PRINCIPLES - TECHNIQUES

sen

Mr. Ashihara - Sen sen no sen

 

In true budo there are 2 moments to react. One is to move at the last split second. The other is to move as you sence Ukemi's intention. All in between can be seen by the enemy and movement can be adjusted/intercepted by the enemy. A faint or tactical move is good to draw or to freeze, but this would still lead to one of the two for the outcome.

Sente
It is common that karate is accepted as a defensive art. This is partly true. Karate ni sente nashi means that one who practises karate never attacks first, mentally or physically. My personal interpretation is that this means to live in peace and try to search for this path. If somebody interferes this path, always try to avoid the conflict, never start it yourself. However, if you feel the enemies intention to be evil, you have to engage in "sente". So from that moment on you have to be in attack mode. Untill the moment you can control the situation not using your (physical) karate, it is the best. But if you don't have any other option, lead him to his own defeat.

I believe the common mistake is to wait, wait and wait for the enemy to launch the attack and then start to defend. No, I believe you can sence the enemy's inention. So onces the enemy enters the ma-ai and you feel you have no choice.....

However, we must all hope for peace and joy, so try to avoid all conflict.

Go-no-sen - go sen no te
This refers to "defense, counter" However, I don't believe it to be defense, as I explained in "the body has multiple functions". The karateka must apply the defense with the intention to put ukemi in a weak position. The counter is placed before the opponent regained his strength and launches his second attack. As in maegeri ipponme, after performing the uchi harai, gyakuzuki must be done before uke regains his balance. For beginners it is the best way of practise. It is the most primitive type of "defense". As the karateka progresses, he will focus on sen-no-sen training..

Sen-no-sen - sen sen no sente
This principle is seen in many of the kihon gumites. The principle of sen is the unification of attack and defense. In sen no sen It occurs simultaniously. The moment the opponent attacks, the attack is blocked and in the same movement the counter takes place. If this principle is combined with taisabaki, this will result in a evasion with a counterattack. There is no need to perform a block, because your body if out of the attacking line. If there is a block, this is mostly a nagashi, this means to parry. This can be found in the kihon gumites.

Sen-sen-no-sen - sente
This is the ultimate method to finish your opponent. This is the most difficult timing. A sometimes misunderstood concept is that you attack first. Karate ni sente nashi: there is no first attack in karate. The moment that you spot the attacker initiate his move you move too and mostly reading his mind so well, that your attack reaches him, before he even moved. This resultates in a visual misleading. In sen-no-sen the counter was placed when the opponent finishes his attack. In sen-sen- no-sen your counter is placed even before your opponent finishes his attack. This askes for great reaction training and mind training as well. You have to read his mind in order to know when your opponent will attack. In other words, you have to sence his intention.