Ashi Sabaki means “foot movement” or foot-work.
Tai Sabaki means “body movement”.
It has become more common to use only the term Tai Sabaki to mean “body shifting” involving both the footwork and body position or posture.
That is, if one plans an ura defense (towards the back of the attacker), proper foot work to move towards the [...]
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Kokyu involves concentrating on the use of one’s ki more than it does shouting. A sound is just an audible indication of good kiai (aligned body structure, focused intent, and good breathing). Kiai can be silent coordination of breath with activity. A relaxed and powerful exhalation can add power to movement. This may be more [...]
Maai is a key element of Zanshin and Aiki.
Here’s a perfect way to understand this concept. Have two people stand facing each other with arm fully extended. When their finger tips barely touch, or has space between them, this is referred to as a safe distance. There is no possibility that either of the two [...]
What the difference between budo and kobudo?
Kobudo is a modern japanese word that means “ancient martial way”. The words kobudo and koryu are often used interchangeably. Kobudo refers to martial arts that trace their lineage back prior to the start of Emperor Meiji’s reign in 1868. Emperor Meiji abolished the bushi (or samurai) right to [...]
Kuzushi means “to unbalance”. A more complete translation is “to level, or demolish”.
The basis of the the aiki martial arts is to unbalance an attacker as the start of self defense. Unbalance is the beginning of being able to redirect an attacker’s momentum … it is a distinct advantage over the attacker. If you are [...]
Zenshin means “the whole body” and is one of the key elements that both Moreihei Ueshiba O’Sensei and Sokaku Takeda Sensei applied. Without Zenshin, there is no way they would have been able to bring anyone of greater size or strength to their level or to the ground.
I often see beginners performing tenkan with a partner [...]
The first time I heard the term Zanshin, I was a bit tired of all the new Japanese terms thrown at me. I had just been introduced to Yoshin, a term meaning “use the greater force against itself” and I really thought my sensei was making these up as he went along.
Yoshin is attributed to [...]
Metsuke or more completely, Enzan no metsuke means “look at the whole body of your opponent rather than just looking at, for example, the focus of the attack”.
As a beginner in martial arts, I was concerned with proper pronounciation of the japanese terminology, placement of my feet, location of my arms/hands relative to my posture, [...]
Please check back often on this particular article. I am in process of writing this and will provide hyperlinks to all the sub-articles within this one.
I need to point out that I am not an expert on this subject … I am an avid student whose research specifically into the meaning of, and application of, [...]
“The secret of aiki is to overpower the opponent mentally at a glance and to win without fighting.“1 — definition of “aiki” by Sokaku Takeda, founder of modern Daitoryu Aiki Jujutsu.
“The most profound and mysterious art in the world is the art of aiki. This is the secret principle of all the martial arts in [...]
