Sanchin of the Gōjū-ryū system (see Fig. 1)

 

There are altogether thirty-two moves in the following order:

1. standing bow,

2. position,

3. posture of immovability

4. right Sanchin-dachi,

5. both-handed posture (morote-uke),

6. left middle-level thrust (hidari chūdan-zuki),

7. left middle-level defense (hidari chūdan-uke),

8. one step forward, left Sanchin-dachi,

9. right middle-level thrust,

10. right middle-level defense,

11. one step forward, right Sanchin-dachi,

12. left middle-level thrust,

13. left middle-level defense,

14. right middle-level thrust,

15. right middle-level defense,

16. left middle-level thrust,

17. left middle-level defense,

18. right middle-level thrust,

19. right middle-level defense,

20. left middle-level thrust,

21. both-handed spear-hand thrust (morote nukite),

22. both-handed seize-and-pull,

23. both-handed spear-hand thrust,

24. both-handed seize-and-pull,

25. both-handed spear-hand thrust,

26. both-handed seize-and-pull,

27. both-handed spear-hand thrust,

28. one step backward, left Sanchin-dachi,

29. both-handed palm-heel thrust (shōtei-zuki),

30. one step backward, right Sanchin-dachi,

 31. both-handed palm-heel thrust,

32. posture (kamae), 32. bow (rei).

 

Fig. 1: The Sanchin of the Gōjū-ryū system (martial performer: Kikugawa Masanari)

 

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The performance time is about 95 seconds.

 

The stance is Sanchin-dachi throughout all moves.

 

The footwork is done with the feet never leaving the ground throughout all movements.

 

The breathing method is so that inhaling and exhaling are performed simultaneously with the techniques. It is an abdominal tanden-breathing method with vocalization, with long inhalation and long exhalation, and breathing sounds come out.

 

What is noteworthy about the technique is that both closed fists and open hands are used and that no kicking is included.

 

The performance line is I-shaped and moves forward and backward three steps.

 

In the tempering method (tanren-hō), it is essential for the performer 1 to gaze at the front with the eyes steadily, 2 to pull in the chin, 3 to lower both shoulders, 4 to throw out one’s chest, and tighten one’s abdominal muscles, 5 to straighten the spine, 6 to tighten the muscles of the back, such as the latissimus dorsi muscles and the teres major muscles, 7 to pull both elbows to the sides of the body, and that the fists are in the same height, 8 to twist your forearms outward and squeeze your fist as hard as you can, 9 to tighten the anus sphincter, 10 to tighten the gluteus maximus muscles and adductor muscles inward, 11 to bend and tighten both elbows inward, and tighten the gluteus maximus muscles inward, 12 to unroll your toes and make sure that your toes and soles firmly adhere to the ground like a leech. The instructor follows the flow of the technique by directly touching the body of the performer to make them aware of individual tasks, then tighten the muscles, and gradually unify the awareness of each of them, and knock down on their shoulders almost vertically, etc.