Outer Eastern Martial Arts
Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate, Progressive Krav Maga & Reality Based Self Defence
Suparinpei
In the 1600s there was a group of warrior-heroes that traveled the country-side righting wrongs, taking from rich feudal lords and giving to the poor. There were said to be 108 of these men, called the 108 hands.
They were ultimately defeated and scattered. It may have been
that one of these men made it to Ryukyu and taught the form. So
the form might be named in reference to this member of the 108
who taught the form. Another explanation might be that some
Chinese named the form in honor of these men. Or, both might be
true. One or more of these men may have taught the form to Ryukyu
people.
This does not diminish the importance of the number 108. The importance of the number 108 is probably *why* there were thought to be exactly 108 of these men who had risen above their passions. It is not hard for a Chinese to believe that 108 men would gather and take oath to fight injustice and seek enlightenment and escape from the 108 mortal passions through the practice of a martial art having as its centerpiece a form of 108 movements. What better name to call themselves than "the 108 hands" -- Suparenpei!