Monday, May 12, 2008
The steps between the steps
Here is another Musashi quote for us to think about – again, from his Wind book. This one is on walking methods. In aikido we define two walking methods – ayumiashi (normal walking) and tsugiashi (a dropping/sliding motion without crossing the feet). There are benefits to both, and for the most part, we walk using ayumiashi whenever we are outside of ma-ai, instantly switching to safer, more conservative tsugiashi as we cross into ma-ai. Here’s what Mushshi had to say about walking methods…Use of the Feet in Other Schools
There are various methods of using the feet: floating foot, jumping foot, springing foot, treading foot, crow's foot, and such nimble walking methods. From the point of view of my strategy, these are all unsatisfactory.
I dislike floating foot because the feet always tend to float during the fight. The Way must be trod firmly.
Neither do I like jumping foot, because it encourages the habit of jumping, and a jumpy spirit. However much you jump, there is no real justification for it; so jumping is bad.Springing foot causes a springing spirit which is indecisive.
Treading foot is a "waiting" method, and I especially dislike it.
Apart from these, there are various fast walking methods, such as crow's foot, and so on. Sometimes, however, you may encounter the enemy on marshland, swampy ground, river valleys, stony ground, or narrow roads, in which situations you cannot jump or move the feet quickly.
In my strategy, the footwork does not change. I always walk as I usually do in the street. You must never lose control of your feet. According to the enemy's rhythm, move fast or slowly, adjusting you body not too much and not too little.
Carrying the feet is important also in large-scale strategy. This is because, if you attack quickly and thoughtlessly without knowing the enemy's spirit, your rhythm will become deranged and you will not be able to win. Or, if you advance too slowly, you will not be able to take advantage of the enemy's disorder, the opportunity to win will escape, and you will not be able to finish the fight quickly. You must win by seizing upon the enemy's disorder and derangement, and by not according him even a little hope of recovery. Practice this well.
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Sunday, May 11, 2008
Bram Frank & Rob Belote
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Ranai – Chaos into order
So, who all out there can say they've seen this type of phenomenon happen between two people in a martial arts setting?
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May 2008
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- Wrestling vs. boxing
- The steps between the steps
- Bram Frank & Rob Belote
- Ranai – Chaos into order
- Getting in synch and flowing around obstacles
- Ukemi is a kind of intelligent blending
- We're famous!
- Working the envelope
- Musashi and Canadian Brass on speed
- L.O.C.K.U.P. police combatives method
- Great rolling exercise
- Boxing and aikido
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- The meaning of your communication is the response ...
- How to learn jodo without an uke
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- No education for me, thank you.
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Apr 2008
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- Teaching gun safety
- A helpful handful – shihonage
- Koryu Dai Ichi
- Y'all will be proud of me!
- Cool Jimmy Pedro bio
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- You get just as wet no matter where you jump in
- How to tie your martial arts belt
- Martial arts – They’re not just for kids anymore
- Kids lay in wait for teacher
- Kote hineri practice tonight
- Pick your nose
- A lecture by Henry Kono Sensei
- What you put out comes back to you thrice
- Persistence
- Spring 2008 Henry Seminar
- Osotogari
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- munegatame
- Graduation day
- Wonderful jodo and aikido sessions
- Judo bruisers
- Josh Waitzkin on chess and taichi
- More on aiki strategy
- Congrats to Argo
- Pentathlon
- Ask humbly for a structured lesson
- A helpful handful: gyakugamaeate
- Busy, busy day
- Our Current Schedule
- Great intro to randori
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May 2008
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Who writes this stuff anyway?
- Patrick Parker
- Magnolia, MS, United States
- Christian, husband, father, judo & aikido teacher, Cardiac Rehab Program Director, Ph.D.
This work by Patrick Parker is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.






