In Karate, is Sanchin training healthy?

Question

There's the old argument that it causes heart problems, and even Eizo Shimabukuro, the head man of Shorin-ryu (Who likely learned his Sanchin kata from his older Brother, Isshinryu founder Tatsuo) says to train it while you're young, and then drop it for other kata when you get to a certain age.

On the other hand, martial artists like Seiko Toyama train Sanchin quite regularly and live long, healthy lives. I think the argument against Sanchin originated in the Shotokan camp many decades ago. I first read of it in a book by a Shotokan guy. Is there anything to this argument?

As an Isshinryu guy myself, I want to point out that Soke Tatsuo Shimabuku wasn't all that old when he died. (67) Then look at the ages of other Isshinryu masters when they died... Harold Long, Steve Armstrong, Don Nagle... and when Master Uezu had his stroke... How old was Goju-ryu's Chojun Miyagi when he died?
I have every reason to disbelieve it, and I don't see it as much different than Charles Atlas' exercises. Exercise in general should give us longer life expectencies.

For you Kung Fu dudes, Sanchin is called Sanjhan in Southern Styles, but other similar Dynamic Tension exercises are found throughout Southern Kung Fu... Bruce Lee did a ton of the stuff in his Hung Gar training especially, but some can also be found in Wing Chun I believe. (He died young too)

Answer 1

I have heard both arguments as well. I trained Sanchin and Tensho kata across a couple of different styles with friends and instructors and noticed some things.

I think the argument against stopping the sanchin kata as you get older is more because of the hard breathing and tenshion which can cause health problems. However as someone already hinted, in goju they tend to take a more relaxed approach. Their breaths are softer and relax almost completely between movements. This is probalby more favorable as you get older, since good breathing is beneficial to blood circulation.

Like everything else in Karate, it changes as we age. When young, it's strength, speed, and hard. When old it becomes timing, relaxation, and soft. Sanchin is one of those things that is learned to help you understand your body. As your body changes, so does the kata.

Answer 2

Sanchin, when properly performed, is a very intense isometric exercise where every muscle of the body is tensed. It is possible that such exercise may do more harm than good when a person is elderly, especially if there is a history of hypertension (high blood pressure) or heart disease. Also, when we age we simply can't do the things we used to do because we loose physical strength.

It is natural for a practitioner to "soften" their techniques as they get older. I began in Goju about 20 years ago, and I know I practiced my kata with much more "go" than "ju" back then, but with age and injuries I can't do that any more. Now I am more balanced between "go" and "ju" and find that I am also more fluid.

It is a personal thing, and each practitioner should examine himself as to his trainig needs and abilities. If you can perform Sanchin at 80, go for it.

Edit:
Miyagi Chojun died in 1953 at the age of only 65, but these men lived very hard lives, especially compared to ours today, and death at such an age was not uncommon.

Answer 3

My opinion: It matters how you are taught to perform the kata. Some teachers show a continued tension throughout the kata with periods of holding the empty breath. Other instructors teach a gradual tension to completion of the technique then full relaxation with no holding of an empty breath. I've seen other variations too. I can see where the first method would strain the heart rather than build it like the second.

Answer 4

Im sure it depends on the intensity of your trianing, japanese people have a tendency to take things over the top, so maby when someone tells them that you have to be tense, they would tense up 10 times more than a normal person would and maby thats what gets them sick

there is definately no scientif evidence for this, perhaps someone died while doing this kata of a heart attack and thats what made this argument take off, all of this is speculations, i doubt someone can die from only a kata, there are alot more worse things for your health to worry about

Answer 5

i assume you're a low belt to not recognize what this "air punching" is. Kata replaced into initially and at present used to show on your grasp technique, it fairly is quite like the "air punching" you defined yet in a relentless, fluid form. fact is that traditionally, Kata replaced into the only approach of "thought" a grasp might instruct to his pupils until eventually now sending them for Kumite. The masters additionally created Kata's in an attempt to create or try new strikes until eventually now including them contained in the paintings. standard concepts "air punching" have been further later in basic terms to assist the Kata's. As for training, I unquestionably have been doing Shotokan Karate for 12 years and function a black belt. the only element i'm able to inform you is concentration on your aim, in spite of the fact that it is. Kata's are stable in case you have a project with technique and mandatory for exams in spite of the fact that it rather is the Kumite it is greater significant contained in the tip. don't be afraid to attempt a number of your guy or woman combinations (while you're in a belt intense adequate to do combinations) and after training, in case you could, discover some pals and take a inspect a a million vs 2 Kumite. It proved very enlightening to me and helped me with recognize-how try against mechanics, plus, you will see that it fairly is greater not basic that a million vs a million, whether you're with an significant different against somebody on my own. Being on my own helps your try against mechanics and concentration yet being with an significant different helps timing and coordination. do purely not do something stupid (a million vs 2 battles with green combatants would properly be very messy and chaotic, you could desire to finally finally end up scuffling with yet not unquestionably doing Karate)

Answer 6

i don't think so.... i went to the isshin-ryu world tournament and we had tatsuo's son come for seminars. his heart was fine

Answer 7

sorry dude i don't know i love kung fu instead

Answer 8

idk