Sanchin dachi technique names, and general thinking

I suppose it’s inevitable that in non Japanese speaking countries there will always be some variation in karate terminology both due to differing sources and through misunderstandings.

1. Chudan age tsuki
2. Shotei osa uke
3. Chudan tzuki
4. Kakate
5. Jodan Fura-ken uchi
6. Jodan yoko Uchi uke
7. Jodan yoko shuto uchi
8. Ura-ken uchi
9. Kentsui uke

As an aside; the way we practised these techniques in class last night was useful for helping me remember what they’re called. Each karate-ka named a technique and then shouted out the count for the drill.

I’ve done a good of study “Karate’s Grappling Techniques” by Iain Abernethy over the past few days. What a fantastic book. First and foremost it’s taught me that karate includes many techniques some of which I used to think were found only in the judo practitioner’s repertoire. Most surprisingly, hook punches and uppercuts (which I associated mostly with (western style boxing) should be in the karateka’s close combat arsenal too and as such, are found in the kata. It seems I missed them until now, because I was always looking for the big takedown or complex joint-lock.

I’d include these techniques in my teaching plans straight away – and part of me says “why not now?” The answer is I definitely want to try them in my own training regime before testing them out on a live class. Its one thing to go straight ahead and teach things exactly as I’ve been taught them, but something very different to teach them untried techniques from a book.

Tengun

This set of exercises is like kihon basics, though it seems the selection of moves is more practical than ido kihon since they’re practised in a more natural stance with less range of motion. This begs the question: why do so many drills I've been taught use zenkutsu dachi to start with?

Perhaps these drills are intended to help the karateka have a strong, rooted zenkutsu dachi stance whilst performing a mae-ken tzuki strike with the leading hand – rather than suggesting a stepping forward motion and punching with the hand that was in the hikite position.

Sword hand – equivalent to chudan shuto. Once first block has be accomplished, rest other hand on opponent’s blocked hand – this will allow sensitivity to whether they’re going to strike again.

Diagonal blocking – jodan haito uke and teisho uchi (downward strike is shuto also instead of palm heel).

Twist and downward drag – applied as a block, kakate and drop into shikodachi to take opponent down onto a throat strike.

Horizontal clamp – jodan haito uke, then kakate. Can’t remember actual application practised.

Wednesday class training

Shiai Kumite
Maegeri (rear foot)
Maegeri (lead foot)
Maegeri -> Mawashi geri
Mawashi geri to calf (feint) mawashi geri to head

Seisan Bunkai
Opponent grabs lapel
snatch their cuff, grab throat kekomi geri to rear of leading knee

opponent grabs both lapels
grab both cuffs, come forward with lead thigh into their groin
sweep opponent's RL (outside) with LL (inside)
Take down, kneel on groin and punch to head

Tai Chi reading - thoughts and extracts

“Power is rooted in the feet, controlled by the waist and expressed through the fingers”

Hara: Keep the centre weighted down

Practise jitte-no-bunkai (the section prior to takedown) with students repeatedly to develop speed.

Investigate different strategies required for fighting taller or shorter opponents.

Tai chi – let chi direct movement and do not start any movement until the chi has sunk to the dantian

Relaxation must take place prior to commencing kata practise – there is insufficient time during the kata to become relaxed or focussed.

Training for students should include more visualisations to assist in “feeling” technique.

Look up sticky hands

If weight is distributed more on one leg than the other it is easier to be aware of where the centre is.

Imagine that the top half of the body is extremely light, and the lower part of the body is extremely heavy. In this way speed of hand movement and deep rooted stances will be emphasised.