Being new to the GKR style I found it interesting that it contained kata's from both Goju ryu and Shotokan.What I am surprised about is the exclusion of Sanchin kata which is the main power source of Goju ryu.I was taught this kata a few years ago from a Goju ryu practioner and its is very good for generating ki and helping to build up the physique.Its also a good way of preparing the body to take blows which can happen by accident in kumite.After a couple of rounds of the kata first thing in the morning I am awake and charged with energy.

Perhaps its the dangers in doing the kata wrong that have led to its exclusion from GKR but it is one of karates treasurers and is worth exploring.If anybody else is practicing this kata I would be interested to hear of their experiences both positive and negative.


Regards

I don't have much to offer at this point since I only learnt the pattern for sanchin last night. But it has given me some little insight into other kata like sanseru, shisochin, seisan.

Very intriguing, and it's also a comment I have made before that the base kata are missing.


Mick

Sounds like a kata I need, to get me going for the day, as I'm not a morning person. Is there a Video or a pattern anywhere for it ?

There are various video's of the kata .I think the best is The Goju Ryu Technical seies volume two by Morio Higaonna Sensei,9th dan.I have a copy of this video and its well produced and Higaonna Sensei gives a lecture on Sanchin as well as demonstrating the kata from various angles.The kata's movements are very simple but the effects are profound.Higaonna Sensei also does video's on the other Goju Ryu kata's that GKR uses and might be worth purchasing if they are as good as the Sanchin video.

Hey Will, ask me nicely sometime


Mick

Not a morning person? Bah! It feels like I'm the only person in the world who can go to bed at 2am, and wake up at 7am all fresh and happy to start the day.

Oh shut up Brodius. We all hate you now


Mick

I'd like to see this kata.
Do you know of an online video anywhere?

Yeah id like to c this Kata now.
Mick :thumbwink:

bah kata's keep them . ok i'd like to see it to if only to dismiss it with a look of total contempt. give me combos or sparing anyday :thumbwink:

Only video clip I can find on the web is this uechi ryu one.The styles slightly different from the Goju ryu one that I was taught but its basically the same.

http://www.uechi-ryu.com/videos/u_kata.html


For a detailed explanation of Sanchin and other Okinawan training techniques including body conditioning follow this link:


http://home.comcast.net/~uechiryu/


Without these body conditioning techniques kumite becomes a source of fear.Since I have been practicing Sanchin kata I have had no fear of being hit in the body from the neck down,apart from the testicles,and sanchin stance protects the groin area and is an ideal fighting stance.It makes me cringe seeing beginners going at each other in kumite with no proper body conditioning.A friend had his spleen ruptured in a "no contact "karate tournament.He never did any proper conditioning and thought it a waste of time.If you can't take a reasonable blow whilst breathing you need to do more work.In large organisation like GKR its impossible to teach these things on class so its down to the indivdual to practice these techniques at home.