Sanchin no Kata - 三戦の型

Sanchin no Kata literally means ‘Kata of three battles or conflicts’, from the characters San - 三 (‘three’) and Chin - 戦 (‘war’, ‘battle’ or ‘match’). no Kata - の型 means ‘Kata of …’. But the real meaning of Sanchin no Kata is interpreted as the battles of the Body, Mind and Spirit.

Sanchin no Kata is considered to be the oldest Kata and the most important Kata of Karate (along with Tensho). The true history of Sanchin no Kata has been lost to antiquity. But according to the Karate lineage, Kanryo Higaonna (Higashionna in Japanese; Naha-Te) brought Sanchin no Kata back to Okinawa from Southern China (Fujianese). His student Chojun Miyagi (founder of Goju-Ryu) made changes to Sanchin no Kata (open spear hands to closed fists, and changed the breathing to more direct and less circulatory in nature). This version Sanchin no Kata is still used in most styles of Karate, including Kyokushin.

Three elements are practiced with Sanchin no Kata. The Body component is the most apparent, it involves breath control, muscle tension and relaxation, grip, proper posture, proper Kamae and balance/stability. To conquer the Mind requires intense concentration, shime conditioning and visualisation, among others. The battle of the Spirit has to do with creating harmony between the physical and mental aspects of Sanchin no Kata. This is our will, or intention, to push our abilities to the highest level.

In practicing Sanchin no Kata we strive for Kime - 決め, the exact amount of power, focus and speed to make a technique effective. The right combination not only leads to the strengthening of the body, but also to the development of the inner power Ki - 気 ('vital energy') and the coordination of mind and body. Ki is located in our Nōten - 脳天 ('crown of our head'), the Hara - 腹 ('diaphragm') and our Tanden - 丹田 ('lower abdomen'). With Ibuki - 息吹 ('deep breathing'), by expanding our diaphragm and creating a spine perpendicular to the earth, we optimize the conditions for building good Ki and transferring the energy through our bodies. The cultivation of our spiritual energy is the basis of our entire practice both in and outside the Dojo. Sanchin no Kata can be classified as ‘moving Zen’, our way of meditating in Karate.

It is easy to see why Mas Oyama would want the Kata as part of his Kyokushin Karate. He considered the three most important principles of Kata training to be Waza no Kankyu - 技の緩 ('the tempo of technique'), Chikara no Kyojaku - 力の強弱 ('the points of power stress'), and Iki no Chosei - 息の調整 ('breath control'). Sanchin no Kata teaches all the three aspects, and as well, through it’s Shime - 締め testing, it would demonstrate The Ultimate Truth.

Sanchin no Kata made its way into the curriculum of Kyokushin Karate as a Southern Kata because of Sosai Oyama’s extensive background in Goju-ryu, under sensei Nei-Chu So, and his teacher, Gogen Yamaguchi. Mas Oyama trained from time to time with Gogen Yamaguchi, even joining the latter’s Goju-kai and obtaining the rank of 7th Dan Black Belt.

