Sanchin

Sanchin is the heart of Uechi-ryu. All the basic principles of the style can be found in this deceptively simple form. Your understanding of Uechi-ryu follows your understanding of Sanchin.

Sanchin's purpose is to teach the practitioner a few basic principles. First, it requires self control. Sanchin takes some getting used to, and teaching it to your body may feel like learning to walk all over again. But if you can't learn to control your own body, how can you master an opponent? Any physical activity requires properly working lungs. Normally we don't think about our lungs; we just let them work. Sanchin, however, requires strict control of our bodily mechanisms, including breathing.

As you become aware of your body, you will learn to isolate limbs, teaching your body the discipline to perform Sanchin correctly, Achieving maximum energy is largely a matter of knowing how to tighten or relax your muscles and transfer your weight with no wasted motion. And no matter how good you may think you are, you can always improve.

The three conflicts of mind, body, and breath are constantly controlled and regulated during Sanchin; it should be exercised three times a day and be improved daily. The better your Sanchin the more rewarding it becomes. You will find yourself with more vitality and a greater awareness of yourself, which is the main purpose of one's practice.