Kyan learned that the strength, flexibility and use of the tendons and ligaments along with the most efficient body motions, created what the Uchinan cho called “Chinkuchi”, the special power that comes from the utilization of all the body to make one action.
After the time that Kyan had moved to Kadena due to economic hardships he worked at odd jobs to make money. One of these jobs was loading the samisans or small boats carrying goods along the coast of Okinawa to various villages. When Kyan was in his 50’s he could load bags of sugar weighing two hundred pounds with a pole. He put one end of the pole into the top where the bag was tied and with the rotating motion of his wrist, forearms, waist, hips and legs could throw the bags onto the boat. The other men loading the boats would have to load them on their shoulders and carry them on to the boat. This is an example of “Chinkuchi” used by Kyan. The story was relayed to me that he used the motion of chudan soto uke with the bo to accomplish this feat.
The Okinawans believe that the muscles will detieoriate faster than the tendons and ligaments. By developing the strength and flexibility in the tendons and ligaments the karate movements are made stronger. The greater the range of motion the body has and the greater the snapping motion a technique has the more torque is produced. The muscles only serve to contract, which initiates the movements, but by depending on muscle contraction alone your technique along you will not by utilizing all of the body to make the technique. The greater the snap of the tendons and ligament the greater the power is of the technique. Many of the unique tools used by the Okinawans to make their bodies strong provide for this development of the muscles and tendons.
The Okinawans had a custom of cleaning the bones of a person one-year after their death. There is a story of a great karate man that died at and advanced age and when they went to clean his bones the ligaments and tendons were as if he were still alive. Of course this is a story and seems totally unbelievable and I only include it to show how important the concept of well-developed ligaments and tendons are to the Okinawans. As humans reach middle age the ligaments and tendons start to tighten from lack of use. As this tightening process begins they lose flexibility. The body begins to stoop due to the legs and back not being able to fully straighten.
Kyan built his special power through the use of the shitabara along with the snapping motion of the tendons and ligaments. The use of the shiko dachi versus the front stance in the kata is due to using the spring action from the shiko dachi to enable Kyan to move quickly in any direction. The use of the kosa dachi or crossed leg stance with both feet flat on the floor versus one-foot being on the ball requires the stretching of the tendons and ligaments. The neiko ashi dachi formed by touching the toe to the floor with the ball of the foot raised is another example. The naifanchi stance used to keep the lower body facing forward while the upper body turns sideways is another method of developing the tendons and ligaments in the waist and spine area. The flexibility and strength of the spine improves the strength of the shitabara. Having both feet facing directly forward in a front stance with both ankles bent forward is another example of stretching the tendons and ligaments.
Kyan focused on making use of the full range of motion of the body and to get the full range of motion the flexibility and strength of the tendons and ligaments are very important.
Kyan concentrated on using techniques of movement to integrate his muscles to get maximum power with minimum effort.
Soi de means following hand and hiki de means withdrawing hand. The majority of movements made in Kyan’s karate contain one of these elements. Every kata has both elements in them and the applications of the kata are predicated on the understanding of these two methods of movement.
The hiki and soi de movements are not necessary for actual combat to have a strong technique. The use of the hands along with the coordinated movement of the shitabara and koshi develop the maximum use of the koshi. Once you have discovered the power of the withdrawing or following hand you realize that you can apply the techniques with strength but you will also realize where the development of power came from. This understanding makes the practice of hiki de and soi de even more relevant.
The soi de is best described in the opening movement of Passai as the left hand follows to give strength to the right hand. This is not to be confused with morote uke or reinforced block. The morote uke is a specific technique that uses soi de.
The following hand techniques are used when close to the opponent to allow you to use both hands in coordination of blocking or attacking. Even in the double punch technique in Passai one of the hands follows slightly behind the other thus making it the following hand.
The middle level open hand block of Kyan is another example of the following hand. Kyan used the same motion to create his open hand block that is used in the opening movement of Passai. The use of the open hand block by separation of the hands causes a loss of speed, power and balance. Kyan wanted to move in when blocking with the open hand block so therefore he moved both hands in the same direction.
The hiki te, or withdrawing hand, is the most common way of moving the hands. Anytime that anyone uses the withdrawing hand movement they must be at a distance that allows the hands to be able to move apart. For example; if you are close to an opponent and you pull one of your hands away from the opponent to allow the opposite hand to go forward then there must be enough distance between you and the opponent for the hand to move far enough to create velocity. If you use the withdrawing hand when to close to the opponent then you will lose balance, speed and power.
The withdrawing hand helps move the body away from the attack. Generally in the Kyan kata you only use the withdrawing hand movements when you are retreating or evading and attack. The withdrawing hand helps move the body and at the same time allows you to deliver a blow or block to the opponent.
Kyan focused on these two hand movements and instructed Zenryo Shimabukuro to always use the appropriate hand technique for the right distance. The two methods of moving the hands is very important to Kyan’s fighting strategy. If you take the initiative when you are attacked and move in you must use the following hand movement to have enough strength to intercept the attacker. The pulling of the hand backwards when you evade helps you move away and be ready to spring back in for a counter attack.
The other standard of making Okinawan karate power were used by Kyan. Methods such as concentrating energy in the shitabarra or lower stomach, relaxed breath control, using relaxed whipping actions and proper stance. The use of the following and separating hand were specific specialties of Kyan. Sensei Zenpo Shimabukuro teaches these methods to the Seibukan students and a high level of importance is put into the mastery of these techniques. The unusual strength, speed and power that Sensei Shimabukuro has developed came directly from understanding Kyan’s method of making power.