Foot Movements

 

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FOOT MOVEMENTS

Primarily they teach us to move in a "Shuffle" or succeeding feet manner (Tsugi-ashi), in keeping with good posture, balance and co-ordination. Furthermore, they help us to maintain a right or left defensive, yet natural posture, whilst moving. Normal walking (Ayumi-ashi) is a succession of right & left defensive postures and the retention of balance can be difficult, particularly if large steps are taken. Simply they are about natural and efficient movement. They are basic building blocks and once mastered they can be applied to any discipline.

 

BASIC FRONT POSTURE  (Nami-Shizentai)


(Yamada Sensei performing section 2)

  • 1) STRAIGHT, FORWARDS & BACKWARDS
  • 2) SIDEWAYS, TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT
  • 3) CORNERS, FRONT & REAR, LEFT & RIGHT

Stand upright, knees soft, with the feet in-line & shoulder width apart, hands resting lightly on hips with fingers extended, pointing slightly downwards.

Yamada Sensei - Foot Movements

Yamada Sensei
 performs Unsoku in 1959

(pictures courtesy of Kikusui Kai)

1) STRAIGHT, FORWARDS & BACKWARDS

COUNTING "ONE": Step forwards with the left foot, immediately bring forward the right foot behind it.
COUNTING "TWO": Step backwards with the right foot, immediately bring backwards the left foot. Maintain the relative feet positioning (left in front of right).
COUNTING "THREE": Take a further step backwards with the right foot, immediately bring backwards the left foot. Maintain the relative feet positioning (left in front of right).
COUNTING "FOUR": Return to basic front posture by stepping forward with the left foot then immediately bringing forward the right foot.
COUNTING "FIVE, SIX, SEVEN & EIGHT": Repeat the sequence starting with the right foot.

 

2) SIDEWAYS, TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT

COUNTING "ONE": Step to the left side with the left foot, immediately move the right foot towards the left foot, maintaining the correct distance between the feet.
COUNTING "TWO": Return to basic front posture by stepping sideways with the right foot then immediately bringing the left foot towards it.
COUNTING "THREE": Step to the right side with the right foot, immediately move the left foot towards the right foot, maintaining the correct distance between the feet.
COUNTING "FOUR": Return to basic front posture by stepping sideways with the left foot then immediately bringing the right foot towards it.
COUNTING "FIVE", "SIX", "SEVEN" & "EIGHT": Repeat the sequence starting with the right foot to the right side.

3) CORNERS, FRONT & REAR, LEFT & RIGHT

COUNTING "ONE": Step forward and turn the body through 90 degrees to the left, immediately move the right foot towards the left foot, maintaining the correct distance between the feet.
COUNTING "TWO": Return to the starting position, basic front posture, by stepping with the right foot then immediately bringing the left foot towards it.
COUNTING "THREE" & "FOUR": Repeat the sequence starting with the right foot and turning the body through 90 degrees to the right, before returning to basic front posture.
COUNTING "FIVE": Sweep the right foot in an arc to the left rear, turning the body through 90 degrees to the left. Immediately move the left foot towards the right foot, maintaining the correct distance between the feet.
COUNTING "SIX": Return to the starting position, basic front posture, by stepping with the left foot then immediately bringing the right next to it, still maintaining the correct distance between the feet.
COUNTING "SEVEN" & "EIGHT": Repeat the sequence starting with the left foot and turning the body through 90 degrees to the right rear, before returning to basic front posture.

 

 

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14 December 2008

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