If You Want To Throw Like Him, You Have To Move Like Him
“I want to move like a little girl, but throw like a Greyhound Bus.” ~ Sensei Litchfield
If this is your goal (and it should be), you need to focus on your relationship to uke as you move.
Shezentai to Hamni:
(“The First Blend”)
The “First Blend” is ‘my name’ for the movement known as “Mae Sabaki,” Generally, this movement is the footwork for the First Wrist Technique (Classical Technique). It is a simple blend, and works well for getting out of the way of straight punches, circular punches, overhead chops, and kicks ~ with a slightly forward movement..
Video covering Irimi, Tenkan, and Tenkai (called “Kaiten” here for some reason) movements. Unfortunately, this video does not discuss the Tenshin movement. Further, while all movements in this video are demonstrated from hamni, they can also be performed from our preferred shizentai starting position.
Here is a video devoted solely to the Tenshin movement ~ which is a movement “back and off line.” You see the movement very clearly explained, and then various techniques are performed from differing attacks ~ with the same “Tenshin” movement happening over and over again throughout the video. Note how easily this movement off balances uke is throughout the attacking sequences. Tenshin is a very powerful aikido movement.
This illustration would be more helpful if it indicated “where” the attack was coming from. Envision a Roundhouse
Right coming coming from the red “Irimi” at the top ~ and everything makes sense.
This portion of the Movement discussion is a complete work in progress.
General Aikido Movement Exercises:
- Hamni Walk
- Walking Punch
- Tenkai or Kaiten (also Hamni Turn) (when in hamni, you can reverse your direction 180 degrees by simply pivoting on your feet. In this manner, the back foot becomes the front foot of the new hamni ~ and you have pivoted 180 degrees but without moving your feet)
- Mae Sabaki (The First Blend) (This is essentially the footwork for the First Wrist Technique)
- Shizentai (Neutral stance) => Hamni (Irimi, Tenkan, and Tenshin)
- Mae-mawari Sabaki (X-Step) (Think of the footwork for the Back Breaker Classical Technique)
Foundational Aikido Movement Exercises relative to Uke:
- Irimi: generally stepping forward, can be a slide step, or cross step
- Tenkan: doing a 180 degree turn over a planted foot
- Tenkai: Called a “Hamni Turn” in our style and a “Kaiten” in other styles ~ where you simply pivot both feet in a hamni stance and turn 180 degrees. The positioning of the feet never really change
- Tenshin: a step back and off line at the same time (if you are in right hamni, you end up in left hamni, but off line). Think of the Hamni Walk in reverse ~ and finished a little off line to uke’s striking intention.
A Small Sample of Aikido Movement Combinations (most of these are demonstrated in the videos below):
- Irimi Tenkan (Enter) (180 degree rotation): From a neutral stance => enter by stepping forward into hamni => turn 180 degrees on lead planted foot
- Irimi Tenkan Tenkai (Enter) (180 degree rotation) & (180 degree Pivot): From a neutral stance => enter into hamni => turn 180 degrees on your lead planted foot, then execute a hamni turn (creates a 360 degree rotation)
- Tenshin X Step Tenkai (270 degree rotation): Step back and off line into a hamni, then execute an X step and then a Tenkai. This movement should result in a 270 degree rotation. This is a great off balancing movement off of strikes with round characteristics ~ and ideally positions nage for for Pivot Takedowns off of round strikes.
Generally speaking, each aikido entry movement has a unique Japanese name, but I’ve noted that the movement names we use in our style (which are Japanese names) describe movements which sometimes have very different names in other aikido styles. Further still, there is disagreement in movement nomenclature even within the aikido styles that operate in the Japanese vernacular.
All that said, regardless of what we call them (or don’t call them), the general ideas of aikido movement still exist regardless of the debate on terminology.
So in summarizing the nature of movement, one might conclude a few things:
- Aikido Movement is generally circular, but not always.
- Aikido Movement is best when it capitalizes off of uke’s striking intention, and extends or redirects uke’s striking intention in some fashion. It can also reverse the striking intention ~ if met early enough.
- If your movement is properly timed, you will immediately know it as the application of your technique will feel effortless, while being perceived as ultimately powerful by your uke. If you feel like you’re having to “muscle” uke, you need to reevaluate your initial movements ~ as uke is not unbalanced if you are having to use muscle to make your technique work.
- As you get better and better, your movements become more refined.
Get outside the friendly confines of the Classical Technique, and too many of our students look like they have never studied Aikido in their lives. While I agree that an excessive focus on footwork in applications can generate an initial stiffness for nage, it must also be noted that logical and meaningful footwork should be a priority in applications because in applications proper footwork presents the most efficient and often powerful transport ~
from point A to point B.
Mae-mawari Sabaki ~ X Step
Movement found in Back Breaker, Cross Arms Throw, etc. Called “Reverse Blend into Jigotai” in “Integral Aikido.”
Don’t Forget Your Entry Movements!
~ A Partial Listing Of Movement Possibilities ~
Nice video from Sensei John Carter on Movement Principles. I believe that the idea of changing applications for a specific technique as you change initial movements (demonstrated at the end) is somewhat unique to our style, and demonstrates Master Shodo Morita’s genius and versatility.
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