Customer Reviews

The Way of Sanchin Kata: The Application of Power

5 star:		(23)
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2 star:		(4)
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I just recently finished reading Kris Wilder's, "The Way of Sanchin Kata," and boy let me tell you I was thoroughly impressed. It has been years since I first learned this kata, and embarrassingly almost as long since I last practiced it. Kris's breakdown and explanation of this kata and all its finer points is nothing short of remarkable and is without a doubt one of the finest examples of this kata that I have ever seen in literature.

I will even go so far as to say that the only way that you could find a better introduction to this kata is to actually have someone that has genuinely mastered it instruct you. The key statement here is, "genuinely mastered it" not someone that is merely familiar with it. I am familiar with Sanchin kata, but I sure am not competent enough performing it at this time to instruct it. I have yet to see anything else in print, or on video for that matter, that comes close to Kris's instructional ability with this kata.

Now I must admit that I fully intended to have this review completed and posted weeks before I actually accomplished that task. However, after reading through Kris's book the first time, I had to actually go through it several more times and I even practiced various portions of the kata while holding this book in one hand as I went through the movements. I could really tell that it has been awhile since I last practiced this kata, and I was really grateful to have Kris's book as a guide to get me through it. Not only did this book prove to be a great resource for refreshing my memory on this particular kata, but it taught me so much more that I hadn't even known before.

As with any kata, and I do mean any kata, the principles and underlying techniques which a kata is designed to teach are far more important and beneficial to the martial artist than the mere combinations of punches, blocks, and kicks. The benefits of learning and practicing Sanchin kata on a consistent basis are not something that you will miraculously see overnight. However, you will start seeing the benefits after a couple of months of consistent practice.

Kris starts off his book with a very informative section on the history of the Sanchin kata followed by some very profound information on the learning process and how it can impede or enhance your learning potential.

From here Kris spends the rest of the book breaking down each individual component of the kata in precise and exacting detail from the placement and "rooting" of your feet all the way up through various parts of your body to your fists. Each chapter is very well done and is consistent in its information and importance to each particular movement in the kata as well as the kata as a whole.

I personally found the sections and information detailing the correct body posture and breathing to be the most beneficial along with the proper parts of the body to tense and relax during the execution of the kata. That by no means is meant to place any other portions of the book as less important; it merely means that these particular portions stood out for me and my background as more beneficial. Although the book was loaded with lots of very informative illustrations, I really would have liked to have seen some of the body positions utilized with real people instead of drawings.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to realize their true potential not only with Sanchin kata, but any kata that they happen to practice.

Many practitioners believe that sanchin kata holds the key to mastering traditional martial arts. It is one of the simplest forms to learn pattern-wise, yet one of the most difficult to perfect. Those who truly understand its teachings find that it facilitates enormous quickness and power in any martial application. The challenge comes in gaining that understanding, something we had to uncover by trial and error until now.

In his groundbreaking book, The Way of Sanchin, Sensei Wilder lays out step-by-step instructions for mastering this vital form. He covers every element of body mechanics, movement, breathing, and application with clear writing, pertinent detail, and informative illustrations. The "test it" exercises help readers internalize what they have learned.

Wilder manages to take the ancient wisdom of sanchin kata and make it relevant for modern budoka (martial artists) today. If you want to develop real strength, speed, endurance, and power for tournament competition or street survival you need to buy this book.

Contents Include:

- The entire kata in step-by-step movement
- Movement not seen
- The crescent step
- The spine
- Bones, sinew, and muscle
- The energetic structure
- The mechanical structure
- Iron shirt
- Rooting
- The mind
- Ten-minute sanchin
- The 5:7 ratio
- And much more...

The illustrations are outstanding too, supplementing the text in exacting detail. This insightful book truly should be required reading for all serious practitioners.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Blinded by the Night, among other titles

This is a profound book that puts it all in perspective in regards to mastering Sanchin kata. It is scientific, yet very hands on. I know it works because I have trained it at Sensei Wilder's dojo with Ito Sensei. It has improved my Sanchin kata and deepened my understanding substantially. The ramifications of training Sanchin this way are far reaching because it is the foundation of Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate. It has strengthened all of my kata and karate technique over the past 18 months of 'godo' renshu(cross-training)with Kris and Ito Sensei!

I highly recommend this book if you are a student of Goju-Ryu Karate or a student of Sanchin. You will be pleasantly surprised!

Mark Loucks
Jundokan Seattle - Shibu
Godan-Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate-Do

This is an exceptional book. It contains a wealth of information, and is well-written and to the point. The chapters relating to functional kata performance are no-nonsense and the information is clear and concise. Other chapters are more academic, but still very readable and definitely worthwhile; they provide great information and make this much more than a how-to book.

I have trained in Karate for many years, but Sanchin is not practiced in my system. As a result, I have looked to books/video and training with different dojos to learn and understand it. However, it was not until learning Kris Wilder's Sanchin method that I found value in this kata.

The Sanchin I had previously learned, which I believe to be the mainstream method, just doesn't merit any attention (IMHO). Isometric tension is fine for exercising the muscles, but why practice Sanchin when you can apply isometric tension to virtually any kata? The knock-kneed stance is weak and I think unhealthy over the course of years, and the harsh, labored breathing is overly theatrical and of little value.

