Sanchin Kata

Black Belt Study Guide

SANCHIN KATA
(Sawn-Chin Ka-Ta)
"The Three Battles - Mind, Body, Spirit"
Yellow Belt Sequence
"Short Form"
Bow with your hands by the sides of your legs.
(Sanchin Opening)
1. Move your left foot sideways into a Neutral Stance. "One!"
2. With your hands in a "Knife Hand" fist, slide your wrists up your legs to your hips.
3. Move your Right Foot forward into a Right Sanchin Stance. "Three!"
4. Thrust out both "Knife Hand" fists. "Four!"
5. Squeeze hands into Fists. "Five!"
6. Bend Elbows into a "Closed Hand Guard Position" palms facing you. "Six!"
7. Open hands into "Knife Hand" fists. "Seven!"

"Two!"

(The Exercise - Sanchin Steps and Sanchin Strikes)

8. Left "Knife Hand" Strike (Sanchin Strike) "One!"
9. Step forward with your Left Foot (Sanchin Step) "Step!"
10. Right "Knife Hand" Strike (Sanchin Strike) "Two!"
11. Step forward with your Right Foot (Sanchin Step) "Step!"
12. Left "Knife Hand" Strike (Sanchin Strike) "Three"
13. Step forward with your Left Foot (Sanchin Step) "Step!"
14. Right "Knife Hand" Strike (Sanchin Strike) "Four!. . . Don't Step"
(Double Arm Strikes)
15. "Knife Hand" Strike with both arms - close hands into Fists "One, Squeeze, Twist, Open"
16. "Knife Hand" Strike with both arms - close hands into Fists "Two, Squeeze, Twist, Open"
17. "Knife Hand" Strike with both arms - Double Open Hand Guard Position
"Three, Don't Squeeze, Crane Hands"
18. Left Wa-Uke Block
"Drop, Chop, Circle, Pull, Push, Guard"
19. Step forward with your Right Foot (Sanchin Step)
20. Right Wa-Uke Block "Drop, Chop, Circle, Pull, Push, Guard"
(The Closing)
21. Move your Right Foot backwards to Neutral Stance
22. Cover your Right Fist with your Left Hand
"Closed Gate. . . Feet Straight"
23. Move your Right Foot into Attention Stance.
24. Bow.

Sanchin Kata

Black Belt Study Guide

SANCHIN KATA
(Sawn-Chin Ka-Ta)
"The Three Battles - Mind, Body, Spirit"
Orange Belt Sequence
"Long Form"
Bow with your hands by the sides of your legs. (Begin Facing the Red Arrow Direction)
(Sanchin Kata Opening)
1. Move your left foot sideways into a Neutral Stance. "One!"
2. With your hands in a "Knife Hand" fist, slide your wrists up your legs to your hips.
3. Move your Right Foot forward into a Right Sanchin Stance. "Three!"
4. Thrust out both "Knife Hand" fists. "Four!"
5. Squeeze hands into Fists. "Five!"
6. Bend Elbows into a "Closed Hand Guard Position" palms facing you. "Six!"
7. Open hands into "Knife Hand" fists. "Seven!"

"Two!"

(The Exercise - Sanchin Steps, Sanchin Strikes, Sanchin Turns)

8. Left "Knife Hand" Strike (Sanchin Strike) "One!"
9. Step forward with your Left Foot (Sanchin Step) "Step!"
10. Right "Knife Hand" Strike (Sanchin Strike) "Two!"
11. Step forward with your Right Foot (Sanchin Step) "Step!"
12. Left "Knife Hand" Strike (Sanchin Strike) "Three"
13. Step forward with your Left Foot (Sanchin Step) "Step!"
14. Right "Knife Hand" Strike (Sanchin Strike) "Four!. . . Don't Step. . . Turn"
15. Sanchin Turn (Face Blue Arrow Direction)
16. Repeat Steps 8 - 14
17. Sanchin Turn (Face Red Arrow Direction)
17. Repeat Steps 8 - 14
(Double Arm Strikes)
18. "Knife Hand" Strike with both arms - close hands into Fists "One, Squeeze, Twist, Open"
19. "Knife Hand" Strike with both arms - close hands into Fists "Two, Squeeze, Twist, Open"
20. "Knife Hand" Strike with both arms - Double Open Hand Guard Position
"Three, Don't Squeeze, Crane Hands"
(Wa-Uke Blocks)
21. "Step-Off" to the Left Side (End in a Left Sanchin Stance) (Face the Green Arrow Direction)
22. Left Wa-Uke Block
"Drop, Chop, Circle, Pull, Push, Guard"
22. "Step-Off" to the Right Side (End in a Right Sanchin Stance) (Face the Gray Arrow Direction)
23. Right Wa-Uke Block "Drop, Chop, Circle, Pull, Push, Guard"
24. "Step-Off" to your Left (to the front) (End in a Left Sanchin Stance) (Face the Red Arrow Direction)
25. Left Wa-Uke Block
"Drop, Chop, Circle, Pull, Push, Guard"
26. Move your Left Foot backwards to Neutral Stance
27. (Kimei Position) Cover your Right Fist with your Left Hand
28. Move your Right Foot into Attention Stance.
29. Bow.

