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Technique atlas

Tai sabaki

Everything starts with the feet. Body movements take you off the line of attack without blocking it, then let you take the centre back.

Hanmi, the basic stance

In hanmi (“half body”), one foot is forward and the other back and turned out, weight shared, the centre (hara) facing the partner. Hidari hanmi: left foot forward. Migi hanmi: right foot forward.

The diagrams are seen from above: the partner comes from the top, along the dotted line. Empty footprints show the starting position, numbers the order of the steps.

  • Left foot
  • Right foot
  • Centre and direction
Hidari hanmi
Migi hanmi

Plate 01

Mae ashi irimi — tsugi ashi

Gliding step, front foot first

Advance without changing stance: the front foot glides, the rear foot follows.

Mae ashi irimi — tsugi ashi 12
  1. Hidari hanmi: left foot forward, centre on the line.
  2. The front foot glides forward without lifting.
  3. The rear foot follows: same stance, closer to the partner.

Plate 02

Ushiro ashi irimi — ayumi ashi

Walking step, rear foot first

The direct entry: the rear foot steps through and the stance changes.

Ushiro ashi irimi — ayumi ashi 12
  1. Hidari hanmi: left foot forward, centre on the line.
  2. The rear foot steps through: entering the attack.
  3. The other foot turns out. The stance has changed: migi hanmi.

Plate 03

Ushiro ashi tenkan

Conversion, pivot

A 180° pivot on the front foot: you end up facing the way the attack was going.

Ushiro ashi tenkan 12
  1. Hidari hanmi: left foot forward, centre on the line.
  2. Pivot on the front foot; the rear foot sweeps a half circle behind.
  3. Facing the other way, same stance: the attack’s direction is received, not blocked.

Plate 04

Mae ashi tenkan — irimi tenkan

Enter, then pivot

The front foot enters beside the partner, then the body pivots behind them.

Mae ashi tenkan — irimi tenkan 123
  1. Hidari hanmi: left foot forward, centre on the line.
  2. The front foot enters, slightly off the line.
  3. Then tenkan: a full pivot behind the partner.

Plate 05

Mae ashi tenshin

Shifting the body

A diagonal step back: let the attack pass while still facing it.

Mae ashi tenshin 12
  1. Hidari hanmi: left foot forward, centre on the line.
  2. The rear foot slides diagonally back: leaving the line.
  3. The front foot follows; the centre still faces the partner.

Plate 06

Ushiro ashi tenshin — yose ashi

Drawing the foot in

A stance change while stepping back, to leave the line of attack.

Ushiro ashi tenshin — yose ashi 12
  1. Hidari hanmi: left foot forward, centre on the line.
  2. The front foot slides back and becomes the rear foot.
  3. The rear foot draws forward (yose ashi): a stance change off the line.

Plate 07

Zen kaiten sabaki

Full rotation

A half turn on the spot, on the balls of the feet. Useful to turn around without stepping back.

Zen kaiten sabaki 12
  1. Hidari hanmi: left foot forward, centre on the line.
  2. Pivot on the balls of both feet, without moving them…
  3. …a full half turn (180°): now facing back, in migi hanmi.

Plate 08

Han kaiten — gyaku sankaku

Half rotation, inverted triangle

A quarter turn on the spot: the stance closes into a triangle.

Han kaiten — gyaku sankaku 12
  1. Hidari hanmi: left foot forward, centre on the line.
  2. The same pivot on the balls of the feet…
  3. …but only a quarter turn (90°): gyaku sankaku, the inverted triangle.