C:/Users/Admin/Desktop/G%20Drive/Victor%20Files/Isshinryu%20Material/Chinkuchi_files/001243.htm
Ueichi Ryu.com in 2002
Charles Murray performing Seisan with Chinkuchi on Okinawa
2Green
Back on July 2/2002 Malcom Wagner posted to the thread "leg positioning".
In his reply he mentioned the word "Chinkuchi", referring to Okinawan-style "full-body flinching" as opposed to "hip rotaion" which he says is Japanese-based and "totally unnecessary for power".
This concept got buried in the reply but sure got my attention. I've never heard of the phrase or concept, at least not by name.
Mr. Wagner if you're out there can you please elaborate on this? It sounds to me like a very important and basic concept and I would be VERY interested to know all you can tell me (us!).
If Mr. Wagner does not reply, could anyone fill me in on this? Eagerly awaiting...NM
Malcolm Wagner
Chinkuchi...
The words of others are much more adequate than my own.
HIGAONNA MORIO "TRADITIONAL KARATEDO - OKINAWA GOJURYU VOL. 2"
Published by Sugawara Martial Arts Institue in Tokyo, 1986 page 27
"CHINKUCHI KAKIN"
This expression is used to describe the tension or stability of the joints in the body for a firm stance, a powerful punch, or a strong block. For example, when punching or blocking, the joints of the body are momentarily locked for an instant and concentration is focused on the point of contact; the stance is made firm by locking the joints of the lower body - the ankles, the knees and the hips - and by gripping the floor with the feet. Thus, a rapid free-flowing movement is suddenly checked for an instant, on striking or blocking, as power is transferred or absorbed. Then the tension is released immediately in order to prepare for the next movement. Sanchin kata is an example of prolonged chinkuchi kakin - all of the joints in the body in a state of constant tension.
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ARAKAKI KIYOSHI "OKINAWA BUDO KARATE NO GOKUI"
Published by Fukushodo in Tokyo, 2000 page29-30
This "chinkuchi" is sometimes written as "one cun power" and is a principle of movement related to the "cun-power" of Chinese Quanfa. A simple explanation is, when punching for instance, to contract the muscles used when punching (especially the triceps and the trapezius), increasing the speed of the punch or block from within your own body.
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TOKASHIKI IKEN "OKINAWA KARATE HIDEN: BUBISHI SHINSHAKU"
Published by Gohakukai in Naha, 1995 page 142
When punching, the most important thing is that the "koshi" are in it, and that chinkuchi is being utilized. Chinkuchi, in a word, means to contract the trapezius, the triceps, the pectoralis major, etc. when thrusting ths fist out. At that time, the armpits must also be closed when punching or blocking. This means that a punch with chinkuchi has an instantaneous increase in power. This is called "one cun power" and causes a great destructive power upon the opponent's body.
Charles Boyd
Calgary Alberta Canada
Malcolm Wagner
Chinkuchi
The following explanation of the term 'chinkuchi' comes from the collective information of the Isshinkai Group composed of Isshinryu Karate Instructors and practitioners. Contributors to this description include Tom Saunders, Carol Womac, Jeff Perkins, A.J. Advincula, Sherman Harrill, and others from the group.
Chinkuchi is a physical conditioning process and focus of mind and body, which employs the skeletal muscle system, sinew, connective tissue, and balance to hasten and strengthen the striking velocity or absorption of a karate blow. The physical act of employing chinkuchi in karate moves is to help enable the practitioner to brace himself for the impact of a blow, protect his joints from hyperextension, and add strength and speed to the technique.
Chinkuchi is both an offensive and defensive focus of the mind and body which adds physical strength to the economy of human motion. The technique can be applied to the entire body as with the practice of dynamic tension kata such as Sanchin, or learned to be applied into individual parts of the body. It is a mental and physical process which is learned in stages and degrees and can be applied with weapons.
The learning and application of chinkuchi in karate technique is viewed to be a vital asset in the application of karate for self defense. It adds power, and supplies added strength, and speed which is not seen in all karate systems. The application of chinkuchi in the execution of a karate technique is visible to those who practice this application. It is characterized by the audible snapping from kicks and punches in the execution of techniques by advanced practitioners. Techniques can be seen as being executed from a soft to hard form of delivery which prevents the joints from locking, but adds velocity to the blow in aggressive moves.
Chinkuchi is learned as an applied theory of karate directly related to many hard-soft theories of martial arts. It is meant to be applied as an integrated part of a technique.
Many instructors use the aid of analogies and visualization to help apply chinkuchi to various applications. The process is best learned from instructors, and is learned mostly from example.
Chinkuchi is taught as part of the overall development of techniques in classical karate systems of Okinawa, such as Isshinryu, Go-ju, and others. Like applications in other martial Arts may exist in whole or part and may be known by other names. Many practices in the application of classical karate may contribute to the development of chinkuchi in the karate-ka.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Bill Glasheen
Great stuff, Malcolm. Thanks.
What you describe is extremely important. There's been a great deal of discussion - some calm, some heated - on the subject of power generation in Uechi Ryu. Most assuredly folks like Van Canna are correct in pointing out the lack of life in some practitioners' waza - hence the expression "dead fish kata." But how we put the life back in... That's where the heat begins to generate.
Here we see a description of power that seems unique to sanchin-based systems, and is of Chinese - as opposed to Japanese - origin. It is one important view of how to put the life in the movement.
I find the following statements very interesting.
quote:
This means that a punch with chinkuchi has an instantaneous increase in power.
quote:
Thus, a rapid free-flowing movement is suddenly checked for an instant, on striking or blocking, as power is transferred or absorbed. Then the tension is released immediately in order to prepare for the next movement.
Van has also used the analogy of the whip, which I think aptly describes the transition from relaxed to tense, and then relaxed again.
You know it when you see it.
- Bil
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