"Closed Gate. . . Feet Straight"

Sanchin Kata

Black Belt Study Guide

SANCHIN KATA
"Three Battles - Mind, Body, Spirit"
1
Left Sanchin Stance
2

2
Neutral Stance
4

Right Sanchin Stance

Hand and Elbow

Mirror Guide

Sanchin Step From Left Stance

Sanchin Step From Right Stance

30 degree arm bend

How these pictures help:

Sanchin & Neutral Stance pictures: The "black feet" are where and how your feet should be placed on the
floor. The "gray feet" are shown only so that you can see the correct distance between the "black feet". Use
your own foot size as a measurement tool.
Sanchin Steps: The "black feet" are where and how your feet should be placed on the floor BEFORE you
step forward. The "red feet" are where and how your feet should be place on the floor AFTER you step
forward. The "arrow" shows the half-circle path that the back foot will take as it moves to the front.
Hand and Elbow Mirror Guide: Is an example of where your hands should be at the beginning and end of the
blocks/techniques and what they would look like to you if you were to practice in front of a mirror. Positions
1,2,3, and 4 are where your hands should be placed. Position E is for your elbows. The Red Line is your
"Center-line". The Blue Line shows how far your arm crosses your body when you perform a Circle Block
and the straight line path it goes up.

Sanchin Kata

Black Belt Study Guide

Sanchin Turn from Right Stance

Sanchin Turn from Left Stance

Line Of Attack

Body Weight Placement on the Feet

Sanchin Stance knees

in a Sanchin Stance

Knife Hand Fist

How these pictures help:

Sanchin Turn - The Black Feet are where and how your feet should be at the beginning of your turn. The Green foot shows the
1st movement your feet make and the Red Foot shows the 2nd movement. The Green and Red Feet are where your feet should
be at the end of a Sanchin Turn.
Sanchin Stance "knees" - A picture to show how your knees should bend in towards each other when you are in a Sanchin
Stance.
Knife-Hand Fist - This is the hand shape you want to keep during most of your Sanchin Kata.
Line of Attack - The Black Feet are where and how your feet should be placed at the beginning of your Step-Off. The Blue Feet
are where and how your feet should be AFTER you have performed the 1st and 2nd Step-Off. The line represents the direction
and path you should stay on as you are Stepping-Off to the Left and Right.

Sanchin Kata

Black Belt Study Guide

HOW TO DO SANCHIN KATA

Begin your Kata standing up straight with your heels together and your toes slightly apart.
As you bow, do not allow your arms to go limp, hold your arms tightly against your body.
(Begin Facing Red Arrow Direction)

1. OPEN YOUR STANCE BY MOVING YOUR LEFT FOOT INTO A NEUTRAL STANCE.

Common Mistakes:

1)Feet aren't straight- Do not allow your feet to turn outwards, keep
your toes pointing straight ahead.
2)Feet are too narrow or too wide - View the Neutral Stance Diagram,
notice how far apart the feet should be placed. A good training tool is to use
your shoes as the "grey feet" and place your feet on either side of them.
2. WITH YOUR HANDS IN A "KNIFE HAND" FIST,
SLIDE YOUR WRISTS UP YOUR LEGS TO YOUR HIPS.

Tuck your thumbs underneath your palms and make "knife hand fists". Slide your wrists up the sides
of your legs and keep your elbows tucked-in behind you, point the tips of your "knife hands" forward
as you do so, stop when your wrists are on the sides of your hip bone.
Common Mistakes:

1) Elbows stick out - While your moving your "knife hands" towards your
hips, keep you elbows tucked-in behind you (elbows should reach towards the
spine).
2) Fork, Spoon, or Spork Hands - Do not allow your fingers to separate from each
other. Fingers should be as straight as possible and "in-line" with the back of your
hand. To figure out if your hands are straight enough, turn your hand sideways
(the back of your hand and your fingers should be flat).

