PRINCIPLES - TECHNIQUES

itsuki

After each technique one should be able to move in any direction. Itsuki is to get stuck to the floor. This has not so much to do with the weight distribution, but rather with timing and tension/relaxation.

In junzuki, the mind and spirit should be focussing on forward movement. If one overdoes it however, one will lean to much forward causing unbalance and or itsuki. One will be stuck and unable to react and move where feasible.

In Chinto's first movement, the timing of the defense is essential. Apart from ukemi's reaction to the timing of the defense, one's body should be balanced and able to move in any direction. Therefore the whole body must be used in the defense (actually always) If there is too much focus on the arms/hands of the defense, balance will be lost and itsuki will occur in the back leg, making instant reaction to any direction impossible.

I think this has to do with the heart. If one reads the following words of Mr. Hironori Ohtsuka's book carefully maybe you will get an idea of my practical interpretation of his words about the heart.

"The same applies to the heart - if the heart is too preoccupied in one direction, the center is lost and as a result, the heart can not distribute itself evenly in all directions. However, the heart can not remain in the center as well. The heart can not leave the center of its distribution, yet it must be distributed. The heart requires to not be distributed, but desires to do so."

So up for my next ideas.. I'm a teacher at a high school and when they have exams that I should babysit I always take my time to write 5 A4 of karate theory.. So here for the result of the latest economics exam..

How to make your enemy get itsuki?
Imagine your enemy to be very skilled. He will not have itsuki by himself syou have to catch him "offguard" or make him startle, thus becoming offguard. (in soccer in the Netherlands they say put the goalkeeper on the 'wrong' leg, or the goalkeeper stood on the wrong leg, what in my eye is actually itsuki) Anyway, to startle/distract (correct word?) your enemy is the key to make him stuck to the floor.

Though I'm not a soccer fan I will illustrate an example from the Dutch professional soccer world. The player, Mr. Johan Cruiff, had to make a penalty shot. The goalkeeper expected Mr. Cruiff to run at the same speed towards the ball or to speed up during his run and then shoot at the goal at once. Mr. Cruijff, however, changed his speed instantly (hiza no nuki?) causing the goalkeeper to get itsuki and easily score the goal. - Change of sen

An other example from Mr. Cruijff was that unstead of shooting at once, he passed it to the side so one of his teammates who was counting on it could score the goal. - Change of position

Both examples have to do with changes in timing and positioning. Positioning is clear in the 2nd example, but what about the 1st? As Mr. Cruijff changed his speed, he still followed the same line/path to the ball to make his shot. His actual position didn't change, but the goalkeeper expected him te be somewere else, so for the "enemy" his position did change. - Faint?

At some point, you could simply refer to faints. Fainting is therefore a teachnique of strategy. The faint, however, has to be followed up by a decicive attack.