Important Facts Name

Important Facts
Name:  Seichin
Meaning:  Combination of Seisan and Sanchin
Origin:  Okinawa (1950)
Creator:  Saburo Uehara

Seichin

Seichin is the fourth kata in the Uechi-Ryu system and probably the most difficult kata to learn (especially at this stage of training) because the kata is so very different from Kanshiwa and Kanchu. Seichin is a kata that is going to take a long time for students to feel comfortable performing, but it will be extremely useful when learning Seisan. Remember, Seichin is to Seisan what Kanshiwa is to Kanchu.

Seichin is an excellent example of how the hard and soft aspects of our style work together. Hard strikes and soft blocks are in combinations that challenge the student at this level. For example, there are hard rear foot thrust kicks followed by soft wrist blocks, or the soft combination blocks in the middle of the kata immediately followed by eye strikes. Because of the interaction with the hard and soft, it is felt by many that of the five intermediate katas created on Okinawa, Seichin is the closest to its Chinese roots.

Seichin

	a	Stand with heels together and feet at 45 degrees.
	b	Bow, return to standing position in a neutral stance and force the shoulders down.
	c	Step out into a right sanchin stance and place hands in a post position.
	d	Throw a right jodan uke in a haraken fist. Then, pull it back into chamber and throw a seiken punch.
	e	Step into a left sanchin stance and throw a jodan uke in a haraken fist followed by a seiken punch.
	f	Turn the whole body (45 degrees) to the left and throw a left chudan-uke followed by a right shomen geri.
	g	Turn (90 degrees) to the right and throw a chudan uke followed by a left shomen geri.
	h	Step forward into a left sanchin stance and throw a left wrist-block and return to post position.
	i	Step into a right sanchin stance and throw a right wrist block and return to post position.
	j	Form haraken fists into a cross-block in front of the body (right hand closest to the body). Miwate to a left sanchin stance and "break apart" the hands ending in post position.
	k	Place the wrists on the hips, slide forward and thrust the hands straight out, striking with the bushikens. Then, squeeze the hands into shoken fists. Step back and migate to the left in a left sanchin stance. Lift the shoken fists to chest level while turning.
	l	Step forward to a right fighting stance and throw a left chudan-uke followed by a right empei strike. Make sure to stabilize the strike with the left hand.
	m	Slide the right foot back to a right sanchin stance and throw a right chudan uke, followed by a left bushiken strike (face level).
	n	Throw a left chudan uke, followed by a right nukite.
	o	Miwate to a left sanchin stance and throw a left chudan-uke followed by a left shomen geri.
	p	Step back and migate to the left in a left sanchin stance. From the belt knot, throw jodan ukes in haraken fists with both hands. Bring both hands back to the belt-knot when completed.
	q	At the belt knot, place the right hand over the left and strike high with bushikens with both hands. Pull the hands to a post position and throw a right hiza geri.
	r	Step to a right sanchin stance and throw a left groin strike to the front, and a right groin strike to the rear at the same time.
	s	Miwate to a left sanchin stance and throw the left groin strike again. Followed by a left chudan uke.
	t	Migate to the left in a left sanchin stance. Lift the left knee and left hand, palm up. As the knee moves back down, execute a godan uke block with the left hand. At the same time, with the right hand execute a middle-area block that moves away from the body in a circular motion. Both hands end up in koken position.
	u	Miwate to a right cat-stance and perform the opposite blocks and knee-lift with the opposite hands and leg.
	v	Turn to the left to a left sanchin stance with the hands in sanchin position.
	w	Step through and slide forward, and throw an eye strike with both hands. Step and slide back into a left cat stance with the right hand in post position and the left in koken position by the left knee.
	x	Step forward to a right fighting stance. Throw a left chudan uke followed by a right empei strike. Make sure to use the left hand to stabilize the strike.
	y	Bring the right foot back to a right sanchin stance and throw a right chudan uke followed by a left seiken punch.
	z	Without moving, throw a left chudan uke and a right seiken punch.
	aa	Step back in a left sanchin stance with your right hand in post position.
	bb	Move to a neutral stance, put your heels together and bow.