Sanchin Kata

Black Belt Study Guide

3. MOVE YOUR RIGHT FOOT FORWARD INTO A RIGHT SANCHIN STANCE

When you are in a Sanchin Stance draw your knees in towards each other (Sanchin Stance "knees"
picture). Hips should be "tucked under" (pelvis rotated forward).
Common Mistakes:
1) Wrong Foot Position - Look at the Left and Right Sanchin Stance foot diagram
Place your shoes in between your feet for an idea of how far apart your feet should
be. Place the heel of your front foot and the toes of your back foot on any
straight line you may find on the ground for an idea of how long the stance
should be.
2) Knees Aren't Bent - Bend your knees in toward each other, this protects your
2
groin and will allow you to move forward without shifting your weight. Do not
just "stand" with your feet in the correct position, this puts too much weight on
the heel and outside edge of your foot. Place all of your weight on the inside
edge of your foot and then then toward the ball of your foot (Purple section of
the Weight Placement picture), this will force you to keep your knees bent.
4. THRUST OUT BOTH "KNIFE HAND" FISTS
Low Double "Knife Hand Thrust" - Keep your hands sideways (pinky side down, thumb side up)
as you strongly thrust your hands out. The target for this strike is the lower stomach ("Mirror
Guide"position 5).
Common Mistakes:
1)"Fork Hand Strikes" - Do not allow your fingers to separate
especially at the end of your strike. our fingers are stronger when they
are together!
2) Wrong Target - Don't allow your hand height to raise up as you
strike. Your hands should follow a straight-line path from your hips
to the target (Mirror Guide position 5).
3) Striking Straight Down - Do not reach for your feet as you strike,
remember the strike only stays "low" as we move our hands forward.

5. SQUEEZE HANDS INTO FISTS

Close your hands into fists (Thumbs on the outside) and tense up the muscles in your hands and
forearms.
Common Mistakes:

1) Thumb gets tucked inside the fist - This happens because the
thumb was already touching the palm of the hand. Slide your thumb
sideways off your palm. If you close your fingers using your pinky side
first (pinky, ring, middle, index) your thumb has enough space and
time to get out of the way.
2) Arms move - Keep your arms in their position, especially your upper arms.
Do not allow your arms to get "tired" and move them closer to your body. Do
not drop them down or start to lift them up.

Sanchin Kata

Black Belt Study Guide

6. BEND ELBOWS INTO A "CLOSED HAND GUARD POSITION" PALMS FACING YOU.
Bend your elbows until they are in the "30 degree arm bend" (Sanchin Arm) and turn your palms
towards you.
Common Mistakes:
1) Hands too close to the face - Do not allow your arms to bend past the "30 degree are
bend" position (see the picture). Your forearms should not be "up and down".
Hands should be in Mirror Guide position 2 and your elbows should be in Mirror
Guide position E.
2) Uneven Arms - Keep your arms even! An easy way to check to see if they are is to
look where your hands are. Are they even? Keep your arms symmetric!
3) "L" arms or "A"arms - When you look down at your arms, if your elbows are
closer together than our wrists, your forearms will be making a "V"shape [ \ / ].
Do not let your forearms be parallel [ | | ] (what I call "L" arms) and don't allow your wrists to be
closer than your elbows [ / \ ] (what I call "A"arms).
7. OPEN HANDS INTO "KNIFE HAND" FISTS
Common Mistakes:

1) Fingers point up - Your fingertips should be pointing diagonally outwards towards

the neck height of a "same-size" opponent. Do not allow your fingertips to be higher
than your shoulder height!
2) Thumbs on the Side - Your thumb should be touching and reaching
across your palm towards the pinky side of your hand. Do not let your
thumbs rest naturally on the sides of your hands. If you look at the back
side of your "knife hand" fist you should not be able to see the thumb.

Comments about the Sanchin Opening:

A)As you perform each technique your body should be tense as if you are trying to "flex" all of your muscles.
How tense? The answer comes from experience and the description of "Pangai-Noon" (meaning "Half Hard,
Half Soft). You want to be tense enough that your body won't be injured if you are hit, but not so tense that
you are easily moved. The "stiffer" you are, the easier it is to move you.
B) The opening is a great display of strength and power, please perform it as such. It must be "spirited"!
C) At the end of the Sanchin Opening your are in a traditional Sanchin Stance. In a Sanchin Stance your
pelvis should be rolled forward or "tucked under" until your lower back is flat and no longer curved. Your
rib-cage should be "pulled down" to cover your Solar-Plexus, but do not allow your upper back to "hunch".

