I share some thoughts on Sanchin application potential?" Part 3

The Sanchin - 4th Movement and 2nd Transition

Back to Sanchin.

Completing the reverse punch, you now do a left outer block with the left arm.

Obviously, this can be done as a Thumb knuckle strike from the fist (block), or by using the forearm as a shearing plane of force.

This technique, while it can be used alone, to my mind seems strongest as a follow up of 1,2,3. In that light I will continue with these sequences adding the fourth technique.

Now to put some of these together. With Sanchin techniques 1, 2 and 3.

Uke Left Foot Forward Left Punch (Interior line of defense)

1. You step in with your right foot and use the cross hands strike into their upper left chest. (an interior line of defense) [This step is the first Transition.]

2. You then execute your double outer strikes, the right deflecting

their left punch out and the left striking into their chest (or the

side of their head).

Uke then throws a right reverse punch.

3. You slice your left backfist on the inside of their punching right hand as you chamber.

4. You then punch into the lower side of their abdomen with your left hand.

5. a. If you strike there with a vertical punch turned to 1 o'clock, the strike will cause them to bend down.

6. a. If you strike there with a vertical punch turned to 11 o'clock the force of the strike will travel back to their kidneys.

7. Your left outer block is used as a strike into the left side of their neck (or alternately into their left arm pit) (or into the left side of their body in the floating ribs).

Uke Left Foot Forward Left Punch (Interior Line of Defense)

1. You step in with your right foot and slide your left foot over so your center line will cross their attacking arm 20 degrees.

2. Your double outer strike has the right deflecting the left punch and the left-hand back knuckles striking into their chest.

3. You then Slice a left backfist into the side of their ribs as you chamber.

4. Your right hand turns over and grabs their left wrist and pulls down as your left arm slices across their left ribs with the side of the arm. This will cause them to sag forward allowing a spin down with your right hand.

5. As you are pulling down you can use the left outside block to strike up underneath their arm and behind their elbow, causing hyperextension.

Uke Right Foot Forward Right Punch (Exterior Line of Defense)

1. You step forward with your right foot using a crescent step, to the outside of their punching arm. (an exterior line of defense). Then slide your left foot over so your centerline will cross their attacking arm 20 degrees.

2. Your double outer strike has the right deflecting the right punch and the left hand backfist striking into their chest (under the attacker's arm).

3. You then slice a left backfist across the side of their ribs as you chamber.

4. You right hand turns over and grabs their left wrist and pulls down as your left arm slices across their right ribs with the side of your arm. This will cause them to sag forward allowing a spin down with your right hand.

5. As you are pulling down you can use the left outside block to strike up underneath their arm and behind their elbow, causing hyperextension.

Alternate ending

4. Your right-hand strikes into their kidneys (or arm pit)

5. Your left outside strike strikes into their right armpit.

Uke Right Foot Forward Right Punch

1. You step forward with your right foot using a crescent step, to the outside of their punching arm (an exterior line of defense). You crossing hands strike into their armpit or the side of their right ribs.

2. You slide your right foot forward and execute a double outer strike, the right arm strikes into their back because you begin swinging your leg clockwise and end up in right sanchin dachi behind your attacker. 

3. You now shift to a posterior line of attack. Your left arm slices down across their spine as you chamber your hand.

4. You now punch a) their spine or b) into or across their kidneys.

5. You finish using the left outer block/strike into their back.

Without doubt this also is used in combination with the other techniques as a 'grab' defense, too.

A Sherman Harrill 'SunNuSu Kata' Variations.

Uke Left Foot Forward Left Punch

1. As you step out with the first transition, your right arm blocks across the attackers left punch.

2. At the same time your left-hand thumb strikes into the inner elbow area (just behind the elbow). These two motions will bend their arm.

3. Your right arm circles counterclockwise down and then up into the outer right middle block. The left arm circles clockwise down and up into a left thumb strike into the left side of uke's neck.

4. As the right arm continues to circle down and up (behind uke's scapula), the left hand descending backfists across uke's chest.

5. The right arm continues to circle counterclockwise rolling the attacker down. The left punch is used as a forearm strike into the left side of the attacker's neck.

6. In that the attacker has been rolled down and stunned with the neck strike. As their going down the left outer block is used as a descending elbow strike into the back of the attacker's neck.

Caution is urged in training.

Sanchin - 2d Transition (stepping movement.)

Now step with the left foot forward into left Sanchin Dachi.

In my analysis, I don't always define a kata's technique sequences as ending on the striking. Another technique is to use the movement following a strike as a lower body technique. Most often this is seen as a sweep to assist in completing the motion to down the opponent.

BTW, there is an interesting variation of using the sequence to take the opponent down. They punch, you do your strike thing, take the next step to sweep their leg taking them down. Then take the following step as a knee strike into the arm you've pulled down to demolish the arm.

Without saying, as this series of techniques is first done out of Right Sanchin Dachi, then repeated in Left Sanchin Dachi and finally Right Sanchin Dachi. The bunkai appears to be the same regardless of size.

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Separate issue, why are things being done in threes?

The most interesting answer I've ever come across comes from Ernie Rothrock's instructor Sheum Leung. He explains in Tai Chi Chaun the reason a technique is repeated a third time has to do with the need to have the moving energy within one's body in the right location to enter the following movement.

Unfortunately, my own studies (in karate or tai chi chaun) have not progressed to the point that I can recognize the movement of my Chi in technique execution <grin> so I cannot attest to the validity of this concept. But if that was the original reason behind doing techniques in 'three's', it may explain why the concept is so prevalent.

Victor