Sanchin Stepping: Whats Up with That?

00:13 - Today I want to cover one of the most unique elements of Goju-Ryu training, compared to other styles of karate or even other martial arts, that I’ve ever seen.

00:21 - Goju-Ryu is known for its circularity, both in terms of our “uke-waza” and in terms of our footwork, and no performance of Sanchin would be complete without those nice round steps that we like to do in between Sanchin-dachi.

00:32 - I’d go so far as to say that this type of footwork is one of the defining differences between Goju-Ryu and any other style, and it’s so important that manuals by Higaonna Morio and Toguchi Seikichi Senseis mention it in one form or another.

00:45 - Uechi Ryu, which practices an open-handed version of Sanchin, makes use of this type of stepping in that kata, but unlike them, us Goju-Ryu karateka step that way in almost every kata we practice.

00:56 - So why is that? Are there any benefits to stepping in this circular manner? And why has it caught on so well in Goju-Ryu, but in no other styles? I’m going to try to explain a little bit about that now, and let you know why it’s a useful way of practicing, and when you should probably leave it behind.

01:13 - Let’s step into it! I’ve got to explain circle stepping, or rather “Sanchin stepping” before I talk about why we actually use it.

01:25 - So let’s pull up a helpful little demonstration I refuse to show my feet on camera for internet reasons, so here’s some footage I found from YouTube Channel dejathorus demonstrating the basic stepping pattern.

01:38 - You’ll notice that this is a type of ayumi ashi or walking step, as well as a type of suri ashi or sliding step.

01:45 - That means that the lead foot alternates, like how you normally walk, and the weight is lifted off the heel but the ball of the foot is allowed to slide on the floor.

01:55 - As you step in this manner, your stepping foot draws out a semi-circle, so that the balls of the feet are almost touching at the halfway point.

02:02 - While your foot shouldn’t turn too much during the step, many schools teach to pull the heels slightly in at the end of the step, to grab the ground with your feet and to correct any pigeon-toeing in your stance.

02:13 - This is a fairly simple way of stepping, that can be done to the front, or to the back, and even adopted to other stances and stepping patterns.

02:21 - While it can’t really be adapted to shifting steps, where your front and lead leg don’t change place, it’s a fairly versatile way of moving that can be adapted to most karate situations.

02:31 - However, it’s also pretty slow, it takes a lot of focus, and it feels very unnatural.

02:37 - Why is it then that we practice it in Sanchin, the most important kata of Goju-Ryu, and every other kata besides? There are a couple of different explanations that have been given by various karateka as to why this type of stepping is useful.

02:51 - Toguchi Seikichi Sensei describes it primarily as a training methodology, not an actual means of stepping in combat.

02:57 - He says: “It is indeed a strange stance and way of walking.

03:01 - No one would stand or walk in this fashion in normal life.

03:05 - And if we did so in an actual fight, we would surely and instantly be knocked to the ground. ” The benefit of this way of stepping, he claims, is that it reinforces the proper alignment of the feet and knees, counteracting the habit many people have of bowing their legs out when stationary.

03:20 - This kind of stable, close-in stance is useful for close range fighting and clinch work, but since keeping the knees in is a habit that must be developed, the pattern of circular stepping, which tends to drag the toes inwards, is used to correct that and build familiarity with that stance.

03:37 - In addition to the benefit to habitualizing that posture, the slow method of circular stepping also requires you to shift your weight over your stationary foot and engage your hips while stepping and performing techniques, rather than isolating your upper and lower body.

03:51 - Another explanation that I’ve seen for the circular stepping method is that it’s used to position one’s foot behind the opponent’s leg in preparation for a throw like osoto-gari.

03:58 - This connection between Goju’s circular techniques and its throwing and grappling is commonly cited as one of the key aspects of the “Ju” side of Goju.

04:08 - Rather than moving straight in, this type of stepping is supposed to let you move in at an angle, and either get your leg or even your hip behind your opponent as a setup for some kind of throw or takedown.

04:17 - This interpretation would also make sense in terms of several of the Goju-Ryu kata which include shifting or straight stepping, since this would mean that some techniques are intended as throws, whereas others are not.

04:27 - And the final explanation that I’m going to present is that this type of stepping is more stable during motion than other types.

04:34 - Unlike picking your foot up, this method of stepping allows you to have both feet on the ground at all times, so that if your stationary foot is swept, you can transfer weight to the stepping foot to avoid falling.

04:44 - And unlike sliding your foot forward, you can move your weight to the stationary foot while stepping, allowing you to practice it at either a slow or fast speed.

04:53 - However, since it isn’t a type of stepping intended for use in actual combat (at least, according to Toguchi Sensei and a few others) this is the least relevant explanation in my opinion.

05:02 - This one’s easy. In kumite, or in a real fight.

05:09 - Circular stepping may be a useful training tool, but it’s slow, awkward, and it forces you to most of the time square your shoulders up, which both leaves a larger target to hit and robs you of the ability to use your rear hand for power punching.

05:22 - That squaring up is good at closer ranges, which is why we practice it, but most kumite is fought outside of clinch range (and WKF kumite doesn’t allow clinching).

05:32 - But even in a close-range fight, you’ll find that while the posture is useful, circling your feet when you step isn’t.

05:39 - It’s much more likely to get your shin kicked or your leg swept.

05:43 - In general, the sharp and formal moves of kata will look much rougher during an actual fight or sparring session.

05:49 - You shouldn’t force your technique to look perfect in a fight at the expense of being effective, and that means you should focus on where you place your feet rather than how exactly they moved to get there.

05:59 - Other types of foot movement, like shifting, twisting, and even lifting your feet when you step, might be appropriate for a given situation.

06:06 - But even though circular stepping shouldn’t be used in a real fight, it’s an important exercise to build good habits, and is one of the things that makes Goju-Ryu unique.

06:15 - Just don’t rely on it too much! Thanks for watching this short one.

06:21 - If you liked it, there are some more in-depth videos on the way, so for the time being I’d be glad if you hit the like button, and left a funky little comment letting me know what unique part of Goju-Ryu is your favorite, or if you’re not a Goju practitioner, what is unique about your style that you like.

06:38 - If you’re listening to the outro, I bet you want to know how to see those more in depth videos I mentioned: well guess what, you can subscribe to this channel and get notifications for it, you know the drill.

06:49 - I’ve been the Goju-Ryu Philosopher, and go practice Sanchin kata right now!.