Tam Hon taught a style that was called simply "Saam Jin" (Cantonese for "Sanchin").
Uechi-Ryū practices a form of Sanchin with nukite zuki (貫手突) "open spear hand" strikes, while the version used by many other styles such as Gōjū-Ryū, Chitō-ryū, Koei-Kan use a closed fist.
Practice of Sanchin seeks to develop the muscles and bones of the body to help the practitioner withstand blows from an opponent, while drilling the basic mechanics of a strike that depends on a stable base.
The second, "Higashionna's sanchin" or sanchin dai ni was taught with open hands, as in Uechi-Ryū, but later it was also revised to closed fists by Miyagi's co-student Juhatsu Kyoda, founder of Tōon-Ryū, and adopted by Chōjun Miyagi as well.
Some styles use a method of checking strength, posture, hand concentration during the performance of the kata called shime (締め).