Pa Chi Chuan

PA CHI, LEGEND or REAL HISTORY

Those who want to practice Karate as defense or sport, they have many places to choose. But if they also want to be introduced in the deep of the oriental philosophies, look for Sensei Pa Chi of KARATE-DO (my first Professor), or look for Professor Cela of AIKIDO. Both, with their knowledge and philosophy, helped me in the fight for the life of a very dear person. I don't give their addresses, since this article doesn't seek to be a publicity, but a recognition that in my opinion they deserve for some time ago. This reflection is for those who some time they were students of both Professors, and they have traveled the enough way to be willing to learn what the Professors want to teach, without forgetting that Buda sat down years in front of a wall and he got up being a sage. Some students look for in other lands, without know that here in -our country- we also have Masters and Professors.=
Some of these Masters remain in a fair anonimity, because by themselves it was chosen. But they are also in an unjust forgetfulness of those who were their students -and in some occasions also friends- because nobody decides to walk the first step to be rediscovered.=
To these last ones are specially dedicated the final lines of this article.=

Many people trains TAI CHI, but few of they know its origin.=
TAI CHI Martial Art is based on TAI CHI CHUAN, Chinese method that teaches the handling of the sword and the sable.
With PA CHI (Japanese pronunciation) or BA JI (Chinese pronunciation) Martial Art it happens something similar, because it is based on the PA CHI CHUAN or BA JI QUAN (Chinese Martial Art that teaches the handling of the lance, and that born in the year 1700). The Japaneses who traveled to China to learn this discipline add to the lance the BO, and almost all of the BO Masters, are also experts in PA CHI CHUAN.

PA CHI CHUAN and PA CHI Martial Arts had a great acceptance in Japan, and -in fact- both systems were introduced in the West by Masters of Japanese Martial Arts.=
The most notorious difference between PA CHI CHUAN and PA CHI is that the first one is based on the handling of weapons, and PA CHI (without leaving aside the weapons) concentrates on the defense of "EMPTY HAND". Equally both systems maintain principles such as more wide postures, more wide movements, and expression of the force with simplicity. It is also perceived that inside the long things are the short things, and that inside the short things are the long things, that the force and the softness they helped themselves, that the concentration, relaxation and tension continues the one to the others, and a Yoga system of breathing.=

A Chinese Doctor taught me TAI CHI, speak to me about PA CHI Martial Art, and he recommended me to continue my way in Martial Arts with Master Seiichi "Shikan" Akamine.=
In this way I found Sensei Juan Carlos Ríus (well-known as Sensei "PA CHI") -who was student of Master Seiichi "Shikan" Akamine- and then I began to practice KARATE-DO.=

Sensei Akamine and Sensei Pa Chi (Juan Carlos Ríus)

Whenever I asked him the origin of his nickname (Pa Chi), his answers were very vague. As he never want to deep in this topic, I decided to investigate by myself, and I discovered that Pa Chi Sensei's family calls him Juan Carlos, and that people who don't know about his activities in the Martial Arts, identify him as Juan Carlos Ríus, but not as Pa Chi. Then something confused me, because of his nickname comes from before he met MASTER SEIICHI "SHIKAN" AKAMINE, apparently since he trained Judo. But at that time his nickname was Pachi (ONE SINGLE WORD), being uncertain the origin of the same one. Here it is where the HISTORY and the LEGEND maybe are confused, and mixed the one with the other.=

According to Master Akamine's direct students, he dominated the old oriental technique of "change of name" (KAETE or KAITE), that it would be a different form of writing -in Japanese characters- the name of people, so that their NEW NAME could be potentiated with positive energy. It seems to be that this is the reason of the change from "Pachi" (a single word) to "Pa Chi" (TWO SEPARATE WORDS), when Master Akamine sends Pa Chi Sensei to train BO with a Master in this weapon, about whom little is known, but that apparently also dominated PA CHI CHUAN and PA CHI Martial Arts.=

It would seem that Master Akamine thought that the nickname "Pachi" was not a chance, but a sign that Juan Carlos Ríus had been born to be developed in the BO, in the PA CHI CHUAN and in the PA CHI, and later -between both- to diffuse not only A STYLE, but a PHILOSOPHY that Master Akamine called KENSHIN, and later on KENSHIN TETTSU GAKKU or KENSHIN TETTSU DAIGAKKU.

Years later, Master Akamine designates Pa Chi Sensei as his SUCCESSOR IN OCCIDENT in the diffusion of KENSHIN philosophy, and of KENSHIN RYU's METHOD of teaching.=

Those that know this Philosophy and Style -as well PA CHI CHUAN and PA CHI Methods- we have observed big points in common, what make us think that here neither has to do the chance.=

KENSHIN RYU

Both styles have more Katas that are not mentioned, because don't have importants points in common.=
Some people sustain that PA CHI and TAI CHI are previous to PA CHI CHUAN and TAI CHI CHUAN, but, although they were right, this is not important for the essence of the present article.=

Chance or not, legend or history, "KENSHIN" and "PA CHI" really exist, and within reach of who wants to find these both Martial Arts. It is only question to know where we must looking for, with decision but without losing the humility.=

If when using the eyes we are capable "TO LOOK" and not only to see. If when using the hearings we can "LISTEN" and not only to hear. If when using the tact we end up "PERCEIVING" and not only to touch. If we have ended up understanding that the sum - or the subtraction - of our five senses will allow us to "SENSE", and therefore GET IT RIGHT, we will surely know where "TO GO", and where "NOT TO BE"...

... Because anyone is the way that we walk, we will always find again ...