Sente Exercises (Thousand Hand Exercises)

[Jonathan Forrester]

So I'm just checking to see who else runs the Sente exercises (empty hand). I have documented them but it seems there may be some differences between the way schools teach them. I was wondering if your school teaches them.

If you're unfamiliar with the Sente exercises, they include the thousand hand, five and six count rice hand exercises. There are 8 of them - The exercises are documented in The Pinnacle in the Kobudo section for the Eiku (Okinawan Oar) - but have been adapted for empty hand use as well.

[Eric Eubanks]

Yes we use the Sente Exercises.

[Seth Spalsbury]

We use Sente Exercises as well, but I thought the exercise were originally used for a katana or other blade, more so than the eiku or bo.

[Jonathan Forrester]

Where did you get that thought? Was it an original thought, or was it discussed at the school? Just curious...

These were documented both in The Pinnacle, and Render Yourself Empty by Master Trias and were listed as Okinawan Oar Free Exercises. Haven't seen it listed anywhere in either of these texts as an exercise for a Katana. Although, you can easily adapt them to virtually any weapon - - -

[Seth Spalsbury]

I don't think it was a discussion, but just something pointed out. Thank you for clarifying Sensei.

[Charles L. Holbrook]

Yes I have noticed varations in the Sente exercises as well. Originally I was taught 3 empty hand exercises only (2 versions along the years), but I have never met with anyone knowing the 8 from the Eiku-bo versions applied to empty hand.

[Jonathan Forrester]

I've got all 8 of them documented in a small study guide. Learned them last year from a class I took with Renshi Skopie at Hanshi Abele's school and decided I needed to put them in writing so I wouldn't forget them (my memory is getting worse as I get older.....)

[Bart Scovill]

I can't remember if I was told this or read it, but there was some discussion that these exercises where tied to Hanshi Trias' involvement with BaGua. That doesn't seem likely if they are applied to the oar, a uniquely Okinawan weapon. Anybody know more about this?

[Jonathan Forrester]

Bart - do you have access to a copy of The Pinnacle? If so, look in the Kobudo section in the back and you will find them.

[Karl K. Wagner]

For some reason, I vaguely remember hearing that the 'thousand hand' excercise, as well as the five and six rice count as being a favorite training excercise of Motobu Choki. Since it works the shuto-zuki in its many different 'slashing' motions, I can understand why it is also an exercise is eiku manipulation. We do have a definite order of slashes in eiku kata.

I recall the story of how Motobu took on the challenge of fighting the Russian in the cultural exchange event. He knocked the much larger man out with a shuto ("chop") to the neck(?) or head. Let us not forget, Funakoshi Gichin got all the credit the next day in the newspapers as his image was drawn-up as the karate man that beat the Russian. ...Reason for the resentment that Motobu Choki harbored toward Funakoshi Gichin.

[Eric Eubanks]

The Sente exercises are seen in the old 1950's era training video put out by Trias' Dojo. That would lead me to believe they are some of the earliest exercises taught by him. watching this and the later 70's training video I noticed that they were performed more like the Fa Jing training of Chinese Martial Arts. I wonder if originally these were exercises to teach power projection in Chinese like fashion? I must say that the Thousand Hand exercises in the video were no where near as precise or organized as today's versions.
In the Pinnacle and other books they are presented as Eiku striking exercises. Never thought of using them as Sword techniques. I do remember while training with Sensei Teresa Sanders working them with the Eiku a lot because she loved weapon training. I must confess I have not worked them personally in a while.

[Ramsey Nicholson]

yes our dojo in California practice the exercises- and it is a requirement for promotion to blue belt to know 5 & 6 count and thousand hand is required for green belt.

[Brian Backstrom]

We also practice the Sente exercises. I did find a pretty good description of each of them at suncoastkarate.com (This is a great web site). I read through them and the description appears pretty much the same as the way I have been taught.