Sanchin Kata

Black Belt Study Guide

8. SANCHIN STRIKE
A Sanchin Strike is always performed with the arm that is on the Rear-Leg Side of your Body. If you are in a
Left Sanchin Stance you will do a Right Sanchin Strike because your Right Foot will be your rear leg side. If
you are in a Right Sanchin Stance you will do a Left Sanchin Strike because your left foot will be your rear
leg side. A Sanchin Strike can be broken down into 3 separate movements.
First Movement "The Elbow Strike": Move your striking hand towards the center-line of your
body ("Mirror Guide" Red Line position)and then draw your elbow straight backwards to a
"ready to punch" position. Your hand will be kept in a "knife hand" fist. Your elbow should be
pulled as far back as it can go without lifting up your shoulder. Your forearm should be as
close to your armpit as possible while keeping your forearm parallel to the floor.
Common Mistakes:
1) "The Dip" - Do not allow your hand height to drop down as you pull your arm backwards. A
"dipping" happens as you try to bring your hand back up to the correct height. Your hand should
travel backwards in straight line as it moves into position.
2)Shoulder lifts - Pull back your arm as far as it can go but DO NOT let your shoulder rise up at all.
You should be forcing or pulling your shoulder down to keep it in it's position as your arm travels
backwards and forewards.
3) Hand is hip height - Remember, your forearm should be parallel with the floor! When your
forearm is parallel it will place your hand somewhere beside your chest or pectoral muscle.
Second Movement "The Finger Strike": While your shoulder is "down", rotate your
shoulder blade foreward. It will not rotate very far but it's an "active action" you want
throughout your strike. Keeping your elbow as close to your body as you can, thrust your
arm forward with your palm side of your hand facing up. The hand will travel most of the
strike with the palm side facing up. After your elbow clears your body you will begin to
rotate your palm down. At the the end of the strike your whole arm should be parallel to
the floor. Throughout the strike your "knife hand" should be traveling in a straight line.
Common Mistakes:
1)Hand turns over too soon - Do not turn your hand over during the beginning of the strike, but
rather near the end of the strike.
2)"Chicken Strikes" - Your elbow should not "pop out" to the side as you strike (it will look like you
are "flapping a wing"). This usually happens when you turn your hand over too soon.
3)"Sanchin Chops" - A "Sanchin Chop" happens when your elbow is not behind your hand as you
strike. At the end of your strike, this will cause the hand to move sideways as the hand and elbow try
to realign themselves, making it look like you are "chopping" the air sideways. To correct this, your
hand in it's "ready to strike" position may need to be pulled away from your body a little so that your
hand is "in line" with your elbow.
Third Movement "The Elbow Block": Rotate your striking arm outwards (turn your hand
palm side up) and draw your elbow in towards your body. Your elbow should be "pointing
towards your belly button" and look like the same as your non-striking arm. They should be
symmetric. You are returning your arm to a "knife hand" guard position just as you were in #7
of the Sanchin Opening.

Sanchin Kata

Black Belt Study Guide

Common Mistakes:
1) Elbows on the side - Do not allow your elbow to "come to rest" on the side of your body.
Your elbow should remain in front of your body ("Mirror Guide" position E).
2) Non-striking Elbow on the side - Your non-striking hand should remain in it's position
while the other hand moves through the complete Sanchin Strike. It's important to know and
control what each arm is doing during any technique. Keep your elbows tucked in front of
1
you!
3) "A" arms - For most people it takes effort to keep their elbows in front of them. If it doesn't
feel like you are "doing" it, then you're probably not. It is very natural that your elbows will
rest on the sides of your body (because that's where they are most of the time) even if your
hands are up in front of you.
4) Hands Come to Close to the Face - Do not let your arm bend more than the 30 degrees!
Your arms and hands should be pointing away from you and not up.
4
9. SANCHIN STEP
Pivoting on the ball-of-the-foot, straighten your front foot by pulling your heel in. Using your front leg, pull
your rear leg to the front. Your rear leg should follow the half-circle path shown in the Sanchin Step diagrams
and in the Sanchin Step description for Uke Kata. Keep your pelvis "tucked under" as you move through
your step and do not allow your arms to move from their position. When the rear leg has moved into the front
leg position you should place your foot on the floor like this - The ball of the foot touches the floor first, the
heel of the foot touches second.
Common Mistakes:
1) Swaying Side to Side - Do not rest all of your weight on your forward leg as you move your rear
leg to the front. This will cause your whole body to move side to side as you step. Use your front leg
to "pull" forward the rear leg.
2) Up and Down - Do not rest all of your weight on your forward leg because this will also make you
move "up and down". This is caused when you straighten your front leg to rest your weight on it (this
is what people naturally do when they walk). Keep you knees bent as you step!
3) Elbows Move Towards the Side of The Body - It is important to hold your arms in their position
firmly as you step. Do not allow them to move from their Double Knife-Handed Guard Position
(Sanchin Opening #7 position)
4) Back Foot is Not Straight - Their are two reasons why this usually happens: 1)You step to far!
Taking too big of a step will cause your back foot to move even if you correctly straightened it before
you stepped forward. 2) When you "straightened" your front foot and the beginning of the step you
over-pivoted your foot which means you never completely straightened it in the first place.
5)Front Foot is Not Crooked - As you step, begin to turn your foot "toes-in" so that when you place it
on the floor in front of you your foot is in the correct 30 degree bend (see the Left and Right Sanchin
Stance Foot Diagrams)
6) Looking at Your Feet as You Step - This is obviously how you teach yourself how to correctly step.
However, you must teach yourself how to step while keeping your eyes and head up and not watching
your feet.

