KATAS SANCHIN and TENSHO
Both are typical katas of Goju-ryu, but, because of several
different reasons (one of them its excessively soft execution), "Tensho"
is not trained, nor taught, by many practitioners of this style. Perhaps - only
perhaps - it could be valid to harden "Tensho" (as well as to soften "Sanchin"),
but it will never be valid to ignore these two katas.
"Tensho" and "Sanchin" distinguish the Goju-ryu, and both katas
will always make possible this style of Karate-Do.
As the day and the night, Sanchin and Tensho complemented
themselves.
Then, in spite of their differences, both katas have many things in common,
being the most important coincidence the fact that both pursue a single
horizon.
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In the same way that it happens with many others katas,
it exists different ways of executing Sanchin and Tensho.
Different paths (enbusen), and different techniques are possible, but,
especially in these two katas, this is not the important thing. |
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The elimination of all external distraction, in order of
only concentrating on the purpose of the kata. A good mental concentration
duplicates the yield. A very good mental concentration triplicates the yield, or
quadruples it. An excellent mental concentration elevates the yield to the
umpteenth power.
To coordinate the breathing, and to synchronize it with the muscular activity.
When extending the arms, when exhaling, and also when hitting, but always
maintaining 50% of the air in the lungs (it is very important to make sure of
never being without air in the lungs).
When inhaling, the body should be slack and relaxed. When exhaling, the body
should be strong as a root.
To hear the own breathing and to be aware of each part of the body. This
helps to concentrate, and also to direct the Ki (energy) toward where the own
will wants it.
To maintain a constant muscular contraction, but that at the same time it can
be flexible, and to maintain also a muscular concentration, in the trapezes
muscles; in dorsal muscles; in pectoral muscles, and in abdominal muscles.
In " Sanchin " the contraction should be stood out, but it is an error to
believe that in no moment of its execution there is flexibility. In the same way
it is an error to believe that in no moment of Tensho's execution there
is contraction, and concentration, although it is true that the flexibility
should be highlighted.
To stimulate - and to achieve - a perfect breathing cycle, the dorsal thorn
should be parallel to the stomach. This is very important for the
achievement of two of the main objectives: " the benefit of the mental health,
and of the physical health."
The five previous concepts, drive us toward a very
important purpose: "
the development of the intern force, and of the intern energy, through the
execution of the kata " .
The movements of the feet should be similar to those used when walking.
The steps begin naturally. The traffic must be flowed, and must be relaxed, and
the conclusion should be strong.
A firm final posture, will allow that the hands techniques, and the arms
techniques, have the required effectiveness, always based on the best possible
balance.
Through the uniformity and softness will be achieved that each step could be
identical to the previous one.
The tip of the back foot will be on-line with the heel of the forward foot,
while the opening between one and another foot will correspond to the width of
the shoulders.
It will always be maintained the best possible balance.
The displacements of the feet (forward, and back) will draw the form of a half
moon in growing phase, while the knees will be moved smoothly, and maintaining a
light flexion, with the purpose of never to lose the balance.
The muscles of the legs will be firm, but with the enough flexibility to
allow the mobility, and the permanent domain of the center of gravity.
The legs, and the feet, have for the body the same importance that the wheels of
a locomotive have. For what it would serve a solid locomotive, without wheels
that move this locomotive ?
These last four concepts - and the five previous -
drive us toward the most important purpose:
" to achieve that through the mental peace, and through the internal harmony,
any victory could be possible". The security; attitude; concentration; attention;
stability; force; elasticity, and balance, improved through the execution of
the kata, will feed an internal strength, and an internal energy, that will
allow us to conquer any occasional rival, but, even most important, to overcome
any stone that the life puts us in our road ".
Several of the previously mentioned concepts, not only are appropriate for the
katas " Sanchin " and " Tensho ", but for any kata.
The following concepts are also applicable for any kata - and in front of any
occasional opponent - but even more important as an attitude in front of the
life :
The mind should always remain calm, but should also remain always alert.
To maintain special attention, so that could be possible to observe everything
that we can not see at the first sight.
To use the outlying vision.
To maintain the calm when facing the opponent, anyone could be the power he has.
To use postures that allow a good and flowing mobility.
To denote trust and security in oneself, specially in the corporal language, and
in the facial expression.
The anger is the worst in the enemies. A pause for the reflection is the best
remedy for the anger.
It is important to have conscience of the place that we occupy, as well as of
our own limitations.
The patience is the base on which it rest the security, and a long life.
Cause and effect can be mutually harmonic, and compatible.
To despair is not an attitude of intelligent people.
The future's success, is built on the past errors.
Today's success, is the result of the wisdom and the effort.
Two last considerations about the use of the hands - and arms - and about the
balance:
The hand's techniques, and arms's techniques, require a good use of the whole
body.
In the same way that a tiger uses the force of his body in order of demolishing
its prey, while his claws catches the prey in order of not loosing it, our body
generates the power, and our hands serve as instrument for the contact.
When it is hit with the tip of the fingers, the biggest effectiveness is only
gotten if the four fingers are hermetic and firmly united, supported on the
thumb (washi te).
The mental balance is a reflex of our interior. The physical balance is achieved
through the training of some exercises. In order of achieving an excellent
physical and mental balance, we should be very critical of ourselves.
The physical balance is one of the first requirements to achieve the improvement.
The mental balance is the first requirement to achieve the wisdom of the Masters.
Through the domain of the physical balance, it is possible to be able to weaken
the rival's posture, and then it is also possible the fact of getting easy
advantage, in order of attacking him with decision.
If somebody tried to take or to capture us by surprise, we will escape using all
our abilities, and forces. But before our counterattack, we must re-establish
our balance, in order of being possible to control our opponent.
However, the strategy to continue is dictated by different circumstances. Here
it is where the mental balance should take the protagonism.
It could be good to use evasive techniques when somebody attacks us strongly,
and while he continue in this way. But it is also good to know how to begin a
counteroffensive, in the moment when we perceive that our rival is exhausted. In
the same way many times it is good to use techniques of anticipation.
If we maintain the physical and mental balance, nobody, nor anything, it will be
able to conquer us.
Our external physical posture (from the head toward the feet) it should be
perfectly balanced, so that the techniques of hands and arms can be complemented
with our displacements, and our postures.
Our internal balance it will get us to irradiate energy with the imposing force;
the great heat - and the intense brightness - of the sunbeams. But also will get
that we know how to maintain the serenity; the freshness, and the soft clarity,
of the Moon.
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As the Sun and the Moon make possible the life. As male
and female they make possible the procreation and the preservation of the
species. As the poles, in spite of the distance, or perhaps thanks to the
distance, both make possible the balance of our planet. As white and black
when unite themselves make possible the gray color, to show us that it
exists, and that we can walk, the path of the balance. In the same way "
Tensho " and " Sanchin " make possible the Goju-ryu Style. |
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It is very important to follow the concepts and principles
mentioned to achieve the best benefits in the katas " Sanchin " and "
Tensho ", beyond the duality that one kata is a hard form (Go), and the
other one is a soft form (Ju).
Let us ourselves to walk our road, but also let us ourselves be not impatient.
The patience is a virtue and to achieve the Wisdom it is very far from the
principle of the road.
Let us always follow the teachings of our Masters, but let us
always have clear that, already Masters, we will always
continue being students.
FERNANDO
PRIETO
6th. DAN