Sanchin, what’s in a name…

“Sanchin 三戦 kata is the most important basic kata, which represents the fundamental foundations for all of the techniques in goju-ryu.“

“Sanchin and tensho kata are examples of heishu kata with tension throughout the body, especially in the tanden which maintains from the beginning to the end of the kata.“

[Morio Higaonna, Traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Vol. 23, Panther Home Video, 1988]

“The literal meaning of the word sanchin is three battles. ‘San’ means ‘three’ and ‘chin’ means ‘combat’.

This could be understand to mean: breath control, bone and muscle growth and spiritual strength development. Sanchin: three elements united.“

“The purpose of sanchin is threefold, as the name suggests.

Firstly it helps us to create the spiritual or internal strength or energy that we call ki.
Secondly it teaches us to breathe properly.
Thirdly it helps to develop exceptional strength in the muscles and bones.

Practicing sanchin develops these three qualities and brings them together.
Sanchin concentrates these things into a single entity.”

[Morio Higaonna, Goju Ryu Technical Series Part 2, Tsunami Martial Arts Video, 1997]

“Although achieved with extremely simple movements, if the three fundamental elements of breathing (kokyū 呼吸), structure (kinkotsu 腱骨) and spirit (seishin 精神) are not able to be tuned in the right way, it will be very difficult to master this kata.”

“Sanchin kata is based on three fundamental elements. The first is “posture“ (sanchin dachi 三戦 立ち). Follow the “breathing method”. Finally, the “spirit“. If even one of these characteristics fail, it becomes impossible to master sanchin kata correctly.“

[Morio Higaonna, Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-Do, Keibundo, 1981]

In all the explanations there are three elements:

breathing (breath control, breath properly, breathing method);

posture (bone and muscle growth, strength in the muscles and bones, structure with japanese word ‘kinkotsu’, posture with japanese term ‘sanchin dachi’ in brackets);

spirit (spiritual strength development, spiritual or internal strength or energy).

It could be confusing the term “sanchin dachi” in connection with other terms but it become clear thanks to explanations of the following part of 1981 book.

“To begin with, I will talk about the “sanchin dachi” posture. This posture considers extremely the right contraction of the muscles of the whole body is important. When you reach a correct posture of sanchindachi, you are in a condition where the whole body is full of energy, without any point being uncovered. In other words, learning the sanchin dachi posture, you gets a body capable of withstanding any kind of impact. Also, practicing every day sanchindachi, results in the strengthening of the whole body.“

[Morio Higaonna, Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-Do, Keibundo, 1981]

And in the same book ‘sanchin dachi’ is further explained in terms of step width, foot position, postural attitude and foot shift method.

So, in this context, ‘posture (sanchin dachi)’ identify both body posture and dynamics of muscles, not “simply” the stance.

And the term ‘structure (kinkotsu)’ adds more significant value: ‘kinkotsu’ means, literally, ‘muscles (or tendons) and bones’, and is so similar to okinawan term “chinkuchi kakin”.

“Externally sanchin practice works from the toes to the top of your head. Every single muscle is involved. In Okinawa we call this ‘chinkuchi kakin’: joints, sinews and muscles all working together. Sanchin teaches each muscle its role and makes them stronger“

[Morio Higaonna, Goju Ryu Technical Series Part 2, Tsunami Martial Arts Video, 1997]

“Sanchin kata is an example of prolonged chinkuchi kakin – all the joints of the body in a state of constant tension.“

[Morio Higaonna, Traditional Karatedo – Okinawa Goju-Ryu Vol. 2, Japan Publications, 1986]

And “spirit” too is better clarified with this two explanations:

“The movements and the posture of Sanchin are coordinated by a breathing method governed by the mind. ‘Mind’ means the correct form of mental concentration. For example, we should never transfer our daily preoccupations into our practice of Sanchin. These problems and worries cause a relaxation of our muscles, whereas they should be in a constant state of tension. Moreover, anxieties disturb the rhythm of our breathing. The correct mental concentration that allows us to avoid these problems is the very definition of heijo shin. The daily, persistent, continual practice of Sanchin builds up the kind of strong mental constitution that permits us to reach heijo shin.“

[Morio Higaonna, Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-Do, Keibundo, 1981]

