As you can see from the photo on the left of Dale Morrison Sensei the Okinawan zen kutsu dachi your chin is supposed to be in line with your knee and your big toe.

This is quite a deviation from Shotokan/Japanese styles where the back is supposed to be upright and the hikite hand pulled back.

During the seminar we also covered some of the basic kata from Shorin Ryu namely Fukyugata 1 and 2.

These basic kata are similar to the early Heian/Pinan kata (including Taikyoku kata).

Once again Taba Sensei pushed the correct stances of zem kutsu dachi but also Neko Ashi Dachi. The main difference here is the front foot heel is lower in the Okinawan style that the Japanese style.

There was a break for lunch, which was welcome as we had been practicing kihon for a solid two hours without a break and very little rest in between.

After lunch it was more of the same. This time more kata and emphasis on the hips (yet again) and the correct use of Jodan Uke with the stance being only a half stance and much more upright.

At the end the makiwara came out and several people tried their hand (or rather fist!) at the makiwara. Taba Sensei made several corrections to peoples technique and wanted more hip involvement as this is where the power comes from.

After another two plus hours it was time for home and some long hard thinking about the differences between the Japanese style and the Okinawan style.