Move Slow and Relaxed

When thinking of kaisai, it is vital to realize how important it is to do kata while in a relaxed state.

Master Toguchi taught us to do kata slowly and with ease. When you move slowly, you feel the weight of your arms and body. It is important for senior students to combine both arm and body movements.

--- Toshio Ijima

Fundamental Kata

Sanchin, Tensho and Naifanchi are the fundamental Kata. Through practicing them, we can take a correct posture. We can inhale and exhale correctly. We can adjust increasing or decreasing our power harmoniously. We can develop a powerful physique and a strong will of warrior.

--- Chojun Miyagi

Instruction on Sanchin

Now I would like to tell you about "heishu" or "heishu kata" and "kaishu" or "kaishu kata" to give some information to those who study karate.

"Heishu" means fundamental kata. Before entering the way of karate, you have to develop your body and mind by doing Sanchin exercise of Goju-ryu.

I will explain in detail. You stand straight firmly with stable stance of feet, and hands positioned properly, breathing harmoniously. Through Sanchin practice, you can feel you transcend life and death, and your mind and body become strong enough like "kongo". This is a still version of Sanchin.

We also have active version of Sanchin which has another name "Peppuren". Usually we call Sanchin for both versions.

Tanden, the back of the head and the buttocks are three focus points on which you have to concentrate your attention during Sanchin exercise.

Brief instructions are the following. Tuck your chin in. Lift the back of your head high. Focus on Tanden to charge with the energy. Your buttocks should be tucked in. These three focus points are not originally separated from each other, but have inseparable relationship. In addition to them, there is another focus point: the middle point between the eyebrows.

I have heard that principles of Zen and other sitting meditations are the same as Sanchin.

--- Chojun Miyagi

Sanchin & Zen

The Japanese martial arts have always been deeply related to Buddhism and, in particular, Zen Buddhism. In essence, the ultimate goal of the serious martial artist, “reaching a stage of enlightenment,” is rooted in Buddhism. Although others exist, two of the roads to this Buddhist “enlightenment” are the practice of “sitting zen” and “standing zen.” While “sitting zen” is based on stillness, “standing zen” is based on action. Both, however, are one internal reality viewed and practiced from different perspectives.

In this discussion, the primary concern is the use of “standing zen” in training. Both zen monks in China’s Shorin Temple and swordsmen in early Japan use “standing zen” to help discipline, control and strengthen their physical and mental energies. Eventually, this “standing zen” system of focusing energy on attaining a “stage of enlightenment” (and physical superiority) was developed into a method of martial arts training known as Sanchin.

--- Seikichi Toguchi

The Essence of Zen

Transmit outside of the orthodoxy.
Not fixed on words.
Point directly to one’s heart/mind.
See into nature and become enlightened.

--- Zen Saying

Technique Without Theory

Had I mastered mere technique without theory, I would have ended up merely a simple recorder, mechanically teaching what I had learned without the creative development of ideas.

--- Seikichi Toguchi

Power and Speed

Initially, practice your techniques correctly but without power. Then, gradually add both power and speed. As you progress, slowly trim off any unnecessary power, add more speed and practice your timing of both.

--- Toguchi Seikichi

At first the student will practice using all of his energy to try to gain power, speed and precision. After many practice punches and much unnecessarily expended energy, the student begins to refine his technique by learning to use only that amount of force and energy requires to produce an efficient and effective punch.

--- Toguchi Seikichi