Sanchin Kata

Black Belt Study Guide

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15. SANCHIN TURN

On the ball-of-the-foot, pivot the heel of the Rear Foot inwards until the back of the
heel is pointing at the Big Toe of the front foot (Green Foot in the Sanchin Turn Foot
Diagram). When it has reached this position flatten the foot on the floor. Lift your Front
Foot off the floor and begin to turn your body completely around to face the opposite direction.
(Note: If your Right Foot was in the back you will turn Right. If your Left Foot was in
the back you will turn Left). Place this Foot on the floor behind you once you have
completely turned around (Red Foot position in the Sanchin Turn Foot Diagram). If
you began in a Left Sanchin Stance at the beginning of the turn, you will end in a
Right Sanchin Stance. If you began in a Right, you will end in a Left. Keep your
hands in their Double Knife-Handed Guard Position as you move your feet through
the turn.
This is a 180 degree turn. If you are Facing the Red Arrow Direction before you turn,
when you have finished your turn you will be Facing the Blue Arrow Direction. If
your Facing the Blue Arrow Direction, turn around to Face the Red Arrow Direction.
Common Mistakes:
1)Swinging the Foot to the Front - When you begin your turn, your Back
Foot will pivot around and become your new "Front Foot". When you lift
up your other foot, the Front Foot, do not swing it in front of the Back Foot
(new "Front Foot") as you turn around. When you end your turn, your Front
Foot will become your new "Back Foot".
2)After the Turn the Back Foot is Not Straight - There are usually 3 reasons
why this happens: 1)Your stance is not wide enough. Make sure that your back
foot is two foot-widths away from your front foot. This allows you to
comfortably place and keep your Back Foot Straight. 2)When you turned, you pivoted both feet.
Remember the Red Foot (Sanchin Turn Foot Diagram) will come up off the floor! 3) You placed the
Red Foot (Sanchin Turn Foot Diagram) down on the floor too far back and away from the front foot
(see the Sanchin Stance Diagrams and notice that the heel of the front foot is "in-line" with the toes of
the back foot.)
3) Looking at Your Feet as You Turn - This is obviously how you teach yourself how to correctly
turn. However, you must teach yourself how to turn while keeping your eyes and head up and not
watching your feet.
4) After the Turn your Front Foot is not Crooked or too Crooked- Make sure that your foot stays in
it's proper position as you turn. There are 2 common reasons why the foot is not in it's 30 degree-toespointed-in position: 1)Over-pivoting or Under-pivoting: It's either you pivoted your Green Foot
(Sanchin Turn Foot Diagram) to much or not enough. The back of your heel should point at the Big
Toe of you other foot after you pivot it. 2) Your stance is too wide! When your Red Foot swings too far
away from your Green Foot it will cause your Green Foot to move.
5) Turning in the Wrong Direction - In the Traditional Sanchin Kata, we begin our exercise with our
Right Foot in Front. This means that both times in the exercise when we are to perform a Sanchin
Turn we will be in Left Sanchin Stance. Always Sanchin Turn in the direction of your Rear Foot. Since
our Right Foot is always the Rear Foot in a Traditional Sanchin Kata then that means we will turn
our body to the Right.
6) Turning in the Wrong Direction 2 - Do not pivot your FRONT Foot when you begin your turn.
This will cause you to turn around in the wrong direction! Remember, pivot your Back Foot first

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Black Belt Study Guide

11

18. DOUBLE ARM STRIKE and "Squeeze" (Double Sanchin Strikes and Grab)
Draw both arms back to a Ready-To-Punch position with your hands in
Knife-Hand Fists. Perform a Left and Right Finger Strike (Sanchin Strike) at
the same time. Pause for a second after both hands have completed their
strikes then slide your thumbs to the sides of your hands and close your hands
tightly into fists. Turn your fists palm up (this will help rotate your arms and
point your elbows towards the floor) and then draw both arms back to a
Ready-To-Punch position. Open your fist back into Knife-Hand Fists as you
draw you arms backwards. By the time your arms have reached the Ready-To-Punch position your hands
should be open and back into their Knife-Hand Fists.

