Please take a look at Articles on self-defense/conflict/violence for introductions to the references found in the bibliography page.

Please take a look at my bibliography if you do not see a proper reference to a post.

Please take a look at my Notable Quotes

Hey, Attention on Deck!

Hey, NOTHING here is PERSONAL, get over it - Teach Me and I will Learn!


When you begin to feel like you are a tough guy, a warrior, a master of the martial arts or that you have lived a tough life, just take a moment and get some perspective with the following:


I've stopped knives that were coming to disembowel me

I've clawed for my gun while bullets ripped past me

I've dodged as someone tried to put an ax in my skull

I've fought screaming steel and left rubber on the road to avoid death

I've clawed broken glass out of my body after their opening attack failed

I've spit blood and body parts and broke strangle holds before gouging eyes

I've charged into fires, fought through blizzards and run from tornados

I've survived being hunted by gangs, killers and contract killers

The streets were my home, I hunted in the night and was hunted in turn


Please don't brag to me that you're a survivor because someone hit you. And don't tell me how 'tough' you are because of your training. As much as I've been through I know people who have survived much, much worse. - Marc MacYoung

WARNING, CAVEAT AND NOTE

The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books. Please make note that this article/post is my personal analysis of the subject and the information used was chosen or picked by me. It is not an analysis piece because it lacks complete and comprehensive research, it was not adequately and completely investigated and it is not balanced, i.e., it is my personal view without the views of others including subject experts, etc. Look at this as “Infotainment rather then expert research.” This is an opinion/editorial article/post meant to persuade the reader to think, decide and accept or reject my premise. It is an attempt to cause change or reinforce attitudes, beliefs and values as they apply to martial arts and/or self-defense. It is merely a commentary on the subject in the particular article presented.


Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.



“What you are reading right now is a blog. It’s written and posted by me, because I want to. I get no financial remuneration for writing it. I don’t have to meet anyone’s criteria in order to post it. Not only I don’t have an employer or publisher, but I’m not even constrained by having to please an audience. If people won’t like it, they won’t read it, but I won’t lose anything by it. Provided I don’t break any laws (libel, incitement to violence, etc.), I can post whatever I want. This means that I can write openly and honestly, however controversial my opinions may be. It also means that I could write total bullshit; there is no quality control. I could be biased. I could be insane. I could be trolling. … not all sources are equivalent, and all sources have their pros and cons. These needs to be taken into account when evaluating information, and all information should be evaluated. - God’s Bastard, Sourcing Sources (this applies to this and other blogs by me as well; if you follow the idea's, advice or information you are on your own, don't come crying to me, it is all on you do do the work to make sure it works for you!)



“You should prepare yourself to dedicate at least five or six years to your training and practice to understand the philosophy and physiokinetics of martial arts and karate so that you can understand the true spirit of everything and dedicate your mind, body and spirit to the discipline of the art.” - cejames (note: you are on your own, make sure you get expert hands-on guidance in all things martial and self-defense)



“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” - Montaigne


I am not a leading authority on any one discipline that I write about and teach, it is my hope and wish that with all the subjects I have studied it provides me an advantage point that I offer in as clear and cohesive writings as possible in introducing the matters in my materials. I hope to serve as one who inspires direction in the practitioner so they can go on to discover greater teachers and professionals that will build on this fundamental foundation. Find the authorities and synthesize a wholehearted and holistic concept, perception and belief that will not drive your practices but rather inspire them to evolve, grow and prosper. My efforts are born of those who are more experienced and knowledgable than I. I hope you find that path! See the bibliography I provide for an initial list of experts, professionals and masters of the subjects.

Sanchin [三戦] Shime [締め]

三戦締め


“Sanchin seeks to develop the muscles and bones of the body to help the practitioner withstand blows from an opponent, while drilling the basic mechanics of a strike that depends on a stable base.” - unknown


Sanchin [三戦]


  • three battle, war, match



Shime  [締め


  • tie up, bind, fastening, tightening
  • judo choking (strangling) techniques
  • completion, conclusion, rounding off 


It becomes apparent the English definitions don’t exactly state what three battles infers, as well as what tightening means when put together. It is known that environment and beliefs go a long way to add to the meaning so it does mean something special in a Japanese martial cultural dojo or especially in American dojo.


In one source it translates to three battles closed, what ever that means. 


“Sanchin, meaning "three battles/conflicts/wars" is usually interpreted as the battle to unify the mind, body, and spirit; however, there are other interpretations.” -unknown


Shime infers some sort of test that, research says, supposedly tests structure, etc., which doesn’t really deal with mind, body (?), and spirit. 


Sanchin uses kata/karate methods in combination with a type of breathing as well as dynamic tensioning and relaxation in its practice and performance.


Shime doesn’t test for whatever the mind part means or the spirit, for that matter. It is seldom explained but assumed the student will pick it up on their own.


I suspect that what you need to learn from sanchin is not testable. Such as muscle and breathing processes. I also believe the degree of dynamic tensioning is performed to hard and for too long a duration. It is thought to be an exercise that builds strength, etc. but I don’t believe that to be true.


Muscle dynamic tension is not the way to strong hard muscles, that comes from practices like hojo undo and other weight bearing programs. Dynamic tensioning uses a good deal of energy so the dynamic tensioning must be momentarily held AND not held for longer duration.


When used; light, maybe medium, strikes to get a feel for a microsecond of positive relaxation then that dynamic tensioning, to armor, up to absorb the force and power delivered.


Also, in being tested, one should also instantly move the body properly; before, when hit and after; thus tracing how the combination is relaxed, tension (armor), while moving (deflect strike and its force and power), and gaining a positional advantage to avoid, escape and evade, or to counter until “man, down now” OR “you, gone now” is achieved within the social and legal laws, mandates and rules of violence.


Rooting is also set and maintained way to long because if you root, you are not moving. Rooting can take energy and force and power and deplete it when, in the fight, you are ALWAYS MOVING, so hits, strikes, kicks, twists, etc., can be applied ensuring 90% of our energy is used for maximum effect of “man,down now OR… “


To become immobile and unmovable in sanchin dachi is NOT what we should be learning and practicing for fense, because social, and especially asocial, violence is NOT a rooted stationary event. It’s messy, fast, furious, surprising, dangerous and deadly! It’s NOT a game or a test subject to get another colored belt because it most assuredly is grave harm or death and a legal matter most dangerous to one’s life.


Sanchin is about learning certain fundamental principles like structure as well as tensioning and relaxation and movement. 


Rooting is not about powerful strikes and kicks because rooting removes the greatest power generation concept we humans have, “MOVEMENT” of the body!


Even in sanchin Shime, the microsecond the strike or kick lands; you tension and move and relax and keep moving, all to your strategic advantage.


I like sanchin, it feels good but I keep my eye on the ball, ball is always moving, as to what I need should I ever make the mistake and get caught in “the fight!”


In my training days my mind always considers, “avoidance (escape & evasion) first and foremost; the moral, social and especially legal ramifications; then the fight and applying necessary force to end it now; and the aftermath, should the fight be applied for legal, moral and social self-defense! This becomes an understanding that drives how to prepare in all facets of fense, not just the fun and test worthy stuff.


There are other factors involving sanchin and sanchin shime but this allows for one’s imagination to flourish. If you want to hear more thoughts just send me a message.

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