Goju - Kata Sanchin

Meaning: Three Battles (mind, body and spirit)

Sanchin (Kanji: 三戦; Katakana: サンチン) means "three battles". This kata is a sort of moving meditation, whose purpose is to unify the mind, body and spirit. The techniques are performed very slowly so that the student masters precise movements, breathing, stance/posture, internal strength, and stability of both mind and body.

Sanchin is the foundation for all other kata, and is generally considered to be the most important kata to master. When new students came to Miyagi, he would often train them for three to five years before introducing them to sanchin. He would make them train very hard, and many of them quit before learning sanchin. Those that remained would focus almost exclusively on sanchin for two to three years. Miyagi's sanchin training was very harsh, and students would often leave practice with bruises from him checking their stance.

The three battles of this kata are representative of the battle to control your mind, your body and your spirit. This kata can easily take 5 years of daily practice to get good at. Longer to master.

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[onyx62]

@wizzbangtg Thank you. I haven't had much of a chance to practice lately due to injury so have put these up so I can remember them.

[wizzbangtg]

That is the traditional Sanchin. Nicely done!