Common Mistakes:
1) "Fork" Hands - Do not let your fingers separate as you perform you
Finger Strike (Sanchin Strike)!
2) "Squeezing" to Soon - You must "finish" your Finger Strike (Sanchin
Strike) before you "Grab" and "Squeeze". Pause for a second after you
have performed your Finger Strike before closing your hands
3) "Squeezing the Thumb" - Leave the thumb outside of the hand!
20. DOUBLE ARM STRIKE and "Crane" Hands

From your Ready-To-Punch position with your Hands in Knife-Hand fists

perform your Double Finger-Strikes again. Pause for a second and then rotate
your arms and elbows towards your belly button. As you do so, your fingers
should slightly bend and your palms will begin to face outwards. The "Crane"
Hand position is a Open Handed Double Guard Position with your palms
facing away from you.
Common Mistakes:

1) Elbows on the Sides in "Crane" Hands - In any Double or Single Guard Position
keep you elbows in Front of your body and always point the tip of your elbow towards
your Belly Button.
2) Hands too close to the Body - Remember that 30 degree arm bend!
3) "Piano Hands" - Keep your hands in a Knife-Hand Fist until you have finished
your Strike. Do not relax your wrist or fingers as you strike.

Sanchin Kata

Black Belt Study Guide

21. STEP-OFF to the Left Side

Lift your Left Foot off the ground and begin to turn your body completely
to the Left. As you are turning, push off of the floor with your Right Foot in
the direction that you will be facing when you turn Left (Green Arrow Direction).
Land your Feet in a Left Sanchin Stance. When your feet are landing,
the ball-of-the-foot lands first and then the heel. Your Left Foot (Front Foot)
will land on the floor slightly before your Right Foot (Rear Foot).
Common Mistakes:
1) Pivoting on the Feet - Don't just spin on your feet to face the new direction, each foot
must come off the floor!
2)Rear Foot Drag - Do not drag your Rear Foot into it's position after you land your
Front Foot. Remember, in a Step-Off both feet must come completely of the floor.
22. LEFT WA-UKE BLOCK
"Drop" - If you are in a Left Stance you will "drop" your Left Arm. Lower and
Straighten you left arm so that the finger-tips of your Left Hand are even with
the height of your waist (Mirror Guide Position 3).
"Chop" - Move the fingertips of your Right Hand towards the inside bend of Left
Elbow. Your Right Arm should be parallel to the floor and your Elbows should
be the same height (Elbows in Mirror Guide Position 4).
"Circle" - Perform a Left Circle Block. Allow your Right Arm to "go along with the
ride" as your Left Elbow makes it's circle.
"Pull" - Bend your Left Wrist backwards and "pull" your hand towards your Left
Hip. Point your fingers down towards the floor and rest your Left Wrist on
your Hip Bone. Bend you Right Wrist backwards and move your Right Arm
to a Ready-To-Punch position. Your fingertips on your Right Hand will be
pointing "up". Both hands move at the same time. Note: In their end
positions, the fingertips of both the right and left hands should be pointing in
opposite directions. Usually the Right Hand points to between 1 and 2 o'clock and the Left Hand
points to between 7 and 8 o'clock.
"Push" - Thrust both arms forward in a straight-line leading with the heel-of-yourpalms (Double Palm-Heel Strike). The Right Hand will strike an opponents
shoulder (Mirror Guide Position 2) while the Left Hand strikes the Hip
(Mirror Guide Position 5). Keep your fingers pointing in the opposite
directions.
"Guard" - Keep your hands in their Shoulder and Hip height positions and bend your
elbows in towards your belly. This is similar to the "Crane" Hand Double
Guard Position, the elbows are in the same position and your top hand is in the
same position but in a Wa-Uke Guard Position your bottom hand should be
slightly below the top one with the fingers pointing in the opposite direction
from the top hand.
As you "Step-Off" to move into the next position, keep your arms "locked" in this
"Wa-Uke Guard"position.

