Some may wonder why I spend the time trying to define the term chinkuchi when others have given an acceptable explanation to its meaning. Tatsuo-san was known to have explained it along side the sanchin kata, i.e. a dynamic tension breathing form, and also spoke of this when tying to explain how one provides maximum efficiency in karate applications saying it was mandatory.
I love to dig deep into what makes something work. I don't let it consume me especially in practice and application of martial arts. I don't get a comfortable feeling when I hear what I perceive as limited, although adequate, answers to questions. I also don't just accept answers simply because someone is considered a master or expert (although I tend to lean heavily toward their information because they are either a master or expert in a subject matter).
I also feel a lot of responsibility to provide complete and comprehensive answer to anyone seeking guidance especially when it comes to martial arts, i.e. in my case a lot of karate. I detest the type of answers like, "Because I said so," or "don't ask, just do it." The reason being in our culture and our belief system we tend toward seeking answers, often answers in greater detail. We here don't make the assumption that those who seek our guidance will have the ability to see it and then accept it because that is the way it is without some explanation.
Chinkuchi is a term in Okinawan dialect used by the ancients to try and explain something at the time was unexplainable. Since Asian martial arts rely heavily on observation and then repetitive practice along with longevity to understand things they did not need to have detailed explanations. Along with the requisite that one must supplement such terms with hands-on, on the dojo floor, experiences thus allowing the student to see, feel and hear from within the discovery of what something like chinkuchi is. We here in our culture don't work that way.
Lets take a look at this chinkuchi from the perspective of fundamental principles. Lets use the two indicators used above to speak toward what chinkuchi is and maybe that will allow a student or practitioner to discover the depth and breadth of such meaning from such a simple term.
Dynamic tension breathing done correctly requires proper posture. It also requires alignment, i.e. spinal alignment, structure and centeredness. It requires body-mind coherence and cohesiveness. It takes timing, rhythm, balance, live and dead energy, rooting, etc. All of these are terms used to explain those principles of martial systems.
At other levels of principles there are those that are philosophical, i.e. sanchin or dynamic tension breathing requires kime, oneness, zanshin, mushin, etc. while the principles of technique in that same kata are tested through shime to discover such principles as economical motion, active movement, positioning, complex forces. timing, rhythm, reactive control, natural & unnatural motion, weak link, etc.
Needless to say, to achieve proper breathing, especially the dynamic tension breathing of sanchin you have to make use of those principles that result in maximum efficiency which is explained in economical motion, natural action, and types of forces, i.e. centripetal and centrifugal.
To contact the muscles when applying a technique within the governing principles results in speed, force and power, all three indicative of the explanation of chinkuchi. When speaking of koshi that requires proper sequential locking and unlocking along with spinal alignment/locking, etc. to achieve power, force and speed. Again, the fundamental explanation you hear about chinkuchi.
Tatsuo-san's use of the term spoke to both how one achieves it with principles along with how one applies it in action. That seems to fit the philosophical principle of "yin-yang," i.e. the principles applied to the physical to achieve a balance that produces speed, force and power.
Look at the use of principles to explain chinkuchi as a tool. the principles can achieve a better, complete, explanation allowing the western mind to see and then experience it on the dojo floor thus allowing a practitioner to truly practice karate and karate chinkuchi.
See also: Chinkuchi - The Definitive Answer
Ki, Control and Centering.
In the article from the Black Belt magazine Advincula sensei talks about the three components of Okinawa karate that constitute its makeup. What he means by makeup I can only guess at and yet I suspect it is the essence that makes karate what it is regarding power, force and speed of application, etc. The three components are Ki, Control and Centering. I believe this to be a solid introduction to chinkuchi but if you are going to study karate and chinkuchi you need to break away from that introduction and seek out the particulars that make up the whole of martial arts. This means equating the practice of chinkuchi to the underlying principles it is based on.
Ki, energy, to achieve force, power and speed the energy must be economically used by the body-mind and the only method of achieving such is through the fundamental principles of martial systems, i.e. control, efficiency, lengthen our line. power paradox, simplicity, natural action, reciprocity, reflexive action, breathing, posture, centeredness, spinal alignment, structure, heaviness, relaxation, wave energy, balance, natural & unnatural motion, centripetal/centrifugal forces, sequential locking and relaxation, rooting, etc.
Control, body-mind is the primary principle as energy needs to be controlled or better "managed." In order to maximize our energy toward a target the body and mind must first achieve a state of mushin and zanshin. A present moment mind-state. To achieve non-intention so the mind does not fixate on any one thing being either mental or physical. To do so puts a loss of energy. There are no principles that don't receive direction or directly influence our energy, force, speed and power, i.e. control.
Centering, the principle of centeredness where the hara controls all movements both mental and physical. This is but one small aspect to the full spectrum of the fundamental principles of martial systems to achieve power, force and speed as indicated by the term chinkuchi. This is why chinkuchi is put a part of principles that can be directly related or indirectly related to all principles.
Chinkuchi could be that Okinawan term that the ancients used to describe how a martial artists, a karate-ka, can achieve adherence to principles to maximize efficiency in applying karate to self-defense. To maximize efficiency is to generate energy that is also maximized at the point of contact, i.e. the application of technique to an adversary.
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