Unsu
Encyclopedia
Unsu literally "cloud hands", is the most advanced kata
Kata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....

 found in the Shotokan
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi and his son Gigo Funakoshi . Gichin was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing karate through a series of public demonstrations, and by promoting the development of university karate clubs, including...

, Shito-Ryu
Shito ryu
is a form of karate that was founded in 1931 by .- History :Kenwa Mabuni was born in Shuri, a district of Naha, Okinawa in 1889. Mabuni was a 17th generation descendant of the famous warrior Oni Ufugusuku Kenyu...

 and IsshinShorinji Ryu karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...

 styles and is generally taught to karateka at the 3rd to 4th Dan
Dan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...

. It contains many intricate hand techniques, such as the ippon-nukite (one finger strike) in the opening sequence. Unsu also contains a 360-degree spinning double-kick with a double-leg take down at the same time, landing on the floor face-down before continuing. Because of this, it is a very common kata in tournaments.

The origin of Unsu is unknown, but it is of the Dragon style. It is somewhat a condensation of other katas (e.g., Bassai, Kanku, Jion, Empi, Jitte and Gankaku), hence it is essential to have mastered these before practicing Unsu. The movement, Unsu, or hands in the cloud, is used to sweep away the hands of the opponent and is said to signify the gathering clouds in a thunderstorm. It consists of 48 moves.

"Unsu" is also the title of a 2006 album by French metal band Lyzanxia
Lyzanxia
Lyzanxia is a French metal group that combine thrash metal with elements of death metal.-Biography:Lyzanxia were formed in 1996 by the Potvin brothers. They quickly recorded their first demo, RIP My Skin, it displayed the band's potential. In 1997 the band produced an 11 song demo entitled Lullaby...

.
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