12

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Black Belt Study Guide

13

Common Mistakes:

1)Drop - Do not let your hand "drop" lower than your hips!
2)Chop- Do not actually "chop" your arm! Your fingertips should lightly touch the
inside bend of your elbow.
3)Circle- Circle Block is too small- Remember, your hand has to travel up to your "ear
height" and then back down to Mirror Guide Position 2.
4)Pull - Which hand goes up? Which hand goes down? - "The hand that drops low,
stays low" when you pull your arms back to prepare for the Double Palm-Heel Strike.
Some students have shared with me that they tell themselves "The hand
that starts high, stays high". Hands are off the body! Elbow
Points Down
5) Push - "Dragonball Z" - Do not allow your hands to come closer
together as you strike (push). They should stay "shoulder" and
"hip height. - Hands Rise Up - Do not strike up (like you're lifting
5
something).
6)Guard - Elbows on the Sides - Return your elbows to Mirror Guide Position E!
23. STEP-OFF to the Right Side

(Remember, keep your arms "locked" in the Wa-Uke "Guard" position)

Lift your Right Foot off the ground and begin to turn your body to the
right so you can face the opposite direction (Gray Arrow Direction). As
you are turning, push off of the floor with your Left Foot. Land your Feet
in a Right Sanchin Stance facing the opposite direction that you were facing
in your first Step-Off (#21). When your feet are landing, the ball-of-the-foot
lands first and then the heel. Your Right Foot (Front Foot) will land on the
floor slightly before your Left Foot (Rear Foot).
Common Mistakes:
1) Rear Foot Drag - Do not drag your Rear Foot into it's position after you land your
Front Foot. Remember, in a Step-Off both feet must come completely of the floor.
2) Jumping - Do not push off the ground with both feet at the same time. Do not land on the floor on
both feet at the same time. Lift the Left Foot-Push with the Right Foot. Land with the Left Foot - Land
with the Right Foot. Your feet should not come higher than 1 inch off the ground.
3) Relaxing or Dropping the Arms - Keep your arms in their position as you move your feet!
4) Back Foot does not land straight - This usually happens when someone does not turn completely.
Try to point the toes of your back foot at what you want to hit. There is also a feeling of reaching
forward with your left leg and reaching to the right with your right leg as you do this technique.
Feeling this will help you turn completely and allow your back foot to drop straight.

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24. RIGHT WA-UKE BLOCK

"Drop" - If you are in a Right Stance you will "drop" your Right Arm. Lower and Straighten your
Right arm so that the finger-tips of your Right Hand are even with the height of your waist (Mirror Guide
Position 3).
"Chop" - Move the fingertips of your Left Hand towards the inside bend of Right Elbow. Your Left
Arm should be parallel to the floor and your Elbows should be the same height (Elbows in Mirror Guide
Position 4).
"Circle" - Perform a Right Circle Block. Allow your Left Arm to "go along with the ride" as your
Right Elbow makes it's circle.
"Pull" - Bend your Right Wrist backwards and "pull" your hand towards your Right Hip. Point your
fingers down towards the floor and rest your Right Wrist on your Hip Bone. Bend your Left Wrist
backwards and move your Left Arm to a Ready-To-Punch position. Your fingertips on your Left Hand will be
pointing "up". Both hands move at the same time. Note: In their end positions, the fingertips of both the
right and left hands should be pointing in opposite directions. Usually the Left Hand points to between 1 and
2 o'clock and the Right Hand points to between 7 and 8 o'clock.
"Push" - Thrust both arms forward in a straight-line leading with the heel-of-your-palms (Double
Palm-Heel Strike). The Left Hand will strike an opponents shoulder (Mirror Guide Position 2) while the
Right Hand strikes the Hip (Mirror Guide Position 5). Keep your fingers pointing in the opposite directions.
"Guard" - Keep your hands in their Shoulder and Hip height positions and bend your elbows in
towards your belly. This is similar to the "Crane" Hand Double Guard Position, the elbows are in the same
position and your top hand is in the same position but in a Wa-Uke Guard Position your bottom hand should
be slightly below the top one with the fingers pointing in the opposite direction from the top hand.
As you "Step-Off" to move into the next position, keep your arms "locked" in this "Wa-Uke Guard"
position.
25. STEP-OFF back to the front
Lift up your Left Foot and turn your body back towards the direction you began
your Kata in (in this case, to your left. Face the Red Arrow Direction) while pushing
off the floor with your Right Foot. End in a Left Sanchin Stance.
Common Mistakes:
1) Pivot and Step - Remember to lift the Left Foot off the floor first and push
yourself forward with the Right Foot. Do not turn to face the Red Arrow Directions
and Step Forward!

