Seisan

Seisan is a Japanese term with multiple meanings. In everyday usage, seisan (生産) denotes production or output, and it is commonly used in manufacturing, logistics, and economic planning to refer to the amount of goods produced in a given period. The word is formed from 生, meaning birth or life, and 産, meaning production or product.

In martial arts, Seisan is the name of a kata practiced in several karate traditions. The exact origin is unclear, but it is widely associated with Okinawan and Chinese influences and is found in styles such as Shito-ryu, Goju-ryu, and Shotokan. The name is often linked to the notion of thirteen techniques or movements, though interpretations vary by lineage. The form typically features a mix of punches, blocks, and stances that emphasize balance, hip rotation, and transitional movement, and its tempo ranges from slow to fast depending on the style and training level.

The dual meaning of Seisan reflects a broader pattern in Japanese terminology where kanji compounds serve both everyday and specialized uses. In modern discourse, the two senses of the term are usually distinguished by context: seisan for production and Seisan for the karate kata, which may be spelled with slightly different romanization in some traditions.