View source for Sanchin

{{short description|Okinawan karate kata}}
{| cellpadding=3px cellspacing=0px bgcolor=#f7f8ff style="float:right; border:1px solid; margin:5px"
|colspan=2 align=center style="background:#ccf; border-top:1px solid; border-bottom:1px solid;font-size:26px;line-height:30px"|{{lang|ja|三戦 (三戰, 三進, 参戦)}}
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|align=right|[[Japanese language|Japanese]]:||sanchin
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|align=right|[[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]] [[Pinyin]]:||sānzhàn
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|align=right|[[Min Nan]] [[Pe̍h-ōe-jī|POJ]]:||sam-chiàn
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|align=right|Literally||"three battles"
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{{Nihongo|'''Sanchin'''|三戦}} is a [[kata]] of apparent Southern [[China|Chinese]] ([[Fujian]]ese) origin that is considered to be the core of several styles, the most well-known being the Okinawan [[Karate]] styles of [[Uechi-ryū|Uechi-Ryū]] and [[Gōjū-ryū|Gōjū-Ryū]], as well as the [[Chinese martial arts]] of [[Fujian White Crane]], [[Five Ancestors]], Pangai-noon and the [[Hung Ga#Tiger Crane Paired Form .E8.99.8E.E9.B6.B4.E9.9B.99.E5.BD.A2|Tiger-Crane Combination style]] associated with Ang Lian-Huat. Tam Hon taught a style that was called simply "Saam Jin" ([[Cantonese]] for "Sanchin"). 

The name ''Sanchin'', meaning "three battles/conflicts/wars" is usually interpreted as the battle to unify the mind, body, and spirit; however, there are other interpretations.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_89sDAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_89sDAAAAMBAJ/page/n20 39]|quote=Sanchin kata.|title=Black Belt|magazine=[[Black Belt (magazine)|Black Belt]]|publisher=Internet Archive|accessdate=10 January 2015}}</ref> Example: Technique, stepping, breathing.

Uechi-Ryū practices a form of ''Sanchin'' with {{Nihongo|'''nukite zuki'''|貫手突}} "open spear hand" strikes, while the version used by many other styles such as Gōjū-Ryū, [[Chitō-ryū]], [[:it:Koei-Kan|Koei-Kan]] use a closed fist.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_89sDAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_89sDAAAAMBAJ/page/n21 40]|quote=Sanchin kata.|title=Black Belt|magazine=Black Belt|publisher=Internet Archive|accessdate=10 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="google.co.uk">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ/page/n38 39]|quote=Sanchin kata.|title=Black Belt|magazine=Black Belt|publisher=Internet Archive|accessdate=10 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="google.co.uk1">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ/page/n14 15]|quote=Sanchin kata.|title=Black Belt|magazine=Black Belt|publisher=Internet Archive|accessdate=10 January 2015}}</ref>

==General information==
[[File:Sanchindachi.svg|right]]
''Sanchin'' uses the {{Nihongo|'''sanchin dachi'''|三戦立ち}} "''sanchin'' stance" named for the ''kata''. Practice of ''Sanchin'' seeks to develop the muscles and bones of the body to help the practitioner withstand blows from an opponent, while drilling the basic mechanics of a strike that depends on a stable base.

''Sanchin'' is the first ''kata'' learned in Uechi-Ryū, while other styles may introduce it later. In Gōjū-Ryu, there are two ''Sanchin kata.'' The first, "Miyagi's ''Sanchin''" or ''sanchin dai ichi'', was created by [[Chōjun Miyagi]]. The second, "Higashionna's ''sanchin''" or ''sanchin dai ni'' was taught with open hands, as in Uechi-Ryū, but later it was also revised to closed fists by Miyagi's co-student Juhatsu Kyoda, founder of [[Tōon-ryū|Tōon-Ryū]], and adopted by Chōjun Miyagi as well. This ''kata'' was adopted by other styles such as the later Okinawan style [[Isshin-ryū|Isshin-Ryū]], [[Kyokushin]], and [[:it:Koei-Kan|Koei-Kan]].

==={{Nihongo|Shime|締め}}===

Some styles use a method of checking strength, posture, hand concentration during the performance of the ''kata'' called {{Nihongo|''shime''|締め}}. This involves a range of techniques from hard strikes to check the tone of the student's muscles and overall strength to very soft and slow pushes and pulls to test the student's ability to react in order to maintain their position.<ref name="Mattson">{{cite book|last1=Mattson|first1=George E.|title=The Way of Uechi-Ryū Karate|date=2010|publisher=Peabody Publishing Company|isbn=978-0-930559-38-0|edition=First}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Karate stances]]
* [[Karate kata]]
* [[Hung Ga#Tiger Crane Paired Form .E8.99.8E.E9.B6.B4.E9.9B.99.E5.BD.A2|Tiger Crane Paired Form]]
* [[Naihanchi]]
* [https://qi-tube.com/videos/224 Shifu Alan Tinnion Checking a senior student Mr. John Webb - Three Battles - San Zhan 三 戰 對 套]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Karate stances}}
{{Karate}}

[[Category:Karate kata]]