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27. CLOSED GATE

Neutral Stance (feet straight, knees slightly bent), make a fist with your Right Hand and cover it
with your Left Hand. Your elbows should still be in Mirror Guide Position E. For most people,
your arms will create an Isosceles Triangle Shape in Front of you. Your arms should still be in
their 30 degree bend and your hands will be along your center-line (Mirror Guide Red Line) and in
between Mirror Guide Positions 2. Hips are "tucked under".
Common Mistakes:
1) Arms Bent to Much - You can tell if your arms are bent too
much if you have someone push your hands straight back
towards your chest. If your arms collapse or if it takes a lot of
effort to keep them from collapsing then they are bent too
much.
2) Elbows on the Sides - Elbows should be in Mirror Guide
Position E! You'll find that if they are on the outside your arms
will collapse as well if someone pushes your hands back towards your chest.
3) Feet are not straight - You're feet must be in Nuetral Stance!
4) Chinese Bow - "Closed Gate" is not our bowing position, your
elbows should still be defensively pointed down and your arms in a
30 degree bend.

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Notes on the Performance of Sanchin Kata:

1) The hips should be kept "tucked under" (pelvis rotated forward) throughout the entire Kata. Tuck your
tailbone underneath you to flatten out the arch of your lower back.
2) Stomach muscles should be pushed out and tightened up (make yourself look fat) and prepared for getting
hit at any time.
3) Arm and Leg muscles should be tense and holding their shape strong. They should be tense (flexed)
enough to protect you from getting hurt when they are struck, but relaxed enough so that you can still move.
Chest, Shoulders, and Latisimus Muscles should also be kept firm (tense/flexed).
4) The majority of your body weight should be place on the inside edges of your foot and as little as possible
on your heel. See the Body Weight Placement diagram: Ideally you want to have the majority of your weight
on the Purple Section of the Foot and very little weight on the Red Section of the Foot. Pulling your knees in
towards each other will help you flatten out the arch or Green Section of the Foot. Flattening this surface
will give you a more stable base. Remember, the entire foot should be touching the ground!
5) Keep a rhythm in your movements as you perform your Kata. Every time you perform a Sanchin Strike or
a Sanchin Step or Wa-Uke Block, they should all look the same. An example of a rhythm would be:
elbow strike, pause, finger-strike, pause, elbow block, pause, step, pause, elbow strike, pause, finger-strike,
pause, elbow block, pause, step, pause. . . . . Keep the length of your pauses the same.
6) Practice Sanchin Breathing! A Sanchin Breath is a short inhale followed by a short exhale with a "hiss".
When you "hiss" you are using your tongue to close off your airway. The "hiss" to be functional should
almost sound like you are whispering the word "HUST".
7) Their are only two moments in the Kata when we are NOT standing in a Sanchin Stance! Stay in your
Stance!
8) A STEP-OFF moves your body along the LINE OF ATTACK. Notice the diagram the LINE OF ATTACK.
The Black Feet are where your feet are when you are performing your DOUBLE ARM STRIKES. The Blue
Feet are where your feet will be after you STEP-OFF and when you perform your first two WA-UKE
BLOCKS.
PHRASES I OFTEN USE

"When do we turn on our heels? NEVER!"

It's a good phrase to keep in mind when teaching yourself footwork.
Cleverly, this phrase means 1) Do not retreat!
And 2) Literally, whenever you pivot or turn your foot on the floor, either it be for a Kick, Turn, Step-Off, or Pivot, do not "spin"
your foot on the heel. Lift your heel up off the floor and "spin" on the ball-of-the-foot.

"When changing directions in your kata, the foot that begins closest
to your opponent stays closest to your opponent."
This is also a good phrase to keep in mind when teaching yourself footwork.
The sequence in a Kata tells a story. Whenever you move or face a different direction in a Kata, the story is saying that you are
doing so because their is an opponent or threat from that direction.
Example 1) Sanchin Turn - You are turning around because there is a threat behind you. If you are in a left Sanchin Stance your
Right Foot is closer to any opponent who might be behind you. When you finish your Sanchin Turn your Right Foot is now your
Front Foot.
Example 2) Step-Off - In Sanchin Kata we are in a Left Sanchin Stance before we perform our 1st Step-Off. The 1st Step-Off is
going to bring us face to face with an opponent that is on our Left. Since they are on our Left hand side our Left Foot is closest to
them. When we finish our Step-Off we are in a Left Sanchin Stance.
(The only exception to this rule is the "Tenshin Step")

Point your back foot at what you want to hit.

This is a good phrase that will help you anytime you use a Hand Technique in a Kata.
If you point the toes of your Back Foot in the direction of what you are about to hit it will help you feel whether or not your feet are
in a correct stance and if your hip is properly turned enough.