PRINCIPLES - TECHNIQUES

step, or move?

Shihan Ishikawa demonstrating tobikomizuki during his explanation of tantodori: zudori at summercamp 2006, Heijderbos, Netherlands

TO STEP OR NOT TO STEP
I have to start this part by saying that I really dislike the term “step”. Though it is correct terminology and easy terminology it tends to put students on the wrong track. A step is often associated with the leg. But in karate you have to move with the whole body. The legs just arrive there because they are attached to your body. Of course it’s your leg so you can position it however you like, but the initial movement must occur from tanden with the whole body and not just the leg alone. So whenever somebody uses the term “step” just must realise that it is body movement. A phrase from Mr. H. Ohtsuka’s book to conclude: In noh plays and indigenous folk dancing, nobody ‘walks’ with their feet. They walk with their whole body; the feet just smoothly follow. The same applies in karate.