Hi Victor:
I think the most succient definition is
the one I posted ages ago from the Uechi guys.
The practice of san chin, the foundation
kata of Okikukai, develops the student in five ways that reach
beyond the basic needs of exercise or self defense.
Properly understood, san chin is a
philosophical statement. The five benefits of san chin are as follows:
1. San chin integrates all
parts of the stance
2. San chin corrects the breathing
3. San chin develops penetrating eyes
4. San chin cultivates spiritual
concentration
5. San chin strengthens the body
The key word understanding san chin is
"integration". Proper stance anchors the student to the floor; while
proper concentration and breathing integrates all body movements.
Proper eye contact demonstrates uninterrupted awareness,
focusing the mind on every area of attack of the opponent. To develop a
strong and integrated sanchin kata is to forge a wellhoned and
ordered self."
Really, this is the best explanation of
san chin that I have come across - even better than Mabuni's IMHO.
I find that there are generally two camps to San Chin, those
that practice it almost religiously, and those that virtually
ignore it's practice.
My original Goju-ryu
teacher did not emphasize san chin practice at all. While my Tou'on-ryu teacher
practiced san chin twice every practice session that we did!
Interestingly, I caught up with my original Goju-ryu teacher a few weeks
ago (Kinjo sensei) on a trip he made out here to Vancouver and he was
now emphasizing san chin a lot more. But not an overly hard san chin,
but one with more emphasis on alignment and respiration. Looks like
things go full-circle don't
they :-)
For myself, since most of my students
are relatively young and fit, we train san chin in terms of posture,
alignment and respiration with emphasis on not doing any over tense
kata - kind of a nice 'springy' feel to it. However, once every 2-3
weeks I do a hard-style san chin with shime - keeps them on their toes
:-)
Regards,
mario
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