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Saturday, August 24, 2013

Sabaki Method by Joko Ninomiya, or Tandoku Day 2

I like methods that transcend separate Arts.  Sometimes there is a genius who creates something entirely new, but combat predates civilization.  Human anatomy and how to best use it damage another's human anatomy is not something restricted to any one art or culture.  A good idea is hard to keep down.  Other people will figure it out.  The good idea will be expounded upon, it will evolve, it becomes common sense and no one knows when it started being a good idea and soon no one can remember a time when we never knew it.

Kancho Joko Ninomiya is a practitioner of Enshin Ryu karate.  He published a book on his methodologies called, Sabaki Method that has ideas that the Shodokan Aikido kata of Tomiki Sensei seems to have in common.

From the book's cover:  "Sabaki is a Japanese word meaning "to channel power efficiently."  It can refer to the effort of breaking a horse or damming a river.  In Karate it means the natural way to use an opponent's power and momentum against him."

While this teacher does do a number of head high kicks that I have never been able to do, the set up for the kicks and punches are about four basic positions.

1.  Move forward and off the line to the inside
2.  Move forward and off the line to the outside
3.  Move backward and off the line behind your opponent
4.  Move backward and off the line facing for opponent's inside

If I am misrepresenting this theory, the error is mine and not Kancho Ninomiya's.  I believe he has shared information with Homma Sensei in Denver.  The book cover also identifies him as the 1978 All-Japan Champion and a Grandmaster of Enshin Karate.  I have never met him, nor am I his student.

From this position:

A parry will have the momentum of the opponent turning causing a break in balance.  This strategy has you moving off the line, so you will not be an easy target for follow up strikes.  Getting to one side can mean being in the opponent's blind spot, or the opponent finding themselves suddenly unable to punch or kick freely.  The attacker gets tied up when this is done well.

These four positions are the platforms for launching an attack in this system.  The idea is to use body movement to get to a powerful and safe place.

I would like to go crazy with a bunch of photos, or look through YouTube for videos.

But, to the guys on the Tandoku challenge, you've already seen these four positions starting around Tenkan Ashi:



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