“In the context of martial arts seishin is often translated as ‘spirit’ or ‘spiritual energy’. In common language it may be translated as ‘psyche’, ‘soul’ or ‘mind’. However, in the context of a body-mind practice such as karate, or any embodied spiritual practice, spirit should be understood as including both mind and body and in particular the ‘chemistry’ between them. This is also resembled in the individual ‘characters’ (kanji) of the word seishin. ‘Sei’ literally also refers to the essential substance of the body, which in Chinese and Japanese medicine can point at sperm, ovaries, hormones, sexual energy, basic energy, etc. ‘Shin’ here is mind, soul or psyche. By bringing body and mind closely together in specific ways this energy can be transformed into an extra-ordinary or ‘higher’ level of body-mind functioning. This can be expressed in extraordinary vitally, martial arts power, mental functioning, etc. Seishin in this perspective could be translated as extraordinary ‘body-mind-vitality’.”

[Sydney Leijenhorst, A FEW KEY NOTES FROM THE POLAND GASSHUKU, JUNE 2010]

“The ‘San’ of sanchin, which means three, refers to the three distinct body areas. From the top of the head to the shoulders is jodan, from the shoulders to the solar plexus is chudan and from the solar plexus to the soles of the feet is gedan“.

[Morio Higaonna, Traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Vol. 23, Panther Home Video, 1988]

“The number three is very significant. It can also refer to jodan: the area from the neck up, which includes the brain that signifies the seat of the spirit. Secondly, the chudan area: the shoulders to suigetsu level, signifies the breathing and gedan, below the suigetsu, relates to the stance. The practice of sanchin rests on these three points. If one is absent, one can not practice sanchin properly.”

[Morio Higaonna, Goju Ryu Technical Series Part 2, Tsunami Martial Arts Video, 1997]

“If sanchin is performed as described in the correct way with the three areas correctly focused and this is combined with correct breathing and correct karate technique, than strength for karate, ‘karate power‘, will be achieved.“

[Morio Higaonna, Traditional Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Vol. 23, Panther Home Video, 1988]

© 2022, Roberto Ugolini

Sanchin, kihongata

(versione in italiano al termine di quella inglese)

“Sanchin is the fundamental kata. Through practicing it, we can take a correct posture. We can inhale and exhale correctly. We can adjust increasing or decreasing our power harmoniously. We can develop a powerful physique and a strong will of warrior. … We induce the interaction of mind and body from the fundamental kata, Sanchin.”

Chōjun Miyagi, in “Historical Outline of Karate-Do, Martial Arts of Ryukyu“

Posture, breathing and power… three battles.

Mind, body and spirit… three battles.

Sanchin, three battles, the fundamental kata.

The practice of the Sanchin kata would seem to have little relevance to combat: the slowness of the movements, the attention on diaphragmatic breathing, the isotonic and isometric muscular movements… but we should think of Sanchin as a form of kiko (vital energy exercise) that enables us to generate ki and collect it in the tanden (mainly, for combat purposes, in the seika tanden), to direct it to all the areas of the body for offensive and defensive purposes, and to fuse it into muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones.

The posture of body and the mechanics of the movements (arms and legs) are the building blocks for correct Sanchin practice, permitting a fluid ki-flow (ki no nagare). This ki-flow is regulated and enhanced through our breathing, always tanden kokyu, at different levels of interaction with the energy channels, from fukushiki kokyu (abdominal breathing) to shoshyuten (small circulation) to daishyuten (large circulation). Also the breath holding, during the steps, is helpful in this ki-flow, acting as a charger for the following circulations.

“The movements and the posture of Sanchin are coordinated by a breathing method governed by the mind. ‘Mind’ means the correct form of mental concentration. For example, we should never transfer our daily preoccupations into our practice of Sanchin. These problems and worries cause a relaxation of our muscles, whereas they should be in a constant state of tension. Moreover, anxieties disturb the rhythm of our breathing. The correct mental concentration that allows us to avoid these problems is the very definition of heijo shin. The daily, persistent, continual practice of Sanchin builds up the kind of strong mental constitution that permits us to reach heijo shin.”

Morio Higaonna, in “Okinawa Goju-Ryu karate-do”; Tokyo, Keibunsha, 1983

The Sanchin kata, therefore, uses maximum muscular contractions to fuse the ki into the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. But these muscular contractions follow specific directions and qualities (isotonic and isometric) for different parts of the body. Of particular note is that the muscular contractions of arms and legs follow spiral directions, thus balancing the left and right side of the body and upper arm / thigh with forearm / leg.

