Sōchin (壯鎭) (Japanese: "Tranquil Force", or "Preserve the Peace") is a
kata
''Kata'' is a Japanese word ( 型 or 形) meaning "form". It refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of martial arts movements. It can also be reviewed within groups and in unison when training. It is practiced in Japanese martial arts ...
practiced in several styles of
karate
(; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ), also , is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tī'' in Okinawan) un ...
. It may have derived from
Dragon style kung fu, and was taught in the
Naha-te
Okinawan martial arts refers to the martial arts, such as karate, tegumi and kobudō, which originated among the indigenous people of Okinawa Island. Due to its location (between "Mainland Japan" and Taiwan), Okinawa was influenced by various cul ...
school in
Okinawa
most commonly refers to:
* Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture
* Okinawa Island, the largest island of Okinawa Prefecture
* Okinawa Islands, an island group including Okinawa itself
* Okinawa (city), the second largest city in th ...
by
Seisho Arakaki. It was then passed down to
Shitō-ryū
is a form of karate that was founded in 1934 by . Shitō-ryū is synthesis of the Okinawan Shuri-te and Naha-te schools of karate and today is considered one of the four main styles of the art.
History
Kenwa Mabuni (Mabuni Kenwa 摩文� ...
. Later, a variation of it was introduced into the
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi (1868–1957) and his son Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi (1906–1945). Gichin Funakoshi was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing "karate do" thro ...
style by
Gichin Funakoshi
was the founder of Shotokan karate. He is known as a "father of modern karate". Following the teachings of Anko Itosu and Anko Asato,Funakoshi, Gichin (1981). ''Karate-Do: My Way of Life'', Kodansha International Ltd. . he was one of the Okin ...
's son,
Yoshitaka.
[Redmond, Rob, Kata: The Folk Dances of Shotokan, 2006 ()] Some branches of
Tang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do (; ) is a Korean martial arts, Korean martial art
based on karate which can include fighting principles from taekkyeon, subak, as well as northern Chinese martial arts. From its beginnings in 1944 to today, Tang Soo Do is used by ...
have added it to their curriculum under the name "Sojin".
The rhythm of the kata is dynamic, characterized by slow, deliberate movements interspersed with explosive bursts of speed. In the Shotokan version of the kata, the dominant stance is ''sōchin-dachi'' aka ''fudo-dachi'' (rooted stance). In the Shitō-ryū version, it employs several stances including ''nekoashi-dachi'' (cat stance) and ''zenkutsu dachi'' (front stance). Rhythm is important in its execution. This kata has been said to develop chi/ki energy.
Sōchin is practiced in Shuri Style Karate, not from Naha Style.
References
External links
"Bushido-dai" Shito-ryu club page, including Sochin description
Karate kata
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