TAI SABAKI

THE FORGOTTEN EXERCISE

OF BODY SHIFTING

BY

Dr. Ed Hudson (6th Dan)

nfortunately the art of body shifting (tai sabaki) and foot movements (ashisabaki) has been lost in most shotokan organisations. This is of grave concern,especially when many noted martial artists, including well known shotokan

instructors and even the late Bruce Lee stated that the person with the superior footwork will always win the fight.

Historical evidence has shown the historical lineage of Japanese karate from Okinawaback to China. The Chinese martial arts are replete with the importance of body shiftingand foot work. In some instances, Chinese forms advocate that their specific forms arebased on this entire principle.

This emphasis on body shifting and foot work can be found in many other forms ofmartial arts. The importance of foot work is also a foundational plank in westernboxing. If such a diverse range of martial arts acknowledge the importance of foot workand body shifting, why has shotokan chosen to neglect it?

The answer could only be that various shotokan organisations did not teach it in the firstplace, were taught it but have now forgotten it, were taught it but have chosen not topractice it.

Has shotokan lost this treasure? The answer would have to be a resounding yes!

The obvious question is then why? It is the author's opinion that most shotokanorganisations simply stopped teaching tai sabaki due to the focus on sports karate. Theobjective in ones training will always determine how one trains.

Is body shifting and foot work important? Should it be practiced? Is it essential foreffective self defence? The answer is yes to all these questions.

Most shotokan students acknowledge that kata hold the keys to self defence. So why theneed for tai sabaki? Kata encapsulates effective self defence techniques to commonforms of physical aggression. Kata can be practiced individually with out the need for atraining partner. Kata is the text book to which one can refer to obtain information onhow to defend oneself against a particular attack.

However, kata is not a dynamic representation of a real life encounter. Kata representsin a stylistic way what one could do in a certain situation. Tai sabaki shows one howthis works in reality.

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It is the author's opinion that these two training forms (kata and tai sabaki) are inter-woven. Having one without the other leaves the student with only 50% of theknowledge, the effectiveness and the understanding on these highly effectivetechniques.

Tai sabaki (body shifting) and ashi sabaki (foot movements-stepping and sliding) areextremely important skills and exercises that must be practiced by karate ka. This isevidenced by Chidokai’s emphasis on these training exercises referred to as kihonukekamae san (180/90/180) and tai sabaki. These training exercises should bepracticed every lesson as they form the link between the self defence movementsfound in kata and their real-life applications.

Kata is a static, fixed, linear, stiff exercise that is neither dynamic nor representativeof how the movement would be used in real-life1. In fact Choki Motobu called katapractice as “lifeless”. This does not mean that Motobu regarded kata as unimportant.He stated that the principles of kata never change and he spent most of his timepracticing kata applications and movements2.

Motobu using Uchi uke to get out of a grab from behind.

Motobu explained in greater detail the principles that are incorporated when onepractices tai sabaki. The first thing one learns is maai (engagement distance) and ma(the space or interval created by tai sabaki) in an effort to effectively use one’stechnique.

The second principle is to place oneself in a position superior to your opponentmaking his technique virtually ineffective.

The third principle of tai sabaki is to make use of the space created by moving one’sbody in an effort to subjugate any opponent3.

Shoshin Nagamine who counted Choki Motobu as one of his principal instructors,devised a list of key factors that students should incorporate in their training from hisanalysis of tai sabaki and lessons learned from Miyomoto Musashi. Nagamine exhortsstudents to no only understand these principles but diligently train in them and applythem instinctively4. These principles are listed in order of importance:

1 Tales of Okinawa’s Great Masters, 2000, Shoshin Nagamine, p 1002 IBID p1013 IBID p1014 IBID p 102

1. The ideal technique is one which can be provide simultaneous defense andoffense

2. One should strive to use both hands simultaneously in defensive and offensivemanner

3. The hands and feet must be used in conjunction with each other to maximiseoptimal defensive and offensive performance.

4. Seek to understand the value of angular movement and learn body changethrough mastering foot movements.

You will note that the above principles are all embraced in the various tai sabakiexercises practiced by Chidokai (Refer to Chidokai publication – Tai Sabaki and itsPractical Applications).

Not only did Choki Motobu and Nagamine emphasis and practice these tenants,Gichin Funakoshi also admonished students to adopt similar training regimes5.Unfortunately, many shotokan organisations who profess to be the legitimatesuccessors to Funikoshi’s shotokan do not practice these concepts nor do theyincorporate it into their training regime.

The above applications are from Tai Sabaki ichi (the first tai sabaki exercise) used against a lapelgrab.

5 KARATE-DO KYOHAN, 1973 GICHIN FUNAKOSHI, P 235.

In an article published by Mario Mc Kenna in the Shoto Journal Aug 2002, hetranslates an interview with Tomosaburo Okana a student of Gichin Funakoshi. Thisarticle refers to the tai sabaki of Funakoshi known as juji tai sabaki.

This tai sabaki exercise is none other than what we call kihon ukakamae san(180/90/180). Okana states that he learned this from Gichin and Gigo Funakoshi.Clearly, tai sabaki was practiced and taught by Funakoshi.

Tai sabaki allows us to practice what we know from our katas by adding the additionaldynamic of body shifting and foot work. Tai sabaki takes a technique and works it into areal life application format. Bringing to life the body dynamics of your would beattacker and your own effective response.

These tai sabaki exercises were being taught in the Chidokan system back in the early1960's. This would indicate that tai sabaki was a legitimate exercise which formed partof the shotokan training syllabus at least 40 years ago.

Funakoshi himself stated that the student should practice defending against attacks fromthe front, the side and the rear and attacks from several attackers from both sides orfrom the front6. This form of practice is inherent in the tai sabaki exercises presentedhere.

6 Karate-Do Kyohan Gichin Funakoshi Kodansha International 1974 p 235