I share some thoughts on Sanchin application potential?" Part 6

 

Sanchin Bunkai the Seventh

The Kata Sanchin continues:

From Right Foot Forward Sanchin Dachi you:

1. Draw the right hand back to the center line (palm up)

2. Place the left hand (palm down) underneath the right wrist

3. Step back with the Right foot in a reverse crescent step, ending in a left Sanchin Dachi

4. The left-hand circles up and down (going counterclockwise) to end at the left hip, palm forward and fingers down.

5. The right hand draws back to the hip, and when the left hand has rolled to 9 o'clock, begins rolling up to before the shoulder with the fingers facing up and the palm facing front.

6. Both hands are thrust forth (with tension) into left high. Right low palm (or thumb) strikes.

Then you continue again:

From Left Foot Forward Sanchin Dachi you:

1. Draw the left hand back to the center line (palm up)

2. Place the right hand (palm down) underneath the left wrist.

3. Step back with the Left foot in a reverse crescent step, ending in a right Sanchin Dachi

4. The right-hand circles up and down (going clockwise) to end at the right hip, palm forward and fingers down.

5. The left hand draws back to the hip, and when the right hand has rolled to 3o'clock, begins rolling up to before the shoulder with the fingers facing up, and the palm facing front

6. Both hands are thrust forth (with tension) into right high, left low palm (or thumb) strikes.

Finally, we arrive at what I consider among the most powerful techniques in Karate. Goju's Tora Guchi (Tiger Mouth) or the Mawashi Uke (or perhaps Uchi). The Roundhouse block/strike combination.

Application 1 - Attacker Right Foot Forward Right Punch to the chest

You respond with an interior line of defense.

1. Your right-hand parries across, moving their arm to the left. 2. As your right foot steps back, you left arm (palm up) slides up your right arm and parries their arm further outside. 

3. Now slide forward, keeping your left foot forward). Your left arm, now continuing the kata movement, pressing into the attacker's center, with their arm causes their body to rotate, which opens the neck for a right attack.

4. Your right arm continuing the kata movement takes that opening to strike into the neck (or alternately the lower ribs) with the palm (or thumb).

5. [Logical Continuation] You can always step forward with a right crescent step as you turn slightly left, so your leg ends up behind their lead leg and sweeps them down.

Variations involve using different tai sabaki (body shifting) to change the angle of insertion of the defense, as well as stepping forward instead of stepping away from an attack.

Application 2 - Attacker Left Foot Forward Left Punch to the chest

You respond with an exterior line of defense.

1. Your right-hand parries across, moving their arm to the left.

2. As your right foot then steps back, you left arm (palm up) slides up your right arm and parries their arm further outside. 

3. Your left-hand hooks over their arm as it draws back to your hip, then to press in first roll your left fist up.

4. Your right forearm strikes into their upper arm just behind their elbow.

This variation came from Indonesian Pentjac Silat, as a snake strike. Essentially, they throw a punch, and you work very hard to break their arm.

Variations involve using different tai sabaki (body shifting) to change the angle of insertion of the defense, as well as stepping forward instead of stepping away from an attack.

Application 3 - Attacker Right Foot forward Right Punch to the Chest

You respond with an interior line of defense.

1. You step forward with your right foot, Your right hand parries across slightly moving their arm across to the left.

2. As your left arm (palm up) slides up your right arm to parry their arm, you parry their arm with your left, and have it slide over their arm as you pivot on your right foot 180 degrees counterclockwise to the left.

3. As your left arm presses down and in, your right arm continues

the Tora Guchi technique and strikes behind their elbow into the triceps.

The motion of pressing and striking into the arm as you spin into their attack will redirect them forward and continuing will cause them to spin forward and down.

Application 4 - Attacker grabs both of your wrists with their hands.

You respond with an exterior line of defense.

1. You step forward with your right foot, Your right hand, palm up, parries across moving their arm to the left.

2. Your left arm (palm up) slides up your right arm, to turn out and parry across that arm, pressing it into their other arm on your left.

3. That press allows you to pull your right hand free.

4. You continue the mawashi uke movement into the back of their left arm as their hands are tied up by your left which continues its movement too.

5. This is a takedown/arm break combination.

Application 5 - Attacker throws a right Round house kick towards your head.

You respond with an interior line of defense.

1. You step for forward with your right foot, your right-hand, palm up, parries across their leg moving it to the left.

2. Your left arm (palm up) slides up your right arm, to turn out and parry across the leg.

3. As your left hand flows across their leg, your right-hand circles down and strikes out into their solar plexus.

4. You complete the technique by sliding forward with your right foot to hook behind their standing leg. That trapping movement as well as the strike to the solar plexus will drive the opponent down.

Depending on the angle of insertion and the body shifting (Tai Sabaki) utilized, you have a wide range of possibilities to address.

The ending section of Isshinryu's Seisan kata can be interpreted as a version of Mawashi Uke, likewise it can be found throughout various Goju kata, (including Sanchin), Shotokan Unsu kata, and even in some version of Matsumura No Hakutsuru to name a few of its possible abilities.

Among the variations possible are shifting from Right Mawashi Uke to Left Mawashi Uke, as well as doubles, such as Left Mawashi Uke followed by Left Mawashi Uke.

I hope I've expressed some of the potential of Kata Sanchin with this bunkai analysis.

Victor Smith

Bushi No Te Isshinryu