KARA TE, TAI CHI & CHI KUNG by John Thurston  

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basic focus of Iron Shirt Chi Kung and Tai Chi Kung and how do they relate to Sanchin. Better yet, how can the study of these, or similar and related arts, benefit our Sanchin practice and our Karate Do studies.

This can be summed up by means of identifying the initial or primary focus of Iron Shirt, which is rooting. Establishing the connections within the body and/or to the earth to enhance our ability to shock an opponent by transferring power to him, or using the same connections to neutralize the power of an opponent.

Thus the philosophy of the Iron Shirt does not, at first glance, appear different than that of Sanchin. The goals of Sanchin are :

1. In part: to create, through position, posture and structure, a protective shell for the internal organs, and other vulnerable points to guard them from external attack;

2 .to establish a proper grounding and connection to the earth;

3 .to cultivate the proper posture for both health and self defense;

4. to train the student to control his body and breathing to foster the first three stated Qoals.

The goals and some of the methods of both courses of study overlap. It is not entirely possible to explain where one begins and where the other ends. Like Sanchin in Iron Shirt practice is simple in appearance, it is assume the (correct) position, and establish, in so doing establish a posture which promotes correct postures, conditioning and protection of the vitals of the practitioner.

The Starting Stance for Iron Shirt Chi Kung is called Embracing the Tree. In focus it might be considered to practicing a position from Sanchin for rooting, breathing movement of feeling (Chi) in and around the Hara (Tan Tien) while Stationery. Tai Chi Chi Kung is practiced in motion utilizing certain movements of classical Tai Chi systems.

The Iron Shirt is, as noted, studied without a great deal of external motion. What is attempted is to move power (or whatever one chooses to call that group of sensations) within one's body. The breathing in the Iron Shirt is dissimilar to that practiced in Sanchin, in that the student/practitioner mentally direct breathing to the parts of the body specified in the course of study. This is not to say, that similar breathing could not be

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