Seipai, originally from white crane kung fu, in the Fujian area of southern China.
On Okinawa the translation of the Fujian Seipai is 18, Sei = 10 and pai = 8.
The complete meaning is not known for sure, it could be something to do with the number of techniques, but another important factor to consider, is the number 18 is a very important number in Buddhist teachings. Derived from the Buddhist concept of 6 times 3, where six represents voice, taste, colour, smell, touch and justice and three represents good, bad and peace.
Whatever the real meaning of Seipai, the actual karate kata is a beautiful kata, consisting of many different karate techniques, from linear to circular, slow and fast, grabs, strikes, kicks, throws, locks, etc.
Below is a video of seipai, this was quickly filmed on my small digital camera and i appologise for the purple line, but it disapears after the first kata.
Ossu
Linden
Thanks for taking the time to post this vid, and slowing it down was a massive bonus. 2nd dan grading next april and this has given me another training tool to use at home to refine one of the most intersting katas in goju, i think it sums up the hard-soft style perfectly. Again MANY THANKS.
Hi Robert, you are welcome.
I totally agree, a great kata containing, slow, fast, linear and circular karate techniques. Good luck with your nidan grading.
Oss
Linden