Movement

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A rolling stone gathers no moss. There are a few terms used in karate and martial arts to describe types of movement important to the applications of those karate and martial arts disciplines. 

The most obvious term used is, “Tai Sabaki.” Tai sabaki (体捌き) is a term from Japanese martial arts and which relates to 'whole body movement', or repositioning. It can be translated as body-management. It is a term used widely in and very important in kendo, jujutsu, aikido, judo, karate and ninjutsu.

Then we must understand how movement applies to principles of multiple methodologies, i.e., how movement is influence by our breathing; how movement of the breathing process affects our posture and structure; how our movement also influences our axis, our centeredness, our heaviness and relaxation; how movement provides power and force by the very movement of our body mass and so on. 

We use movement to apply impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns, throws and the use of compression in moving our bodies while also moving the body of our adversary. 

We used body movement to achieve stances, positions and to apply centripetal and centrifugal force with power and force against our attackers. It is apparent that movement is of great importance. 

How we move in every day life sends signals that can achieve avoidance to conflict and violence. How our movement is perceived by others who may want to make us their victims. Our very movement makes an unspoken statement to others be they predators or our own tribal members. 

How we move when we are in physical contact with an adversary can either tell us how to overcome their presence as well as communicate our presence to an adversary. 

Movement in karate and martial arts takes on meaning far beyond the obvious such as stances assumed statically and in transition between stances while moving in combat or kata or drills, etc. Movement trains our minds and provides our instincts the feel for movement to remain balanced and structurally sound. 

Remaining in motion is another defense methodology that keeps the adversary following our movement so they cannot establish control and apply force and power against us - controlling movement, ours and theirs. 

Don’t become mired in the atomistic of movement through the kata patterns and static stances but allow the fluidity of movement that comes from proper use of fundamental principled multiple methodology necessary to achieve your goals in conflict, violence and self-defense. 

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