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Zen Shaolin Karate
Zen Shaolin Karate
The Complete Practice,
Philosophy, and History
Nathan Johnson
CHARLES E. TUUTLE COMPANY
Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan
Disclaimer
Please note that the publisher of this instructional book is NOT RESPONSIBLE in any manner whatsoever for any injury that may result from practicing the techniques and/or following the instructions given within. Since the physical activities described herein may be too strenuous in nature for some readers to engage in safely, it is essential that a physician be consulted prior to training.
Published by the Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc.
of Rutland, Vermont, and Tokyo, Japan
with editorial offices at
Osaki Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032
©1994 by Charles E. Tuttle Publishing Co., Inc.
All rights reserved
LCC Card No. 93-60525
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0434-1 (ebook)
First edition, 1994
Printed in Japan
This book is dedicated to all those
who can realize the value of karate beyond fighting
by digging deep enough in the mud
of their own limitations
to reveal the gem that is to be found there
Victory breeds hatred
The defeated live in pain
The peaceful live happily
Giving up victory and defeat
—Dhammapada 201
Contents
Introduction 15
Chapter One Philosophy and History 19
The ShaolinWay 19
What Is Zen (as Related to Karate-do)? 22
Okinawan Karate History 25
Japanese Karate History 27
The Ancient Kata 30
Function Dictated Form 30
Warming Up 33
Auxiliary Warm-up Exercises 35
Exercise One — Stretching the Neck 35
Exercise Two — Circling and Stretching the Arms 35
Exercise Three — Swinging the Arms and Twisting the Hips 36
Exercise Four — Circling the Hips 36
Exercise Five — Bending at the Waist and Stretching the Hamstring Muscles 36
Stances 36
Neutral Stance 37
Offensive Stance 38
Saam Chin Stance 39
Cat Stance 40
Straddle-leg Stance 41
Crossed-leg Stance 42
Basic Techniques 43
Hand Techniques 45
Lead-hand Straight Punch 45
Rear-hand Straight Punch 46
Lead-hand Back-fist Strike 47
Rear-hand Back-fist Strike 48
Lead-hand Hook Punch 49
Rear-hand Hook Punch 50
Vertical Elbow Strike 51
Horizontal Elbow Strike 52
Palm-down Knife-hand Strike 53
Palm-up Knife-hand Strike 54
Leg Techniques 55
Front Kick 56
Foot Sweep 58
Low Side Kick 59
Rolling 60
Forward Roll 61
Backward Roll 62
Samadhi 65
Achieving Samadhi through the Saam Chin Kata 67
Saam Chin Breathing 68
Saam Chin Theory 69
The Saam Chin Stance 69
The UnbendableArm 70
Coordination of Hand and Arm Movements 72
The Impassable Ring 72
Coordination in Saam Chin 73
Merging with an Attack 74
The Palm-heel Strike 77
Saam Chin Solo Sequence: Section One 78
Saam Chin Solo Sequence: Section Two 91
Saam Chin Solo Sequence: Section Three 92
Saam Chin Applications 98
Using the Palm-heel Strike 98
The Midline 100
The Significating Hand 101
Evasion and Stepping 102
Defense Against a Back-fist 103
Defense Against a Lead-hand Straight Punch, Rear-hand Straight Punch Combination 105
Defense Against a Front Kick, Rear-hand Straight Punch, Lead-hand Hook Punch Combination 108
Nai Fuan Chin Grappling 115
The Nai Fuan Chin Fist 115
The Nai Fuan Chin Grips 117
The Reverse-hand Grip 118
The Overhand Grip 121
The Underhand Grip 123
The Combined Reverse-hand Grip and Overhand Grip 124
The Combined Underhand Grip and Overhand Grip 125
The Double Underhand Grip 126
The Straddle-leg Stance 126
Nai Fuan Chin Section One Solo Sequence 127
Nai Fuan Chin Section