Sankan-te is the third kata created by Kancho approximately 3 years after Nikan-te. This kata follows a similar embusen to a Goju-Ryu kata, Gekisai which was once part of the GKR syllabus. Kancho did not set out to copy Gekisai’s embusen but noticed the similarities as he was creating Sankan-te.
Sankan-te is a kata that flows continuously like Nikan-te, although this kata contains open and closed hand techniques. With Kancho’s multi-technique combinations featuring strongly across all three of his kata, Kancho notes in Sankan-te, there should be one breath for each grouping of techniques so as not to interrupt the ibuki waza (breathing technique) and for the techniques to flow.
Kancho says of Sankan-te, that it is a fairly straightforward kata with quality combinations. He did consider changing it with Nikan-te in the order of his kata as it can be considered easier to learn, however he decided to keep his kata in the original order they were created and thus, keeping Sankan-te as the third kata.
As with Kancho’s previous kata (Shokan-te and Nikan-te), Sankan-te is an organic creation born from Kancho practising kata and combinations on an almost daily basis.
