Sanchin

三戦 (三戰, 三進, 参戦)
Japanese: sanchin
Mandarin Pinyin: sānzhàn
Min Nan POJ: sam-chiàn
Literally "three battles"

Sanchin (三戦) is a kata of apparent Southern Chinese (Fujianese) origin that is considered to be the core of several styles, the most well-known being the Okinawan Karate styles of Uechi-Ryū and Gōjū-Ryū, as well as the Chinese martial arts of Fujian White Crane, Five Ancestors, Pangai-noon and the 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.[1]

Uechi-Ryū practices a form of Sanchin with nukite zuki (貫手突) "open spear hand" strikes, while the version used by many other styles such as Gōjū-Ryū and Chitō-ryū use a closed fist.[2][3][4]

  1. ^ "Black Belt". Black Belt. Internet Archive. p. 39. Retrieved 10 January 2015. Sanchin kata.
  2. ^ "Black Belt". Black Belt. Internet Archive. p. 40. Retrieved 10 January 2015. Sanchin kata.
  3. ^ "Black Belt". Black Belt. Internet Archive. p. 39. Retrieved 10 January 2015. Sanchin kata.
  4. ^ "Black Belt". Black Belt. Internet Archive. p. 15. Retrieved 10 January 2015. Sanchin kata.