Sorry about this post on a Gyokko Ryu kata, but I read somewhere that Takamatsu Sensei said that all of budo is in the Sanshin no Kata. It must be important, in that case.

So, I've been thinking about what the "Sanshin" of "Sanshin no Kata" signifies/means. I've heard it translates as "three hearts", or something like that, and I'm trying to discover how this name relates to the spirit of the kata.
What I can see so far is that each technique has three steps, which I see as:
1. Evading and counterstriking or diverting
2. Re-assessing the situation
3. Delivering a strike

Is this on the right track? Do I need to re-assess where I am heading with this? What is the translation of "Sanshin" in this context? I would also like to know who trains the Sanshin no Kata starting out from a kamae other than shizen, and who trains it starting from shizen no kamae.

-thanks

The definition of the translation of Sanshin is anyones guess, and anyones guess is probably better than mine. I can offer no insight here, but Im very curious to see what others on the board have to say.

To answer your question about the kamae; we train chi beginning in shizen no kamae but for the rest of the sanshin we begin in bobi no kamae. Its an ichimonji-ish kamae with the rear hand next to the hip.

Practicing the sanshin makes it apparent to me that my taijutsu is very disjointed, and doesnt flow well. The 3 hearts methods serve to remind me of the 3 things I am tring to unify within the motion body, mind, and breath/intention.


Matt Harmin

If you are new to the Sanshin no Kata, you should first just understand the mechanics. You'll find as you practice them, the lessons are incredibly multi-layered. Then, you'll train with someone who will show you a perspective that will completely change the way you've been looking at them...

The meaning of Sanshin is just as multi-layered. The base difinition of "3 hearts" is as basic as the beginning mechanics of each technique. But, as you train, you'll find many, many "threes" that Sanshin can translate as.

For instance, I have looked at the significance of three to also mean mind, body and spirit. I've seen it as 1,2 and 3 dimensional aspects to each of the kata. I've seen it as the mechanics, use of space/angling and energy of the kata. So on and so on. So, even just the name can be evolutionary, as well.

And, I haven't even talked about "shin", either...

On a basic level, I explain the Sanshin no Kata, as a whole, to be like a personal "tool box" of sorts. Practicing them correctly, with constant reflection and improvement, is like using tools to build your taijutsu. As you improve in your understanding of the Sanshin no Kata, your overall taijutsu improves. Thus, the kata help to point out and repair flaws in your taijutsu.

Whatever variations you apply to the Sanshin no Kata are almost limitless, as long as you don't let the variations hide the deeper lessons (i.e. do it different just to be different). "Technophobes" (to steal a term from Luke Molitor) would cringe at this a bit, but you really can do the Sanshin no Kata just about any way you want, as long as you are keeping with the essence, or root, of the kata. But, that's dangerous ground. It takes quite a long time with regular practice to be able to know the difference. I don't recommend that at this point.

These are just my own thoughts, based on my own conclusions and how others interpret and have taught/continue to teach them to me. Again, you'll find that everybody has their own unique angle on them, always with another fresh approach just around the corner.

Gambatte!

One way I see the Sanshin is:

1) Ashi; movement
2) Tai; power
3) Te; technique

Also, if we take a chair... the smallest number of legs making sitting more than less possible is three, right? With two you are always tad on the brink of tipping over...

Unity of the three above mentioned, bringing stability - as signified in the Chi no kata's Sanshitanken, maybe?

Over the years ive heard it translated as "Three Hearts", or the "Three parts Sanshin", but this never really made sense to me, considering there is actually 5 parts to it. For a while i thought the 3 (San) was referring to

1) Evade
2) Block
3) Strike.

Recently though, a very high ranking Shihan, who has been traing solidly with Soke and Nagato Sensei fullltime for approx 10yrs, gave me this interpretation that he got from Soke. I will not quote the Shihan on this, just in case i get it wrong here myself, but i believe it went something along the lines of this. :

He said the "Three Hearts" that most refer to, is meant to mean that to do it, to understand it, you must have the heart and the learning spirit / mind of a three year old. Three year olds are like a sponge when it comes to learning. They dont think about it, nor do they debate the right way and the wrong way, they just learn. As they grow, they then refine what they have learnt as their own personalities grow.

Wow, deep, isnt it ???

