Learning Chinkuchi

There are always questions regarding chinkuchi and how a person learns to use it in martial arts, i.e. specifically in Isshinryu since this system tends to stress chinkuchi more than others - at least in my experience. There are those who insist that one cannot learn chinkuchi without a qualified sensei teaching them using a more tactile approach. I disagree, to a point.

The point is that to implement it properly the tactile approach is the best method of teaching and yet where I disagree is kyu level students can learn about the process and practice a method on their own to help them learn and apply chinkuchi. So, how is this done? Well, I ain’t going to give that away for nothing mind you so you will have to go a bit on your own to find out what method to which I speak.

Now, as I have written in the past, chinkuchi is all about the fundamental principles and this chinkuchi thing is a great way to learn and apply principles. I just don’t want anyone thinking that the learning process that I am about to reference is a stand alone one but rather one that will get a novice started. Call it a pre-requisite to learning more about both principles and chinkuchi.

Ok the answer is: Marc MacYoung’s book, “Taking It to the Street: Making Your Martial Art Street Effective.” Yep, I was reading this book when I came across a section that just kind of jumped out at me saying, “Wait a minute, that sounds a lot like learning chinkuchi!” So, get the book and go to page 138 and start reading. When you get to Phase 1 you will be there. It has four phases of training and practice. This is critical to learning to be a bit more street effective while leaning about the dynamic tensioning or sequential locking and unlocking principles, etc., that when applied properly provide that chinkuchi that Isshinryu’ists understand to mean “power.”