Lets begin this lesson with complimentary. No one thing is indicative of chinkuchi, i.e. the sequential locking and relaxation principle. All the factors that make up chinkuchi/principles must compliment one another as a whole effort or they fail to achieve the goal of the action.
Now, lets take this next step by addressing equal rights, i.e. equal rights in regards to the various principles used to support sequential locking and relaxation. Equal rights in that for every action or movement there is going to be a reciprocal action or movement. Master of this is part of applying the principles to get to a point where chinkuchi is applied properly and effectively.
Third, lets talk about technique vs. techniques. We all know that one technique can be morphed into something different when applied in a given moment therefore one shall not become focused on any one technique but rather the principles applied. We can have a plathora of techniques but in reality to apply principles with chinkuchi, i.e. sequential locking and relaxation, etc., we need to apply principles across the board and that includes the results know as chinkuchi.
Another point I wish to make here is this lesson or discussion will speak to the separate parts of the whole that lead to proper application of chinkuchi/principles in this some what narrow view. Once we take this narrower view we cannot forget that we have to pull back in order to incorporate it into the complete picture. Staying glued to the narrow leaves openings for other things to push you off the path.
Our first step in achieving chinkuchi (note: from now on when I speak of chinkuchi I speak of chinkuchi as applied through proper application of the fundamental principles of martial systems) is rooting. This involves directing force into and from the group. We often train this through lessons on the stances used in martial arts. Stances are transitory and although there are specific stances taught to novices when in the fight no one stance is used but rather a stance that is created due to circumstances in any given moment. This can be called the kamae.
To ground ourselves properly involves many other aspects of the principles (when I use this word here on out I mean fundamental principles of martial systems as provided in Steven J. Pearlman's book "The Book of Martial Power.") which include physiokinetic alignment of the body and proper attention to relaxation, centeredness, heaviness, alignment, posture, etc. which will be laid out as we progress with this discussion.
To ground oneself is how one begins the proper sequential locking process that ends with chinkuchi applied to the target or adversary. By rooting we place the energy and power in our body into the earth and by reciprocity that kind of bounces back and begins the sequence necessary to achieve the tensioning act that is chinkuchi.
Relaxation is required to keep from putting energy in the body itself where it has no place to go. This is often felt and seen as muscle tension or muscle it. This restricts the flow of energy. The next item is intention. i.e. where we put our mind or mind-state in the moment. We need to put our mind-state into power, force and damage in that moment of applied technique or chinkuchi/principles in transferring energy into a target. Remember in relaxation the state achieved in the mind-body will allow us to bleed of the force applied to us from our adversary.
The mind-state also puts our mind on our center, i.e. the area located in the hara and all movement through the entire sequence must be controlled and navigated from the hara. This presence of mind in our center removes or reduces the effects of the fight from distraction of the mind and this free flow of the mind in the moment is critical to achieving chinkuchi/application of principles, etc.
In our rooting efforts we want to drop our weight into the ground to create the stability that transfers energy and power through the process of sequential locking and relaxation so it is complemented by the other principles provided already and to come in the following. When rooted we push ourselves into the ground as we push against any external object, i.e. an adversary/target.
This allows is to project force, produce a counter force against us and then use the counter force to increase our stability and that counter force becomes force fulling the percentage principle by generating energy, power and force at the adversary/target.
Now to direct our attention to sequential locking and sequential relaxation. You can also look at this as locking the joints of the body, arm, leg or what ever sequence is used in the moment to make use of chinkuchi/principles as applied more holistically. It reminds me that to assume that chinkuchi involves simply locking the joints is all it takes is a misnomer as we can see as this progresses it takes a bit more to understand application of chinkuchi/principles.
SL/SR (meaning from this point sequential locking and sequential relaxation) can also be called chain locking, body tensioning or seizing or communial locking. The human body works best when all the joints, muscles, tendons, cartilage's, etc. work in unison and properly, i.e. alignment, etc. As you can imagine the control given to sequential locking comes from controlling those joints, etc.
In order to maximize this we have to align the body itself in many variations of body posture and position. All locking in sequences that provide alignment so that the body part such as the arm, shoulder, torso, hips/wasit, legs, etc. connect at the exact right moment to achieve chinkuchi.
The legs from the rooted position, the hips when locking after proper application, i.e. that slight twist action that is used to supplement or increase energy transference through the sequencing. Once that is achieved and the hips are level then begins spinal alignment. If not properly aligned then the body will twist out of its locked position. This is one of the many reasons we spend so much time working on proper form, alignment and posture in karate practice.
As the spine aligns each vertebra will align and lock, seizing the entire body from the hips up. The spine will bend and pivot per circumstances and remain locked unless force is applied. Once it becomes a recipient of force, as when chinkuchi/principles are applied successfully, the spine becomes a solid bar.
Since force and body are being directed by the hara with sequential locking and chinkuchi/principles then that energy and force through relaxation, heaviness, etc. will flow through to the shoulders, upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, and fist. The forward movement, the hara, the locking process, relaxation, then the position, alignment, and final locking of joints, muscles, tendons, etc. as the fist strikes the target/adversary there is this final instantaneous locking and tensioning that is chinkuchi and principles applied to a single small point.
After that instance we then instantly exercise sequential relaxation, we relax from the center outward to reverse the sequence that led to chinkuchi/applied principles, i.e. from the center to spine to sholder/hips, to elbow/knees to the wrist/fist/ankle/foot and then allow us to move into another appropriate kamae to once again achieve chinkuchi/principles as applied to another moment and another target/adversary.
Remember that sequential relaxation is a positive relaxation state of mind-body. This positive relaxed state is that state we achieve with principles flowing from moment to moment in the fight. When needed the process is once again achieved for chinkuchi/applied principles.
This is a quick and simplistic explanation/lesson/discussion on achieving chinkuchi that are a product of achieving application of the principles in martial arts. As can be readily seen this principle system transcends any one form, style or system of hand combat. It is the way to achieve maximum effectiveness in the use of martial arts as a system of defense.
This is by no means a complete picture of what it means to have, apply and demonstrate chinkuchi or principles of martial systems. It is merely a key to open the door of the mind in seeing out adequate instruction in developing principles regardless of what discipline you study. It takes the individuality out of the styes and puts principles (with chinkuchi) in the direct foundation of any combative system of defense.
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