Definitly got me looking at it from another angle.

The translation ���three hearts��� immediately makes me think of the three energy centers known as tan tien in the Chinese internal arts. These are the lower, middle and higher tan tien. The lower tan tien is known to martial artists as the hara ��� the centre of balance located a little below the navel. The middle dan tien is the heart centre, the upper dan tien the head.

These energy centres also have interesting correspondences with the Indian chakra model and five elements theory. In the Kihon Sanpo, I think you focus your intent on ���coming from��� one of these centers as you move. (This is my beginner���s limited understanding). Is this also possibly a consideration with sanshin?


Also, you folks have mentioned trinities such as mind/body/spirit or mind/body/breath What about Body, Heart and Mind? Body; The physical aspect of doing the techniques, Heart; the ���heart��� or intention, or spirit behind them and Mind; the mind of understanding. Or indeed the mind of no mind...

With humble intent,

Adam

I read this Before !!!

QUOTE:/
He said," the "Three Hearts" that most refer to... have the heart and the learning spirit / mind of a three year old. Three year olds are like a sponge when it comes to learning. They dont think about it, nor do they debate the right way and the wrong way, they just learn..."

The novice of 20 yrs. or less deals w/ the Phy. Realm
( 1 of 3 )

Try incorporating :
*** avoidance of Attack
*** application of Pain
*** disrupt Balance

the ORDER is irrelavent !!!

just a nutta angle LOL
______________
john gautreaux

Samuel,

firstly, this is just my two cents( as usual ). secondly, this is merely one way in which i view the importance of the sanshin no kata.i believe that the sanshin contains many gifts for us as practitioners, and as such must be practiced diligently and regularly in order to extrapolate all that it has to offer. i have encountered too many students and teachers who view and practice the sanshin as if they were doing push ups.

as the sanshin is intended as a "solo" exercize, it has always been impressed upon me to practice it with the upmost level of self-awareness. so with that in mind....

1). finding your correct bone alignment, starting from shizen no kamae and moving into shoshin no kamae.

2). once fully aware of your correct bone alignment, becoming aware of incorrect bone alignment as a result of moving forward( "walking"="gyo" ).

3). once fully aware of incorrect bone alignment, using your spine to place yourself back into correct alignment to complete the movement( journey ).

i believe it is extremely important to new students that they practice any of the sanshin as individual movements, seperating those movements in order to fully understand them....before putting them back together as a whole movement. this way, once the pieces are made correct then the whole movement will become beautiful. i have personally observed much sloppy, incorrect movement from people practicing the sanshin over the years. i feel it is NOT something that should be taken for granted by anyone on any level.

just my two cents.


mark spada

Quote:


Mark,

I dont think the act of walking itself should be considered "incorrect bone alignment". There is a right way for humans to walk and wrong way. I've noticed the in-between walking/stepping movements in the kata are sometimes neglected, as if the 1st movement and the last movement are the only important parts of sanshin. There are all sorts of abnormal gait patterns/bone alignments that tend to happen after the first movement of the sanshin kata. Circumduction (the hip/leg moves in an arc instead of a straight line), and vaulting (the stable leg is used as a sort of pole valt that throws the other side of the body forward)being most common. People also tend to do all sorts of things with their legs and feet during sanshin that they wouldnt necessairly do during regular walking. Stepping with the ball of the foot instead of the heel,'toed out', pigeon toed, bow legged or knock kneed steps etc.


Domonic Ceccarelli

Domonic,

i have to agree with the points you've made here, although i think my comments( that you quoted concerning "part 2" ) were perhaps misleading.

i made the reference to walking because when relating the sanshin to those in my training group, i have them paying attention to their lower bodies for the purpose of avoiding those types of unatural gaits that you spoke about.

this way, and by using the spine to properly align themselves for the strike( or the kick as with ku no waza ), they begin to understand the importance of using the entire body as a whole, not "falling back" on whatever bad ambulatory habits got conditioned into them throughout their lives and thereby focusing primarily on the striking portion of the movement.

in my limited experience, it seems to me that many teachers may not simply understand these importance points, and so they tend to gloss over them entirely, placing too much importance on the strikes while performing the sanshin, even going overboard by using a lot of power which in turn creates even more bad habits.


mark spada