Within Shorinjiryu Karate, one of the core sets of kumite are known as the Sankakutobi kumite. These 11 kumite were developed by Kaiso Kori Hisataka, and emphasise one of his key teachings – the use of triangular stepping and jumping motions Sankakutobi literally means “triangular jumping”. Whereas many styles use primarily lateral movement, Shorinjiryu practitioners are often accused of being “more Chinese than Japanese”. A main reason for this is the use of angular footwork and jumping.

The Sankakutobi Kumite are grouped into three series – the Sankakutobi Shodan, Sankakutobi Nidan and Sankakutobi Sandan series.

Sankakutobi Shodan
Sankakutobi Shodan is a series of three drills that emphasise classic 2 person fighting combinations, and emphasise heavy use of sankakutobi stepping.

Sankakutobi Nidan
Sankakutobi Nidan consists of three more kumite, but in this series the drills include throwing techniques and counter-attacks to throwing techniques. The Sankakutobi Nidan drills are considered to be very Aiki-like.

Sankakutobi Sandan
Sankakutobi Sandan is a series of 5 short drills utilising defensive techniques against a tanbo (short staff or baton), or a tanto (Japanese dagger).  Again the motions are said to be short, and emphasise triangular motion and throwing and related techniques.

The Sankakutobi Kumite are unique to Shorinjiryu, and are one of the main legacies of Dr Kori Hisataka. Unfortunately, most schools of Shorinjiryu still practice the entire series, with many utilising only a single drill – Sankakutobi Shodan Ichi. A handful of schools practice the Sankakutobi Shodan and Nidan series, but there are currently only a handful of instructors that still know the Sankakutobi Sandan series. Hopefully that situation will change in the near future, and Shorinjiryu practitioners worldwide will adopt the practice of these important forms.

Sources

• Email correspondence with Kyoshi Myron Lubitsch (Shorinjiryu Kenryukan)
• Email correspondence with Shihan Dan Hayes (Shorinjiryu Kenkukan)
• Email correspondence with Renshi Vincent Capers, Jr (Shorinjiryu Kenryukan)
• Email correspondence with Renshi Peter Hiltz (Ake no Myojo Budo)
• Hisataka, M. (1976). Scientific Karatedo. Tokyo, Japan Publications.