| Seisan | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Sesan, Seishan, Sei-Shan, Jusan, Hangetsu |
| Martial art | Karate, Uechi-Ryū, Tang Soo Do |
| Place of origin | Okinawa, Ryukyu Kingdom |
The karate kata Seisan (十三) (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-Ryū has its own version similar to Sanchin and different versions are now practiced even in Shuri-te derivatives like Shotokan (called Hangetsu) and in Wado-Ryū (called Seishan). Isshin-ryū also adopted this kata. Korean Tang Soo Do adopted it, and it is called either by its original name Sei-Shan or Seishan, or by Ban Wol which is the Korean translation of Hangetsu ("half moon"). Due to its difficulty, this kata is often reserved for advanced Tang Soo Do students.[1]