Esoteric Kata

The three battles are a framework for the shifting emphasis in the ritual of Esoteric Kata – first from the physical emphasis of the Kata then towards the spiritual, nonphysical, battle. Then a transformation from the spiritual to the metaphysical battle.  The first transition being one you can manipulate through voluntary and directed mind practice. The second, transcendent, shift occurs when it is ready and wants to.

The concept of the three battles of Kata is taken directly from a unique Kata known as “Sanchin Kata.” This concept emanates forth to imbue itself within each and every Kata regardless of stylistic boundaries. Thus whether the original of any specific Kata is Karate-do, Tae Kwon-Do, Kung-fu, Tai Chi or any other martial art, the concept of esotericism  and the three battles of Kata applies. 

The translation of the Kanji for the word “Sanchin” offers insight into the attributes that are found within Sanchin Kata. As one may see from the Kanji, the word Sanchin is composed of two root words. The root word “San” (top character) means “Three” and the root word “Chin” (bottom character) means “Battle.” The word “battle” does not refer to warfare; rather, “battle” refers to conditions, or aspects requiring attention and cultivation by the performer of the Sanchin Kata. Thus, while Sanchin literally means “Three Battles.” From this simple translation, I extrapolate the interpretation of the Kanji to mean “three aspects of the human condition.” Through the regular performance of the Sanchin Kata the three aspects of the human condition are incubated, nurtured and evolved so as to facilitate an enraptured human experience. This concept is not limited to Sanchin. Sanchin merely codifies it for the practitioners to develop. It is also found within all Kata.

Historically, the interpretation of the three battles of Sanchin Kata has been limited to a martial arts perspective. There are many interpretations of the three battles of Sanchin that are derived from the Art of Karate. The central theme of the Karate-Do proclamation of the three battles is the development and unification of body and spirit. This development of mind and body is fundamental to the practice of Karate. In general terms, the three battles of Sanchin have been described in terms that summarily involve: breath, posture, and, spirit. 

I submit and will illustrate below that the traditional definitions of the three battles are superficial, at best. All three aspects are to be unified through the Kata. Thus, historically, it can be said that the Sanchin Kata unifies the body (through the elements of breath and posture) and spirit (through the moving-Zen concepts) of the Karate-Ka (one who practices Karate). Such a unification of mind and body elements are essential to the practice and execution of Karate technique and Kata. Esoteric Kata will always involve your mind and your body. I point this out because traditional methods of meditation, esotericism and other practices do not necessarily involve or unify the mind and the body. Clearly, and I’m not picking on religion, most do not pray while moving the body. Rather one sits quietly – Esoteric Kata will change that.

Further, the definition is redundant as it uses three manifestations (breath, posture and spirit, or similar expressions) of only two aspects of the human condition (body and mind). I note here that I am aware of a limited number of martial artists that define the three battles of Sanchin as the unification of body, spirit and “soul.” I submit that such a definition, while it appears hopeful in expanding the concept of Sanchin beyond the realm of martial arts, is dismally disappointing. One need simply explore the definition of soul to be disappointed. I submit that the soul is an improper aspect of the Sanchin Kata for the following reasons. The use of the word soul automatically (like Merlin’s magic wand) conjures up religious connotations that do not belong integrated within Sanchin. Even assuming, arguendo, that such religious inclinations can be suppressed, the traditional and philosophical view of the soul is that at some point it must reside within the human body. Thus again, the definition merely draws upon conditions that exist within the human and fails to account for external universal factors. This failure results in the human existing as separate and distinct from the universal environment on both a physical and conscious level.

Such a perspective of the three battles of Sanchin merely describes two states of the human condition. These two states represent a limited view of the source of physical power, spiritual insight and emotional stability of the Karate-Ka. The two states of human existence I am referring to are a physical state and a non-physical, spiritual state. After five decades of continued rigorous practice of and devotion to the Sanchin Kata, I came to realize that clearly lacking from the definition of the three battles is an additional third quality. It became apparent to me that the three battles of Sanchin must be allowed to break the limiting boundaries imposed upon it by the martial arts perspective. This means that the three battles must be viewed and defined from the perspective of the total human condition. The three battles of Sanchin, as expressed to date, account for two aspects of the human condition that are internal to the human (body and mind). It became apparent to me that the missing, heretofore undiscovered battle, or aspect, of the Sanchin Kata must be external to the physical body. I call this aspect the metaphysical aspect of the human condition. My ideology of Esoteric Kata extends the three battles of Sanchin Kata into a heretofore undiscovered new paradigm, to wit: the redefining the three battles of Esoteric Kata to recognize a metaphysical aspect of the human condition that exists external to the human bio-body. 

The metaphysical aspect of the Sanchin Rite recognizes the presence, consciousness and creative power that exists in the universe around us. In addition to recognizing the metaphysical aspect of the three battles of Sanchin Kata, I was enlightened to and developed a means of incorporating a methodology into the performance of Sanchin for perceiving this metaphysical realm. I submit that the Three Battles of Sanchin are:

1. Physical Battle, or the aspect of properly breathing while performing all components of the physical movements of Sanchin so as to experience the physical, metabolic benefits of Sanchin;

2. Spiritual Battle, or the aspect your mental processes, emotions, psyche and state-of-mind. Summarily, this is a non-physical battle;

3. Metaphysical Battle, or the foundation of Esoteric Kata practice, or ritual.

It is imperative to remove the boundary of the martial arts perspective and begin to think of the three battles of Esoteric Kata within the overall perspective of the entire human condition. Such a boundless interpretation of the three battles mandates that factors that are internal to the human must be considered as part and parcel of factors that are external to the human condition (including those factors that may exist beyond the ken of human perception). I was awakened to Esoteric Kata only after five decades of practice coupled with an introduction into newly developing sciences, including quantum physics, noetic sciences and traditional and non-traditional philosophic ideologies. 

To date, I am aware of no other martial artist that has not only defined the three battles of Esoteric Kata in the manner I set forth. Further, I am not aware of anyone that has promulgated a specific methodology and manner of performing Kata so as to experience the metaphysical aspect of the Rite (or Kata). Perhaps I am the only person willing to commit name and reputation to acknowledging the existence of a third, metaphysical aspect present in Esoteric Kata. 

Cum superiorum privilegio veniaque *

Sensei John Szmitkowski

  *  (with the privilege and permission of the superiors)

  ** Note: The Kanji (calligraphy) for Sanchin is from my private collection. The original was a Sumi-e writing on rice paper.

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