Sanchin no Kata - 三戦の型

#	Explanation step by step	3e Kyu
	Begin the Kata in FUDO DACHI. Move into MUSUBI DACHI and MOKUSO on the command MOKUSO. On the next command Sanchin no kata, open eyes and wait until the command YOI. Then start perform a slow YOI DACHI with IBUKI that ends in HEIKO DACHI
1.	On the command HAJIME/ICHI move the right foot forward into right SANCHIN DACHI, and simultaneously putting the right arm in front of the left and blocking right SEIKEN MOROTE UCHI UKE (right in front of the left one) that ends in SANCHIN no KAMAE with IBUKI. All IBUKI NOGARE rhythms in this Kata are at a mental count of four, with a one count finish.
2.	In the same position quick inhale while bringing the left fist back into HIKITE (to the ready punch position) and punch left SEIKEN CHUDAN GYAKU TSUKI with IBUKI, quick inhale and with the extended left arm block CHUDAN UCHI UKE with IBUKI.
3.	With the arms in the SEIKEN MOROTE UCHI UKE position, quickly step forward into left SANCHIN DACHI.
4.	In the same position quick inhale while bringing the right fist back into HIKITE and punch right SEIKEN CHUDAN GYAKU TSUKI with IBUKI, quick inhale and with the extended right arm block CHUDAN UCHI UKE with IBUKI.
5.	With the arms in the SEIKEN MOROTE UCHI UKE position, quickly step forward into right SANCHIN DACHI.
6.	Bring the left fist back into HIKITE, quickly inhale and punch left SEIKEN KAGI TSUKI under de right elbow with IBUKI. With the arms in this position quickly step across with the right foot and turn 180° counterclockwise into left SANCHIN DACHI, simultaneously blocking with a fast left CHUDAN UCHI UKE.
7.	In this position quickly inhale and punch right SEIKEN CHUDAN TSUKI with IBUKI, with the extended right arm block SEIKEN UCHI UKE with IBUKI.
8.	With the arms in the SEIKEN MOROTE UCHI UKE position, quickly step into right SANCHIN DACHI.
9.	Quick inhale and bring the left fist back into HIKITE and punch left SEIKEN KAGI TSUKI under de right elbow with IBUKI. With the arms in this position quickly step across with the right foot and turn 180° counterclockwise into left SANCHIN DACHI, simultaneously blocking with a fast left SEIKEN UCHI UKE.
10.	In this position quickly inhale and punch right SEIKEN CHUDAN GYAKU TSUKI with IBUKI, with the extended right arm block SEIKEN UCHI UKE with IBUKI.
11.	With the arms in the Sanchin no Kamae position, quickly step forward into right SANCHIN DACHI.
12.	In the same position quick inhale while bringing the left fist back into HIKITE and punch left SEIKEN CHUDAN GYAKU TSUKI with IBUKI, quick inhale and with the extended left arm block SEIKEN UCHI UKE with IBUKI (1).
13.	In the same position quick inhale while bringing the right fist back into HIKITE and punch right SEIKEN CHUDAN OI TSUKI with IBUKI, quick inhale and with the extended right arm block SEIKEN UCHI UKE with IBUKI (2).
14.	In the same position quick inhale while bringing the left fist back into HIKITE and punch left SEIKEN CHUDAN GYAKU TSUKI with IBUKI, quick inhale and with the extended left arm block SEIKEN UCHI UKE with IBUKI (3).
15.	Still in the same position quickly inhale and grab with both hands directly in front of you, at neck height, with palms facing out. Quickly pull back both hands closed into HIKITE. Open both fists and execute a MOROTE YONHON NUKITE, approximately at your own solar plexus height, with IBUKI (1).
16.	Still in the same position quickly inhale and grab with both hands. Quickly pull back both hands closed into HIKITE. Open both fists and execute a MOROTE YONHON NUKITE with IBUKI (2).
17.	Still in the same position quickly inhale and grab with both hands. Quickly pull back both hands closed into HIKITE. Open both fists and execute a MOROTE YONHON NUKITE with IBUKI (3).
18.	Bring both hands in preparation for SHUTO MAE MAWASHI UKE (right hand up) and quickly move back with the right leg into left SANCHIN DACHI. Complete the SHUTO MAE MAWASHI UKE, inhale and execute SHOTEI MOROTE UCHI, right hand JODAN left hand GEDAN, with IBUKI (1).
19.	Bring both hands in preparation for SHUTO MAE MAWASHI UKE (left hand up) and quickly move back with the left leg into right SANCHIN DACHI. Complete the SHUTO MAE MAWASHI UKE, inhale and execute MOROTE SHOTEI UCHI (left hand JODAN right hand GEDAN) with IBUKI (2).
20.	Move the right foot back into MUSUBI DACHI and retain the MOKUSO position.
	The Kata is completed with the command NAORE and the FUDO DACHI position is taken. At the command YASMEE relax and at ease. Back to Top