a Tora Guchi. Yame.