Further thoughts on Chinkuchi

Monday, May 24, 2021

Further thoughts on Chinkuchi

A discussion I saved from my old Pleasant Isshinryu discussion group

2-15-2005

Further thoughts on Chinkuchi

Hello Mr. Perkins, Mr Smith,

This is an excerpt from an online article that Advincula Sensei asked my wife ** and Mr. Joe Swift >> to translate for him. Mr. Perkins, I'm sure you remember this but I was wondering if you had come across any more info on 'Fesa' and 'Atifa'.
Charles(Chuck)Boyd

PS. If anyone is interested, the book "OKINAWA BUDO KARATE NO GOKUI" by ARAKAKI KIYOSHI Published by Fukushodo in Tokyo, 2000, that I mentioned previously is now available in English and I believe the title is "Secrets of Okinawan Karate". You can find it at Amazon if you search with the author's name. I have the original two volume set in Japanese but I haven't talked my wife into doing any in depth translations yet.

My wife: **“Four major elements of Ryukyu karate secrets are:

(1) Muchimi -elasticity (flexibility), like an elastic willow tree and(or) strong (touch), stiff tenacious) body movement.

(2) Atifa -extreme destructive power which sends the shockwave of a punch or kick exploding (bursting) inside a body. (The shockwave bursts within the body of the target).

(3) Chinkuchi -flexible, soft, tender, elasticity. Elastic muscle movement. (Free movement, full control of expansion and contraction of mucles).

(4) Fesa (fay sah) - quick work. Speedy setting, outcome. Fast effect and quick finish. When you achieve all of these, you are considered to have reached a master level.

However, to determine karate skills is the movement of your mind. The eyes that can tract the true mind movement are called shingan (mind eyes) after modern times. Adding shingan to the four elements stated earlier and somebody who is the greatest/strongest is born.“**

Joe Swift: >>“The four secrets of Ryukyu Karate are said to lie in:

(1) Muchimi - a sticky heavy movement, like a willow;

(2) Atifa - the skill to send the shock of a kick or punch all the way through the opponent's body;

(3) Chinkuchi correct tension and relaxation of the muscles; and

(4) Fesa..................NOTE: Joe Swift Left out a small part of translation.

However, the mental aspect is what really determines the effectiveness of the technique. The ability to be able to see the true movement of the heart/mind has been called "shingan" (heart-eyes) in recent times. If one masters the aforementioned aspect is in addition to Shingan, they can be considered a "fist saint.">>

Len,

>I got lots of questions because you're the only one who has ever bothered to elaborate on any of this. I'm especially glad you mentioned this last >part. My question has always been, "How exactly do you do this?" You >speak about a "squeeze." What are you squeezing? This is the part that no >one ever seems to want to answer.>>

Hi Len.....you squeeze or tense the particular muscles that operate that particular weapon. For instance, if you want to put Chinkuchi in to you fist, squeeze the fist on impact. The fist then become the head of the hammer. With an elbow, I use my hand again (effects the muscles of the forearm) and my lat partially. Try it with a punch and squeeze the fist on impact. You'll see what I mean. Even (very gently though) hit someones arm with a limp back fist then just squeeze the fist on impact. Let them tell you the difference :-)

<Where is this reserve chinkuchi stored
>that you are eventually gonna put where you need it?>

This reserve is the way your body works with the technique. Chinkuchi is not something that is depleted and restored. Part of it is the tensing and the relaxing of the particular muscles that help the weapon of use.

>Most importantly, what are the body mechanics involved, ie, which muscle groups (no need for specific muscle names, lay terms are perfectly sufficient) are used to get it where you want it to be if you don't use your "hips?" I ask this because in your follow-up post you mention, "It comes down to power sources and your reason for training........" Basically, if not the "hips" (substitute "center" if you want) then what is your power source?
>
>Thanx,
>Len

Your power comes from centering, speed, breathing correctly, the proper tension and relaxation of the particular muscles, balance, the conditioning of tendons and ligaments, etc........this is what the proper practice of kata and basics does.

Hope this helps. Chinkuchi is something that is easy to show but very hard to explain. Ask me about it the next time I see you & I'll show you my little demo.

Jeff Perkins

Referencing older posts on Chinkuchi

Rememberences of Okinawan Chinkuchi 1-6-2012

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2012/01/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html

Chinkuchi – the word wrap 1.13.2020

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2020/07/chinkuchi-word-wrap.html

Training with Shinso (Ciso) and the Nukite Strike revised 1-25-2018

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2019/01/training-with-shinso-ciso-and-nukite.html

Chinkuchi and Naraasun 7-20-2018

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2015/07/chinkuchi-and-naraasun.html

The seven major elements of karate, that is muchimi, atifa, chinkuchi, fēsa, michichī, kukuru, and churasa: 3-7-2021

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-seven-major-elements-of-karate-that.html

Borrowed from 2004 – On Power 5-25-2017