Before I get started, please note I did not learn Sanchin as a part of the core syllabus from my Dojo. Rather from a friend, PJ Broomhall, who teaches it as a part of his Bu Kai syllabus. Firstly, I learnt it out of curiosity, as it is labelled as one of the three "core" Kata of Karate (along with Naihanchi and Tensho #1). I then added it directly to my own repertoire as a part of my CBT/Karate routine (#2) that I use to remain calm and focus.
This routine has three elements, for Mindfulness, Tensioning and Relaxation. Sanchin, used to develop the "iron body" techniques of Karate, seemed to be the absolutely natural Kata for the Tensioning portion of the routine. Not done fully in the style that many Goju teachers would approve, but at Firstly, least tensioning the arms and legs to make the arms rigid in the legs "rooted".
My curiosity was piqued about the kata after watching Jesse Enkamp's China series (#3) on YouTube. There may be some dispute about the veracity of the claim to have found the oldest Kata, but there can be no doubt at all about the genuine nature of the Kung Fu featured. SanZhan was the Crown Jewel of the series. It was claimed to be the root of Seisan, which is a possibility. What is undeniably true is that it is the root form that led to Sanchin (#4).
Sanchin is known mainly for its association with Iron Body an Goju Ryu, but although the Karate kata is simplistic in appearance, its roots tell that there is much more to it. Although many may use it simply as a body training kata, it embodies fighting techniques as well. I have been lucky enough to listen to many talks and train online with many people that I would probably never have met, but for Covid. Two of these, Les Bubka and PJ Broomhall, quite happily consider and teach how the Kata can be applied.
Therefore, I was both amused and saddened by a member of the Karate world saying that Sanchin is only intended for and should only be used for, body training and conditioning. It seems that some of the extended family still live in denial of the roots of Karate and that any kata derived from Kung Fu are not just going to be "training" kata. (An example of a Chinese training form would be the likes of "8 brocades", which would never be translated into karate #5).
I have the pleasure of slowly learning some aspects of Five Ancestors Boxing from online lessons with Russ Smith, and some of the material seemed directly aligned with Sanchin, though less stylised. The material in question is in no way intended as body training and has an explicit direct follow on from the deflecting aspect of the crossing arms in a double outward worlds block.
To show what I mean, this is a video of my amended version of Sanchin,
showing the more attacking potential I can see hidden in the movements:
Sanchin modified to incorporate Five Ancestors techniques:
1) Turns half front, half back,
followed by leg sweep.
2) Outward crossing of arms open
handed, then bringing down as hooking hand to trap the opponent's arms.
3) In place of a punch, back
hand hook turns into a ridge hand “bump" to the trapped arm, followed by a
finger strike up the line of the arm into the throat.
Whilst this is strictly speaking
neither SanZhan or Sanchin, I don't think that most people would deny the
Sanchin base, or argue too much with the intent of the Five Ancestors
added techniques. Of course, apart from our doctrinally
blinkered brethren. So maybe to let them live happily in the
belief that Sanchin is solely a training/conditioning kata, by referring to
anything derived with purposeful intent as SanZhan?
REY 22/10/2023
#3 Karate Nerd In China (Ep 5)
#4 SanZhan, Sanchin and Seisan
