That's what i thought, there's a wado ryu class near to me, do they teach sanchin?
Wado does Seishan.
http://www.wadokai.co.uk/technical_video_kata/seishan_instructional.php
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That's what i thought, there's a wado ryu class near to me, do they teach sanchin?
Doesn't look much like the Okinawan forms. Possibly this is because Wadu Ryu has its roots in jujutsu with influences from Shotokan and Shito Ryu rather than the link back to Fujien and the Crane systems.
Doesn't look much like the Okinawan forms. Possibly this is because Wado Ryu has its roots in jujutsu with influences from Shotokan and Shito Ryu rather than the link back to Fujien and the Crane systems.
The positioning of the arm in Goju is the same basic structure throughout the whole Guju system. This is different in the other styles, so changing the arm to suit a different system is unlikely to work without weakening the basic structure.
I guess this post raises more questions than it gives answers, but Sanchin is an incredibly complex beast. :asian:
The Wado-Ryu version of Seishan shown reminds me very much of the Isshin-Ryu version of the form. It is kind of an upper body Shorin and a lower body Goju.
As to the rest of your post, it is very spot on. But, I would like to point out that Uechi uses different mechanics and breathing as applicable to their style, same with the other versions of the style. So the question really does become, if you changed the physical template to reflect your styles mechanics would it benefit them.
The other aspect is that for some styles the aspect on the dynamic tension is VERY important and leads to what the okinawans refer to as "Chinkuchi". Here is an article from an Isshin-Ryu standpoint on it.
http://www.msisshinryu.com/articles/safreed/chinkuchi.shtml
So very true. :asian:"Chinkuchi is the essence of isshin-ryu," Advincula says. "The entire system is built around it." This is illustrated in sanchin kata, which is practiced to cultivate and control ki through proper breathing methods. Because he feels proper balance, coupled with maximum energy, is the key to victory, Advincula stresses chinkuchi when teaching self-defense and close-combat fighting. "Disrupt your opponent's ki, and you have won the battle," Advincula states. If you control not only your chinkuchi, but also that of your opponent, you control your destiny."
Interesting to see four masters lined up together to demonstrate one kata in the different ways.
As was said in the commentary, closing the hands is a recent thing (early 1900s). Even the turning form (Higaonna) has been changed by Yamaguchi to a slightly shorter variation. :asian:
From accounts I have read from early Okinawan karatekas, Sanchin was not a "set in stone" practice. In Uechi, for example, you would just go forward until you got to the end of the dojo and then turned and went back. It was not a prescribed amount of steps forward. Also, students would start with both the right or the left side, and not always on one side. I think the number of steps became more concrete to conserve space and Miyagi changed the turns to stepping backwards because it was harder in his opinion to move back and wanted students to practice that.
To an extent pertaining to principles, yes.Could Sanchin have roots all the way to India/Buddhist esoteric studies?
Could Sanchin have roots all the way to India/Buddhist esoteric studies?
I remember reading or maybe hearing that the reason Miyagi changed the pattern for Sanchin from the turns to moving forward and back was because he felt it was disrespectful to turn your back on your Sensei while he's testing your base and proper tightness. Or maybe Miyagi's students change the kata because he felt it was disrespectful to turn your back on a Sensei.
So, this took a little while for me to prepare, sorry, but I still wanted to share it.
Sanchin is thought to be the oldest kata in karate. It literally means "three battles" or "three conflicts", and it can also be translated as "three points" or "three phases Sanchin kata seeks to develop three sets of elements at the same time:
- The mind, body and the techniques
- The internal organs, circulation and the nervous system, and
- The three ki, located in: the top of the head, (tento), the diaphragm (hara), and the lower abdomen (tanden)
Kyokushin Sanchin, and sanchin in general, are isometric katas, where each move is performed in a state of complete tension, accompanied by powerful, deep breathing (ibuki) that originates in the lower abdomen (tan den). The practice of Sanchin kata not only leads to the strengthening of the body, but it also aims at the development of inner power (ki) and the coordination of mind and body. It also emphasizes basic footwork, hand techniques as well as basic blocking techniques, and a fair amount of strategy: it not only teaches overall breath control, but is a tool of learning in no dori, to move in while an attacker is inhaling, or at the moment in between inhalation and exhalation. It, along with the kata tensho-what many consider the sister to sanchin-teaches the use of the rotation of the hand and wrist, leading and redirecting an opponent, and adding one’s power to their own.
One can find several versions of this kata performed, with and without the tension-including more than one Chinese form called “Three Battles,” related to White Crane, Here’s a really cool video I found of Morio Higaonna of Goju ryu, Shin Gushi of Uechi ryu/pangainoon, and two Chinese masters I’m completely unfamiliar with., Chen Jian Feng and a Master Pan, each demonstrating their respective version:
And here’s Shin Gushi, performing Uechi ryu’s sanchin kata, again:
Here’s the kyokushin version I learned as a kid-a bit more apparent tension than most other forms, but not really any tenser:
And Morio Hagionna, of Goju ryu, again:
Here’s Angi Uezi performing Isshin ryu’s sanchin kata, with tension:
but I’ve also seen Isshin ryu people do it without tension.
And here’s Toyama Seiko, another Uechi ryu master, performing another kata, at the age of 74:
I posted the last video to demonstrate what several of these gentlemen show, though, the true benefit of sanchin kata: vigor and strength into old age. Strength and vitality throughout one’s life are intimately tied to breathing and breath control, and this practice-done properly as part of an overall training program-contributes to longevity and vitality. I’m living proof of that-I’m not supposed to be breathing at all, at this age, or even to have reached this age, never mind still be breathing pretty darned well. I happen to know that Shin Gushi, who was about 68 when his video was done, smokes like a chimney. I also learned the Uechi version from my friend, Andre Tippett, about 25 years ago, and I practice both forms. I believe the open hands are the original martial application, and also allow for better ki development and flow, and think that the form should also be practiced without tension on occasion-but that’s just me, and what do I know?
As for the turning, from stories I have read from various lineages in Okinawa that practice the kata. There were no set amounts of stepping before turning, for example three steps foward turn etc. You just stepped forward from one side of the dojo until the other and then turned around and then went back to the other side, however many times your instructor wanted you too. The reason I point that out is that it was a very common way to practice it, for a very long time. So I don't think that the Miyagi version took out the turns for that reason alone. I think it was more to practice stepping back.
Well, I've got a pet question that I use to remind my students all the time, though it means something different for karate kata, it's pretty relevant to this conversation:
Where is your opponent?
And consider the martial application of the turn in terms of seasoned's post on spinal flex and grounding. :wink:
Tensho perhaps?In Goju-Ryu, there are other katas that practice that type of turning, so you aren't losing the lesson by taking it out of Sanchin. But, Sanchin is the only one that comes to mind that has you stepping back like that, and I think that is more reasonable to assume for the change.