Shihoken

[SahBumNimRush]

Can anyone tell me about the form taught by Ki Whang Kim, called Shihoken. I've heard that it was taught to him by Kanken Toyama, and that it may be a version of Shisochin (a Goju Ryu kata). I remember seeing it performed at tournaments years ago. I saw this video the other day on youtube and it got me thinking about this form.

 

[J. Pickard]

I mean, either way she's pretty good.

 

[SahBumNimRush]

I mean, either way she's pretty good.

Yeah, she's got some serious skill. The cadence of her forms are interesting. Different than how I perform Ship Soo and Rohai, but very crisp and deliberate.

 

[slindsey15]

Yeah, she's got some serious skill. The cadence of her forms are interesting. Different than how I perform Ship Soo and Rohai, but very crisp and deliberate.

My instructor has lineage to Ki Whang Kim.
What do you want to know about the form? I can ask.

In doing my own search into the form, I did come across this.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ae4f72d36099b34d8f82747/t/5b0c1ddb2b6a288855b2890e/1527520731973/40-SABANG-KWON+HYUNG+-+MASTER+KIM+KI-WHANGS+LEGACY.pdf

 

[SahBumNimRush]

My instructor has lineage to Ki Whang Kim.
What do you want to know about the form? I can ask.

In doing my own search into the form, I did come across this.

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ae4f72d36099b34d8f82747/t/5b0c1ddb2b6a288855b2890e/1527520731973/40-SABANG-KWON+HYUNG+-+MASTER+KIM+KI-WHANGS+LEGACY.pdf

I have never seen any other style practice this form, so I was just curious if this was a form that Ki Whang Kim created or if it was an older Okinawan form that may have a different name in other styles. If Sa Bang Kwon and Shihoken are names for the same form, that is helpful. Particularly since the article you referenced sites it as an Okinawan form. Do you know the name of the form in okinawan? or how it is written in Hangul?

 

[slindsey15]

I have never seen any other style practice this form, so I was just curious if this was a form that Ki Whang Kim created or if it was an older Okinawan form that may have a different name in other styles. If Sa Bang Kwon and Shihoken are names for the same form, that is helpful. Particularly since the article you referenced sites it as an Okinawan form. Do you know the name of the form in okinawan? or how it is written in Hangul?

I said I'd ask my instructor - and I will...just might be a week.

Ultimately I have the same questions you do.

I've been trying to figure out if it has other names - but no luck so far.

What I have noticed is the school I currently attend tends not to use the korean names for the advanced forms. They teach Chinte, Shihoken, Lo hi, Chinto, and Kan Ku Dai.
Ro Hi, Jin Do, and Kang Sang Koon are fairly common in TSD. Chinte is a bit rarer, and the version I'm learning has changes (the beginning looks more like Ji'in). I can't find any examples of Shihoken that don't connect to Ki Whang Kim. They're all tied to the Maryland/DC area. I'm in FL, but the people I train with learned from an instructor who was from Maryland.

If you look into Ki Whang Kim, he seems to have studied Shudokan, which is known for unique kata.
I wasn't able to find any mention of the form in Shudokan or Shorin-Ryu sources. I will say there are some distinct differences in students of this lineage. They tend to step in arcs like okinawans, and there are some interesting form differences in the pyung ahn and nihanchi series. This speaks to me of a guy who got affiliated with Tang Soo Do late and had strong influences from non moo duk kwan sources...OR a guy who was creative and liked to tinker. I find the Shudokan connection intriguing and quitely wonder if it's not a Rohai variant or a combination with Sip soo or something(but that's just wild conjecture)
Check out some of the videos here....Dale Thompkins studied under Ki-Whang Kim. also in maryland

Instructional Videos – Forms | Tompkins Karate Association

 

[gyoja]

They tend to step in arcs like okinawans

How do you mean. As in your lead leg moves in a crescent pattern as you step forward? If so, how are you taught to step?

 

[slindsey15]

How do you mean. As in your lead leg moves in a crescent pattern as you step forward? If so, how are you taught to step?

I was taught 2 different ways by 2 different instructors. One way is the crescent. Feet nearly come together at you step forward in a front stance for example...like when doing low block or punch line drills. I'm not sure if it's connected...but this footwork was taught with the back foot turned out slightly.

I've seen versions where students tuck the back foot under the leading knee in stepping as well.

The other way doesn't emphasize the Cresent. The distance between feet remains much wider. Again unsure if connected...but this way they drilled both feet straight forward.

And fwiw...both systems argued their way favored balance if pushed while stepping. My honest opinion is they optimize for different things.

More like this (Crescent not emphasized)

Or this (Again not emphasized)

 

[gyoja]

I was taught 2 different ways by 2 different instructors. One way is the crescent. Feet nearly come together at you step forward in a front stance for example...like when doing low block or punch line drills. I'm not sure if it's connected...but this footwork was taught with the back foot turned out slightly.

I've seen versions where students tuck the back foot under the leading knee in stepping as well.

The other way doesn't emphasize the Cresent. The distance between feet remains much wider. Again unsure if connected...but this way they drilled both feet straight forward.

And fwiw...both systems argued their way favored balance if pushed while stepping. My honest opinion is they optimize for different things.

More like this (Crescent not emphasized)

Or this (Again not emphasized)

Ok. In the front stance, we were taught to step in a crescent (not exaggerated), with both feet facing forward in Korea. I believe GM Hwang changed things progressively; of course eventually culminating in SBD.