circular dissolves

3rd KUMITACHI

This article is designed to follow the same explanatory framework as the others in the kumitachi series, as well as the jo v bokken. I have discussed San-no-tachi (3rd Kumitachi) in earlier articles. Initial Conditions Both in migi-hanmi, chūdan, proper maai. Uchidachi initiates with kiri-kaeshi, entering not as a circular action but as a directContinue reading “3rd KUMITACHI”

BAGUA OPENING HANDS

For some time now, I have incorporated a basic hand and body exercise into my “warm up” sequence from Bagua Zhang – “opening hands” (see 3:36 for a reminder). The Bagua movement in isolation may seem awkward at first. I present it as a global body movement adding trunk and hip rotation and done oneContinue reading “BAGUA OPENING HANDS”

Circular dissolves. Master Keating explains the concept. What we explore here is a counter-clockwise dissolve but the concepts are applicable to clockwise dissolves. For the last several classes we have been exploring circular dissolves though the simplified cross-hand encounter – aihanmi katate dori (R/R, L/L grasps). Setting the encounter: Nage presents hand thumb up –Continue reading “CIRCULAR DISSOLVES”