Chinkuchi. Chinkuchi, a term derived from the Okinawan language, represents the harmonious synchronization of mind and body, yielding maximum force with minimal effort. It requires the perfect coordination of muscles, tendons, ligaments, breathing, and mental intentions within a single moment. Okinawan-style karate practitioners strive to manifest Chinkuchi precisely when needed, knowing that while not every […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
Screaming and vocalization play a significant role in various sports, including martial arts. In disciplines such as karate or kung fu, screaming during strikes is a common practice believed to enhance power and force generation. By forcefully expelling air during a strike, martial artists aim to optimize their movements and generate additional power. Beyond the […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
I have been digging into the use of the word “Kime”. Most Karate people know the word, and most likely the meaning of it. At least they know what their Sensei has told them, and this is of course right 😉 However, the definition is manifold. The use of the word Kime in Karate can […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
In the following, I will try to clarify what I understand by Kime. There have been a lot of different explanations for Kime over time. One explanation is that one’s Gi must give a loud “snap” while punching. If there is a loud “snap” the technique was done correctly. Now the technique is performed with […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
I already gave you my interpretation of Kiai in part 1, and as such, I will not go into depth with this again. Nonetheless, it can’t be avoided that I get into the topic anyway, as concepts like Kime, Kiai, and breathing are unequivocally related. Most of all, in the following I will deal with […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
Kiai and Kime have a certain kind of mystery in Karate and have been highlighted as something supernatural. Kime and Kiai were often associative with power, focus, and of course the famous snap of the Gi. The mystification has gone fast over the past few decades, but there is nothing mysterious about Kiai, Kime, and […]