PRINCIPLES - TECHNIQUES

Technique is
secondary to
bodymovement

In wadoryu, technique is secondary to bodymovement. This does not mean that the technique is less important, but this does mean that the technique comes from the bodymovement. Or in other words, the technique comes from the position at that moment.

If you take a look at kata then it may become quite clear.

Example 1:
Move 1 from pinan nidan is to drop down the body quickly. To isolate this movement and to answer this movement, otoshi uke is used.

Example 2:
Move 1 from pinan sandan is to turn the body quickly. To isolate this movement and to answer this movement, soto uke is used. The same applies in move 1 from pinan godan.

Example 3:
A turning movement of the body, is always assisted with the technique. So think about the use of gedan barai, shuto uke, hirate uke (pinan yondan). All these techniques follow the natural movement of the body.

One of my fellow trainingpartners told me the following story that he read in a book.

"A karatemaster was able to dodge all raindrops. He remained completely dry! His remarkable ability made him superior, so he thought. He once met a Zenmaster and told him that he could dodge the raindrops and that he was much faster then the Zenmaster. When they were in the rain, the Karatemaster remained dry, he looked at the soaking wet Zenmaster and was laughing about him and said the he now proved to be much better then the Zenmaster. The Zenmaster replied. When it rains, the natural cause is to get wet."