Sochin, Sushi and Slight of Hand

So, this last week in the Buntingford Karate Club I have gone over the Black Belt kata Sochin (pronounced either So-Shin or So-Chin  depending on what College you went to….stand by for Japanese reprisals on my pronunciation!!). I tend to say So-Shin with a gutteral sound for So (more like Sor than Sow). I had all of the students doing this because it doesn’t hurt the lower grades to tackle a high graded kata. And of course someone (Abi) joked that it sounded like Sushi.

Sochin means rooted or immovable and is very similar in principle to Fudo-Dachi the rooted or immovable stance. Jake’s comment was “it knocks the hell out of your quadricep (leg) muscles!” to which I replied “it’s only pain”.

I have also had the members practicing blocking and locking using just small but quick movements of the wrist, fingers and hands. When practiced and performed with some mastery it gives the impression that you have just wrist or arm locked your opponent by some amazing slight of hand. These locking techniques are best practiced alongside “sticking hands” (see earlier blog) and is very effective for close quarter work. By wrist, elbow or arm locking you can take the attacker down to the floor for a submission.

Sensei Bill.