Wilder's Sanchin is different. This kata is not about isometric tension, it is about good posture, alignment and body mechanics. The stance is completely functional, more akin to a short front stance than the knock-kneed, "inner tension" stance we've all been taught. This is a formal stance you can actually fight in. The breathing method discussed in the book was extremely useful, and also functional in a real situation. (I thought the breathing section was worth the price of the book all by itself).

As both a practitioner and an instructor I am always looking for more information and a deeper understanding of Karate. Most books on Karate will yield a couple worthwhile nuggets of wisdom, but you have to wade through pages and pages of empty words to find them. The Way of Sanchin Kata is exceptional in that it tells you what to do and how to do it, with zero filler. Wilder gives you tools to improve your training, providing performance details and tips but not burdening you with useless prose. As someone with limited free time, this is something I really appreciate.

I particularly recommend this book to those who do not (yet) practice Sanchin. This kata and the method demonstrated in this book will improve your Karate. The principles can be applied both to the kata you already know and to real-world confrontations. Read it, ponder it, and most important, practice it.

The author of this review is a Karate and Ki-Aikido instructor in Seattle, WA.

Kris Wilder has done the Okinawan and Japanese Karate world a huge service with this book. Many of us who spent years (decades?) performing the kata seldom understood what we were really trying to accomplish with it. Having studied the form under Osensei's Gogen Yamaguchi and Eizo Shiminbukoru I came away with a basic working understanding and appreciation of this simple yet, complex form. Wilder's book helped to better educate me on what I was doing or in some instances, not doing. I hope I never get to the age or attitude where I can't admit that I don't know everything and give up the joy of learning. Kris Wilder is a dedicated GoJu Karate Instructor and with this book you can easily see that is a true martial arts scholar as well.

In "The Way Of Sanchin Kata: The Application Of Power", Kris Wilder draws upon his more than 30 years of experience in the martial arts (during which time he earned black belt ranks in Tae Kwon Do 2nd Degree, Kodokan Judo 1st Degree, and Goju-Ryu Karate 4th Degree) to present a comprehensive, nicely illustrated, step-by-step manual of instruction for students of Sanchin Kata style karate. Of special distinction separating "The Way Of Sanchin Kata" from other martial arts self-instruction manuals is the inclusion of tests embedded in each chapter so the student of Sanchin Kata can determine how well they have been able to master every concept and application presented. An instructor at the West Seattle Karate Academy, Wilder is able to make his instructions and commentaries particularly accessible to the novice, and of great value in honing the skills of the more experienced student. No personal or dojo martial arts reference collection would be complete without the inclusion of "The Way Of Sanchin Kata". Also very highly recommended to Martial Arts reference collections is Kris Wilder's earlier manual from YMAA Publications, "The Way Of Kata".

After a few months of using the ideas and drills presented in this book I can honestly say not only my Sanchin, but my Karate in general has seen a very positive effect.

This is a book you will keep coming back to, and if you're anything like me yours will be dog-eared in a few months.

I have been studying karate for 29 years. During that time I have been fortunate to see some exceptional martial artists do some remarkable things. Many that I thought I might not be able to accomplish in my life time. I was amazed at how men of such normal stature could be so fast and powerful. In August 2010 I attended the Crossing the Pond Martial Arts Expo in Seattle. Sensei Kris Wilder was one of the instructors at the seminar. His ability to use the structure that he describes in this book to apply a tremendous amount of power and to protect his body from absorbing impact was amazing. As a demonstration of this he had me kick the side of his knee with a side kick as hard as I could. I was hesitant at first but he assured me that it would be alright. I kicked him and nothing happened. His leg did not even move.

I have studied at three different schools over the years. None of my instructors taught me Sanchin Kata. I purchased this book and the video of the same title. I have been practicing the kata the way Kris describes to the best of my abilities for the past eight months. In that short time my application of power has increased tremendously. I have also practiced using the structure that this kata teaches in techniques from other katas. This has truly changed the way that I practice karate. I am much faster and more powerful than I ever was before. There are techniques from some katas that I did not understand the purpose of before because I could not generate power with them. I now see how to apply power to those techniques and can confidently use them. I highly recommend this book to any martial artist regardless of style as the concepts outlined in this book will make your martial art stronger.

Ivan Rose

This book is one of the most detailed works on a specific Kata I have ever seen. Proving that Sanchin is simple if viewed from the outside and yet extraordinarily complex once you try to grasp all of the subtle elements of the form. The author does a great job breaking the Kata down into its most basic parts. Leading you through each step and giving you test materials to help examine your progress and understanding. The book covers everything from the root mechanics of the Kata to the mind set and breathing involved in its application.

The only problem with any book is not being able to see things in motion and get the feel for how they fit together. The author has some great illustrations but has apparently thought about that and has a separate DVD that goes into those details. These two works separately are great. Together and probably the next best thing to having Kris Wilder in your living room. Watch for the review of the the Sanchin DVD too.

If you want a bit more detail take a look at the complete review on my website:

[...]

Nicholas Guinn
5th Degree Black Belt - Aikijutsu
4th Degree Black Belt - Shotokan Karate
[...]

Sensei Wilder has done a great job delving into the various aspects of the kata Sanchin
Sanchin is one of the kata that forms the base on which Karate is built
Sanchin is one of the kata that can be learned in a day but never mastered during ones lifetime
He reveals some aspects that are only know to a few but keeping some that must be taught
under the supervision a learned teacher.
The book was a pleasure to read and will be one that I recommend to others.

Richard Fields MD
7th Dan
Shorei-goju
shotokan