Author: Al Case
Perhaps you have heard the old saying...'If you don't know Sanchin, you don't know Karate.' It happens that this statement is absolutely true. It is true because when done correctly Sanchin kata results in a liberation of fighting energy beyond any form known.
The form was originally migrated to Okinawan from China, where it was part of a school called Pan Gai Noon. While PGN is no longer around, that first kata is taught in such systems as Goju Ryu and Uechi ryu. It has also been altered and taught in Shotokan based systems as the Hangetsu form.
The original form, as simple as it is, was taught over the course of years. Students would spend hours a night just walking, learning how to sink their weight, before they were shown even the most basic of hand movements. This fact, of being taught to sink the weight and stabilize the stance, should give even the dullest karate student a significant clue as to the correct way to execute the pattern.
In Uechi Ryu Sanchin, which is the first manifestation of this form beyond Pan Gai Noon, the emphasis is on developing muscular tension. Thus, the intent of the sanchin stance is translated from the creation (and sinking) of intrinsic chi energy to the creation of muscle. Muscle is nothing but a temporary convenience when compared to energy, and thus the form is diluted and made less.
In Goju ryu Sanchin the intent of the form is proper breathing. Thus, the purpose of the form is to create the sensation of karate energy in the body, but without the emphasis on sinking the weight the reality of usable energy is forsaken. At this point one can see that the Sanchin form has been altered sufficient to make it but a shadow of what it should be...the story gets worse, however.
In Shotokan, and like systems of traditional karate, the actual structure of the form has been rendered into simplistic self defense techniques. Mind, there is nothing wrong with this type of structure, except that it has nothing to so with the generation of serious internal energy. The form in these systems is called Hangetsu.
To be done correctly. this incredible form must be returned to simple instruction, and simple concepts. One must throw out notions of breathing and muscularity and self defense except as they are drawn along by the sheer fact of energy generation. Thus, the simple instruction, "sink the weight, and 'swirl' the motion so that it creates a wave of energy which circles the body and shoots out the arm," is the only instruction one needs.
Done with this easy instruct, for months and years, the generation of internal energy becomes real, and the internal energy becomes usable. Though the author would not propose combat as a solution, it must be remembered that Kanbun Uechi, the founder of Uechi ryu and a man who had studied the actual Sanchin in the manner recommended in this article, killed a man with one strike. No, don't kill people, but do realize the true depth and power of the martial arts by practicing sanchin kata by sinking the weight and swirling the body so that energy may be developed and used.
There are articles and courses at Monster Martial Arts which will help you return Sanchin Kata to its original depth and power. Pick up a free ebook while you're at Monster Martial Arts. 3
The form was originally migrated to Okinawan from China, where it was part of a school called Pan Gai Noon. While PGN is no longer around, that first kata is taught in such systems as Goju Ryu and Uechi ryu. It has also been altered and taught in Shotokan based systems as the Hangetsu form.
The original form, as simple as it is, was taught over the course of years. Students would spend hours a night just walking, learning how to sink their weight, before they were shown even the most basic of hand movements. This fact, of being taught to sink the weight and stabilize the stance, should give even the dullest karate student a significant clue as to the correct way to execute the pattern.
In Uechi Ryu Sanchin, which is the first manifestation of this form beyond Pan Gai Noon, the emphasis is on developing muscular tension. Thus, the intent of the sanchin stance is translated from the creation (and sinking) of intrinsic chi energy to the creation of muscle. Muscle is nothing but a temporary convenience when compared to energy, and thus the form is diluted and made less.
In Goju ryu Sanchin the intent of the form is proper breathing. Thus, the purpose of the form is to create the sensation of karate energy in the body, but without the emphasis on sinking the weight the reality of usable energy is forsaken. At this point one can see that the Sanchin form has been altered sufficient to make it but a shadow of what it should be...the story gets worse, however.
In Shotokan, and like systems of traditional karate, the actual structure of the form has been rendered into simplistic self defense techniques. Mind, there is nothing wrong with this type of structure, except that it has nothing to so with the generation of serious internal energy. The form in these systems is called Hangetsu.
To be done correctly. this incredible form must be returned to simple instruction, and simple concepts. One must throw out notions of breathing and muscularity and self defense except as they are drawn along by the sheer fact of energy generation. Thus, the simple instruction, "sink the weight, and 'swirl' the motion so that it creates a wave of energy which circles the body and shoots out the arm," is the only instruction one needs.
Done with this easy instruct, for months and years, the generation of internal energy becomes real, and the internal energy becomes usable. Though the author would not propose combat as a solution, it must be remembered that Kanbun Uechi, the founder of Uechi ryu and a man who had studied the actual Sanchin in the manner recommended in this article, killed a man with one strike. No, don't kill people, but do realize the true depth and power of the martial arts by practicing sanchin kata by sinking the weight and swirling the body so that energy may be developed and used.
