Sochin - 壯鎮
Sochin is most commonly interpreted as “Strength and Calm” or “Energetic Calm.” The translations of “Preserve the Peace,” or even “Peacekeeper,” are also sometimes used. Tha kanji 壯 (sou) means “big, strong”, while 鎭 (chin) is “tranquility, peace” or “weight”. Sochin is a very bold and sturdy kata, marked by a commanding physical and spiritual strength. It is generally considered as a Aragaki Seisho kata. Of the three Aragaki kata practiced in Shotokan, Sochin is by far the most grounded. This is due primarily to the fact that the kata relies heavily on the use of fudo-dachi, or “immovable stance,” to such a degree that the stance became nicknamed sochin-dachi. Also known as “rooted stance,” fudo-dachi is probably the most stable of stances and is very tough on the thigh muscles. As such, Sochin is often practiced to train the legs. Although not the flashiest of kata, it is one of the most popular among Shotokan enthusiasts, especially at tournaments. The kata contains several slow, powerful techniques that must be executed with unwavering confidence and with proper muscle contraction and expansion. The student must project an imposing presence, instilling awe and trepidation in the enemy, allowing the karateka to utterly overwhelm the opponent with superior technique and an indomitable spirit.
The most notable technique in Sochin (aside from the fudo-dachi) is the muso-kamae (incomparable posture), Sochin’s trademark. One of the more graceful and intriguing kata techniques, muso-kamae is a combination of rising block and down block, and when performed correctly, it is truly awesome. Other techniques of interest include kizami-mae-geri, yoko-nukite, naiwan-hineri-uke, and jodan-mikazuki-geri, all of which are exclusive to Sochin. Interestingly enough, Funakoshi Gichin tried to change the kata’s name from Sochin to Hakko (Eight Storms). However, this name never caught on and was eventually abandoned. The revised JKA version of Sochin has 41 counts, with the kiai on #30 and #41 (Best Karate #10 40 counts, kiai on #28 and #40).
| Kyodo | Technique | Translation | Stance | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | age-uke/gedan-uke (muso-kamae) |
rising block/down block (incomparable posture) |
fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) |
jodan/gedan | slow speed |
| 2 | tate-shuto-uke | vertical knife-hand block | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | slow speed |
| 3 | tsuki | punch | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 4 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 5 | uchi-uke / gedan-uke (manji-uke) |
inside block / down block (swirling block) |
kokutsu-dachi | jodan/gedan | |
| 6 | age-uke / gedan-uke (muso-kamae) |
rising block / down block (incomparable posture) |
fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | jodan/gedan | |
| 7 | tate-shuto-uke | vertical knife-hand block | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | slow speed |
| 8 | tsuki | punch | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 9 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 10 | uchi-uke / gedan-uke (manji-uke) |
inside block / down block (swirling block) |
kokutsu-dachi | jodan/gedan | |
| 11 | age-uke / gedan-uke (muso-kamae) |
rising block / down block (incomparable posture) |
fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | jodan/gedan | |
| 12 | tate-shuto-uke | vertical knife-hand block | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | slow speed |
| 13 | tsuki | punch | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 14 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 15 | ryoken-koshi-kamae | both fists on hip posture | ashi-dachi | – | |
| 16 | uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi / yoko-keage | sideways back-fist strike / side snap kick | ashi-dachi | jodan/chudan | |
| 17 | mae-empi-uchi | front elbow strike | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 18 | ryoken-koshi-kamae | both fists on hip posture | ashi-dachi | – | |
| 19 | uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi / yoko-keage |
sideways back-fist strike / side snap kick |
ashi-dachi | jodan/chudan | |
| 20 | mae-empi-uchi | front elbow strike | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 21 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 22 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 23 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 24 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 25 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 26 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 27 | yoko-nukite (hira-nukite) / osae-uke |
sideways (flat) spear-hand / pressing block |
kokutsu-dachi | jodan/chudan | yori-ashi |
| 28 | (kisami) mae-geri | (jabbing) front kick | ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 29 | mae-geri / ura-zuki / zenwan-hineri-uke |
front kick / inverted punch / forearm twisting block |
ashi-dachi | chudan jodan/jodan |
uraken variation |
| 30* | ura-zuki / zenwan-hineri-uke |
inverted punch / forearm twisting block | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | jodan/jodan | uraken variation |
| 31 | mikazuki-geri & age-uke / gedan-uke (muso-kamae) |
crescent (half-moon) kick & rising block / down block (incomparable posture) |
ashi-dachi fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) |
jodan jodan/gedan |
slow muso-kamae variation |
| 32 | uchi-uke | inside block | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 33 | oi-zuki | lunge punch | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 34 | uchi-uke | inside block | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 35 | oi-zuki | lunge punch | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 36 | uchi-uke | inside block | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 37 | uchi-uke | inside block | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | gyaku-hanmi |
| 38 | mae-geri | front kick | ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 39 | tsuki (yumi-zuki) | punch (bow punch) | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | slow speed |
| 40 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan | |
| 41* | tsuki | punch | fudo-dachi (sochin-dachi) | chudan |