Sunday, January 16, 2022

Chinkuchi - Kakin

From a Facebook Karate discussion 1-16-2022



Roberto Ugolini

 

In 1981 book by Morio Higaonna Sensei he wrote about sanchin kata:

 

Although realized with extremely simple movements, if the three fundamental elements of breath, structure and spirit are not able to be tuned in the right way, it will be very difficult to master this kata.

 

The kanji for 'structure' are 筋骨 kinkotsu (physical structure, muscles or tendons, and bones). The okinawan term 'chinkuchi' could be a variation of that term to identify the kinkotsu used in sanchin kata (and other kata too)?



Andreas Quast


Yes, it is an Okinawan slang pronunciation of the Japanese word. Additionally, special technical meaning has been added to chinkuchi, but as in many if not most other cases of Okinawan martial arts concepts and terms, this has become a fashion only recently within the huuuuge issue of Okinawa identity, and probably set out in the 1980s or so.

 

Yes, I would guess the 1980s was a time of many innovations in Okinawa karate, including the use of dialect pronunciations to embed things more into the overall concept of "Okinawa identity" (and brand development and tourism).

 

Like that, kinkotsu or its dialect pronunciation chinkuchi simply means muscles and bones. All further descriptions in terms of its karate meaning are extra-terminological creations developed to add a specific meaning to the word and establishing it a technical term in the field if karate...

 

It has probably no historical backing but rather is part of a number of innovations added since the 1980s.

 

It must be difficult to understand that many things in karate which we were made to believe or believed ourselves were handed down since ancient times are simply new inventions, but it is really obvious.

 

BTW, Higaonna Morio Sensei in 1984 spoke of CHINKUCHI KAKIN, and provided a karate-specific - or better Goju-specific - definition something like this:

 

CHINKUCHI KAKIN is used to describe the tensioning or stabilizing the body's joints for a steady stance, a powerful punch, or a strong block.

 

For example, when blocking or jabbing, the body's joints are “locked” for a moment and the focus is placed on the point of contact; the stance is reinforced by "locking" the joints of the lower body - the ankles, knees, and hips - and by planting the feet on the ground.

 

In this way, a fast flowing movement is suddenly momentarily controlled when thrusting or blocking, when force is transmitted, released, or absorbed. Then the tension is immediately released to be ready for the next movement.

 

Sanchin Kata is an example of a lengthened Chinkuchi Kakin - all the joints of the body are in a state of constant tension.


 Andreas Quast

Yes, it is an Okinawan slang pronunciation of the Japanese word. Additionally, special technical meaning has been added to chinkuchi, but as in many if not most other cases of Okinawan martial arts concepts and terms, this has become a fashion only recently within the huuuuge issue of Okinawa identity, and probably set out in the 1980s or so.

Yes, I would guess the 1980s was a time of many innovations in Okinawa karate, including the use of dialect pronunciations to embed things more into the overall concept of "Okinawa identity" (and brand development and tourism).

Like that, kinkotsu or its dialect pronunciation chinkuchi simply means muscles and bones. All further descriptions in terms of its karate meaning are extra-terminological creations developed to add a specific meaning to the word and establishing it a technical term in the field if karate...

It has probably no historical backing but rather is part of a number of innovations added since the 1980s.

It must be difficult to understand that many things in karate which we were made to believe or believed ourselves were handed down since ancient times are simply new inventions, but it is really obvious.

 

Maurizio Di Stefano

According to an uchinaaguchi book I bought in naha, tsu is chi in Okinawan language. Ki is chi and so on

Andreas Quast  

Maurizio Di Stefano I don't think karate masters are language experts or even used dictionaries, or even knew how to transcribe properly in

Andreas Quast Maurizio Di Stefano plus, there are Shuri, Naha, Nakijin dialects, plus many more slangs and even personal ways of speaking. Fact is, they like to make everything uniquely Okinawan, and so they don't like the fact that many such words are ordinary Japanese words, just pronounced with a sock in the mouth.


 

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