There are articles and courses at Monster Martial Arts which will help you return Sanchin Kata to its original depth and power. Pick up a free ebook while you're at Monster Martial Arts. 3
Written by Simon
Author: Al Case
Bam! Iron Mike Tyson, in his heyday, was knocking them down faster than they could stand up. Fight after fighter ended in the first round or two, and always with the opposing fighter laying face down like a drunk that had been run over by a dumptruck!
No other fighter was knocking people out like Iron Mike, also known as Kid Dynamite, and there were a lot of strong fighters out there. So there had to be something that Mike was doing that nobody else was doing. There simply had to be a secret behind his incredible, dynamite filled, slobber knocking punches!
The secret is a two part secret. The first part of the secret is that he was shorter than the other fighters, therefore he was automatically ducking under the incoming fist, and rising up with his own. This meant that he had to use his legs, so the push of his legs was part of his punch.
Because he was rising up, he learned how to push with his legs and turn his hips so they supported the angle of his punch. He just happened to be the exact height that enabled him to twist his hips at the right time, to arc his punch in at exactly the right angle, to pop that chin at exactly the right spot. Every fighter attacked him the same way, he defended the same way, and he was the winner until opposing fighters actually began to analyze him correctly and actually boxed him!
The other part of the secret has to do with his lifestyle. He was winning fights while Cus DAmato was training him, because Cus DAmato was keeping him in hand, caring about him as an individual, working with him as a person. When Cus died, however, everything changed for the man who came to be known as The Baddest Man on the Planet.
After Cus died Tyson came under the influence of Don King, who was considered quite corrupt. His marriage ended in divorce, and he eventually began taking prescribed psychiatric medications. The mental edge went away, and other fighters were no longer coming in in exactly the right manner to be taken apart by him.
So the secret of Mike Tysons unbelievable knock out punch had to do with taking advantage of his height to use his legs and come up under his opponent. It also hinged upon the discipline in his lifestyle which was enforced through the friendship of a man who cared about him as a person. And everything changed when fighters figured him out and he no longer had a trainer who could help him solve the issue.
The lesson here is that when you train in the martial arts, you must assess your body truthfully, and learn how to avoid its weaknesses and exploit its strengths, not an easy thing to do, but rather requiring an honest and truthful approach to oneself. The second thing you must do is live an appropriate lifestyle, staying away from people who say they love you, but who act otherwise, this is seen easily if you look at how they treat people in their past. Anybody who follows these two rules, analyzing their body correctly and living a good lifestyle, has a chance to develop the hardest punch in the world.
Al Case has researched martial arts, and the science of striking, for over 40 years. A writer for the magazines, he is offering a free ebook on the martial arts. You can also visit Punch Em Out if you want a 100 page book which has the secrets of the hardest punch in the world!
No other fighter was knocking people out like Iron Mike, also known as Kid Dynamite, and there were a lot of strong fighters out there. So there had to be something that Mike was doing that nobody else was doing. There simply had to be a secret behind his incredible, dynamite filled, slobber knocking punches!
The secret is a two part secret. The first part of the secret is that he was shorter than the other fighters, therefore he was automatically ducking under the incoming fist, and rising up with his own. This meant that he had to use his legs, so the push of his legs was part of his punch.
Because he was rising up, he learned how to push with his legs and turn his hips so they supported the angle of his punch. He just happened to be the exact height that enabled him to twist his hips at the right time, to arc his punch in at exactly the right angle, to pop that chin at exactly the right spot. Every fighter attacked him the same way, he defended the same way, and he was the winner until opposing fighters actually began to analyze him correctly and actually boxed him!
The other part of the secret has to do with his lifestyle. He was winning fights while Cus DAmato was training him, because Cus DAmato was keeping him in hand, caring about him as an individual, working with him as a person. When Cus died, however, everything changed for the man who came to be known as The Baddest Man on the Planet.
After Cus died Tyson came under the influence of Don King, who was considered quite corrupt. His marriage ended in divorce, and he eventually began taking prescribed psychiatric medications. The mental edge went away, and other fighters were no longer coming in in exactly the right manner to be taken apart by him.
So the secret of Mike Tysons unbelievable knock out punch had to do with taking advantage of his height to use his legs and come up under his opponent. It also hinged upon the discipline in his lifestyle which was enforced through the friendship of a man who cared about him as a person. And everything changed when fighters figured him out and he no longer had a trainer who could help him solve the issue.
The lesson here is that when you train in the martial arts, you must assess your body truthfully, and learn how to avoid its weaknesses and exploit its strengths, not an easy thing to do, but rather requiring an honest and truthful approach to oneself. The second thing you must do is live an appropriate lifestyle, staying away from people who say they love you, but who act otherwise, this is seen easily if you look at how they treat people in their past. Anybody who follows these two rules, analyzing their body correctly and living a good lifestyle, has a chance to develop the hardest punch in the world.
Al Case has researched martial arts, and the science of striking, for over 40 years. A writer for the magazines, he is offering a free ebook on the martial arts. You can also visit Punch Em Out if you want a 100 page book which has the secrets of the hardest punch in the world!