“Sine Quo Non” is a phrase I learned during my years (1985 to 1989) at Seton Hall University School Of Law (Newark, NJ). Sine quo non is a latin phrase that refers to “an indispensable and essential action or ingredient” or “without which (there is) nothing.”
Sine quo non provides a restatement of the importance of Sanchin. Thus, it is an excellent platform upon which to base this Online Kata session.
The goal of the Sine Quo Non Online Kata session session is to acknowledge and appreciate that without the three battles of Sanchin, breathing, bodily movement and state-of-mind, our lives would not be possible.
Sine quo non also refers to the advanced three battles encompassing our multi-state of existence (See Endnote # 1).
Memorial Day 2015 – Sanchin Kata footprints, North Truro, Cape Code, MA
You are cordially invited to perform the Sine Quo Non Online Kata session.
Remember, the group dynamic is not fulfilled by all of us being geographically present, rather, it is fulfilled by each of us performing Sanchin in the proscribed manner.
Session Parameters:
(Those readers that know my “Holy Trinity” of Kata, please see Endnote # 2)
Date: The week of July 24th, 2017;
Time: either first activity in the morning or the last activity at the end of the day. Even better, perform Sanchin at both times;
Location: preferably an outdoor location;
Salient Points:
- As you perform Sanchin, remember and embrace the simple fact that without the fundamental three battles (breathing, bodily movement and state-of-mind), you would not exist;
- Without the three battles, you would not live, therefore, your life is, in fact, the synchronization of the three battles. Thus, life is Sanchin and Sanchin is life;
- Appreciate the frailty of life during your performance and seek to embrace the beauty of life throughout your day;
- For those that understand the advanced three battles reflected in Endnote # 1, exist in each of the three states of being throughout the day;
The last requirement of this Sanchin Pilgrimage is to remain in an enraptured physical, spiritual and metaphysical state throughout the day by way of the concept of “Zanshin” (the “remaining mind”).
You may wish to not only perform this session as scheduled, but may also make it an integral part of your regular Sanchin practice.
In closing, I remain, the three battles of Sanchin,
Sensei John Szmitkowski
For information on my “no-risk”, kata seminars, please visit the seminar page using this convenient link https://senseijohn.me/seminar-kata/
My seminars are the ONLY seminars that allow you to pay at the conclusion, thus insuring your complete satisfaction!
For a refreshing and innovative discourse on kata and bunkai, please feel free to visit Sensei John’s Kata Laboratory and “THINK * SWEAT * EXPERIMENT” using this convenient link: https://senseijohn.me/kata-lab/
ENDNOTES:
1. A more advanced Sanchin-Ka (practitioner of Sanchin) should understand that the basic definition of the three battles (or aspects of Sanchin) is redundant. Specifically, breathing and bodily movement describe a physical state. Thus, two of the three battles may more accurately be defined as the physical state and the spiritual state (which encompasses state-of-mind, emotions and psyche). How then do I define the third battle? It is the environmental state (how we interact with the world around us, its effects upon us physically and how we effect it).
2. For those readers that know what I call the “Holy Trinity” of kata, Sanchin, Seienchin and Suparunpei (Pechurin), I would suggest the following performance parameters:
First act in the morning, with the rising sun, perform Sanchin as an ode to the physical aspect of life, namely breathing, bodily movement and state-of-mind”;
At mid-day, perform Seienchin as a reminder of the spiritual nature of life and the duality of same symbolized by the affect of “calm in the storm, storm in the calm”;
The very last act of the day, under the awe-inspiring night sky, “pray” with Suparunpei (Pechurin) as emblematic of a desire to appreciate the eternal interconnectivity we have with all that surrounds us.
Suggested video of the Holy Trinity:
Sanchin Kata:
Seienchin Kata:
Suparunpei Kata:
© Copyright 2017 Issho Productions & John Szmitkowski, all rights reserved.
Sensei John is now on Facebook, under – FLY FISHING DOJO, you are invited to send a Facebook friend request.
You may wish to view my other blogs –
my fishing blog which includes my fishing journals and the interrelationship between martial arts protocol to fishing http://flyfishingdojo.com
and
the Goshin-Do Karate blog at http://defeliceryu.com
Kata-RX For wellness 
Leave a Reply