“Chōjun Miyagi believed that karateka must understand the principle of spiraling as this was the key to effective karate. This applied, he said, to all facets of karate and all parts of the body; stances, techniques, the use of tanden, breathing, all are united by spiraling to produce speed and power..” (cit. Morio Higaonna Sensei)

(versione in italiano)

“Sanchin è il kata fondamentale. Per mezzo della sua pratica, possiamo acquisire una postura corretta, metodi per la respirazione corretti e per gestire la nostra potenza in maniera armoniosa. Promuove quindi uno spirito ed un fisico forti ed induce l’integrazione tra corpo e mente.”

Chōjun Miyagi, in “Historical Outline of Karate-Do, Martial Arts of Ryukyu“

Postura, respirazione, potenza… tre conflitti.

Corpo, mente, spirito… tre conflitti.

Sanchin, tre conflitti, kata fondamentale.

All’apparenza l’esecuzione del Sanchin potrebbe sembrare di poca utilità pratica visto nell’ottica di un contesto marziale. La lentezza dei movimenti, la enfatizzazione della respirazione diaframmatica, la contrazione muscolare isometrica ed isotonica sembrano tendere verso tutt’altre qualità rispetto a quelle necessarie in una disciplina marziale di combattimento. Solamente interpretando il Sanchin come una forma di kiko (lavoro dell’energia) è possibile attribuire a questo kata un senso compiuto, che permette la pratica e lo sviluppo del ki (energia vitale). La pratica del Sanchin permette infatti lo sviluppo del ki, l’accumulo dello stesso nel tanden (principalmente nel seika tanden), il suo trasferimento dal tanden verso le varie zone corporee (sia per scopi difensivi che offensivi) e la sua “fusione” con le ossa, i muscoli ed i tendini.

La postura del corpo e la dinamica dei movimenti (arti superiori ed inferiori in particolare) sono i “mattoni” per la corretta pratica del Sanchin, abilitanti una fluida circolazione del ki (ki no nagare). La circolazione del ki è regolata ed incrementata dalla nostra respirazione, tanden kokyu, con differenti livelli di coinvolgimento dei canali energetici, dalla respirazione addominale, alla piccola e grande circolazione (fukushiki kokyu, shoshyuten, daishyuten). Anche il trattenere il respiro durante i movimenti, mantenendo la corretta postura e le contrazioni muscolari, è funzionale al ki no nagare, agendo come una sorta di caricatore di energia.

“I movimenti e la postura del Sanchin sono coordinati con il metodo di respirazione per mezzo della mente. ‘Mente’ significa la corretta concentrazione mentale. Per esempio, non dovremmo mai trasferire le preoccupazioni quotidiane nella pratica del Sanchin. I problemi e le preoccupazioni causano un rilassamento dei muscoli che invece dovrebbero essere tenuti costantemente in tensione. Inoltre le preoccupazioni disturbano il ritmo della respirazione. La corretta concentrazione mentale che permette di evitare questi problemi non è nient’altro che l’heijo shin. La pratica quotidiana, continua, persistente del Sanchin costruisce quella robusta costituzione mentale che ci permette di raggiungere l’heijo shin.”

Morio Higaonna, in “Okinawa Goju-Ryu karate-do”; Tokyo, Keibunsha, 1983

Nel kata Sanchin, quindi, utilizziamo la contrazione muscolare massima, per fondere il ki nei muscoli, nei legamenti, nei tendini e nelle ossa. E queste contrazioni muscolari sono eseguite con specifiche direzioni e qualità (isometriche e isotoniche) per le diverse parti del corpo. In particolare negli arti superiori / inferiori, le contrazioni muscolari inducono delle direzioni a spirale, permettendo un bilanciamento tra le due lateralità del corpo e tra braccio / coscia con avambraccio / gamba.

“Chōjun Miyagi era convinto che la comprensione del principio delle spirali fosse la chiave per un karate veramente efficace. Applicando il principio a tutti gli aspetti del karate ed a tutte le parti del corpo; postura, tecniche, l’utilizzo del tanden, respirazione, tutto unito da spirali per produrre velocità e potenza..” (cit. Sensei Morio Higaonna)

© 2018, Roberto Ugolini