Taisabaki Waza

The taisabaki waza are designed to teach effective body movement.  Like shokyū, the taisabaki waza should be first practiced in a simplified way to internalize accurate body movement. Because taisabaki waza drills alternate left and right sides, the student is also developing the skillful use of both sides of the body.

At first taisabaki waza may seem like a thing apart from the kata. However, you will find the taisabaki wazi in advanced kata and in kata bunkai. Kyū level Kōburyū students should practice taisabaki wazi bunkai until the movements become natural.the taisabaki waza include not only basic movements but also combinations from more advanced kata. While first practiced at shokyū level, the taisabaki waza are later practiced in a chūkyū and even jōkyū fashion, using the legs for power, grabbing for control, simultaneous block and attack and other skills necessary to move from beginner performance of a kata to true understanding of a mock battle. You cannot go on to more advanced techniques until the tai sabaki waza are mastered.  

Taisabaki Waza Bunkai

Through taisabaki waza drills the student learns to control his or her own body movements. Through taisabaki waza bunkai the student learns how to take control of the opponent’s body, moving it or manipulating as necessary. This is especially important to joint locks and throwing techniques. More than just timing and distance, taisabaki waza bunkai offers the opportunity to practice the turning and evasion techniques of tenshin, grabbing for control, the strong stepping of fumikomi as well as correct use of the hips and pelvis, feet and legs, arms and hands.

Avoid non-essential movement.  Each technique must be made decisively, with strength, speed, and proper positioning. It must also be small and controlled for efficiency, avoiding wasted motion which can lead to weakness in the defense. The taisabaki waza are designed to be executed from a stable stance. During bunkai, obtaining a stable stance can be more difficult, since you have the attacker’s energy, strength and weight to deal with.

Even beginners can work with a partner to learn the most basic version of each taisabaki waza bunkai. Since the taisabaki waza are not presented in order from easy to more difficult, the sensei should decide which taisabaki waza bunkai the student is ready for.

The Taisabaki Waza in Detail

Correct posture, foot placement, hip alignment and balance must be maintained. Execute each taisabaki waza with the appropriate weight distribution. Depending on the taisabaki waza , this can mean raising or lowering the body, shifting forward or back, pivoting on the balls of the feet, moving one’s weight onto one or both feet, or a combination of the above.

Not Just Warmups

The following set of taisabaki waza are often practiced as warm-ups, but they are more than that. 

1. Jōdan □ Chūdan □ Gedan No Tsuki  (Jō Chū Ge No Tsuki)

2. Gedan □ Chūdan □ Jōdan □ Sokutō Geri  (Ge Chū Jō Sokutō Geri)

3. Tateken Chūdan □ Shō Jōdan □ Hiji Uchi  (Tateken Shōte Yoko Hiji)

4. Kakato Geri

5. Ryōte Uraken Uchi

For the Young and Young at Heart

The following two taisabaki waza are great strength training for the legs, but without much practical application,

6. Kaiten Mawashi Geri

7. Mawashi Tobi Geri

The Core Taisabaki Waza

yakusoku 約束pre-arranged
kumite 組み手fighting
bunkai分解analysis
ōyō応用practical application

As dan level promotion candidates, advanced students are asked to develop their own ideas for practical applications of the taisabaki wazi or to combine taisabaki waza and kata movements into a practical defense. These practical applications are called ōyō. The ōyō must be practical and the presentation should approach the look of a real fight and not go on and on like a sparring match. Remember, the goal of karate is to stop the fight. Sōke Kaichō Kinjō hopes to see the movements of tai sabaki waza effectively employed in bunkai and ōyō when he returns for future visits.

By comparison, Uechi Ryū shodan candidates also demonstrate mock fights with prearranged attack and defense called yakusoku kumite, “promise fighting.” Like Kōburyū, the goal is to make the fight as realistic as possible, but still remain safe. Unfortunately, the Uechi Ryū yakusoku kumite are pre-defined and offer no room for creativity.

1. Jōdan Tsuki Uke

2. Jōdan Tsuki Uke □ Gyaku-te Seiken Zuki

3. Ryōte Tsuki Uke

4. Kōsa Uke □ Shō Oshikomi

5. Kōsa Uke □ Zensoku Geri

6. Kōsa Uke Dōji Geri

7. Gedan Tsuki Uke □ Ryōte Mawashi Ashi Barai

8. Gedan Tsuki Uke □ Sukui Age □ Zensoku Geri

9. Gedan Tsuki Uke □ Sono Te De Jōdan Age Uke□ Gyaku-te Chūdan Zuki

10. Kōsa Uke Kara □ Ryōte Shō Oshidashi

11. Kōsa Uke □ Ryōte Shutō Kubi Uchi

12. Kōsa Uke □ Shutō Suihei Uchi

13. Kōsa Uke □ Shutō Ōfuku Uchikomi

14. Kōsa Uke Dōji Shō Ganmen Uchi □ Gyaku-te Chūdan Zuki

15. Kōsa Uke □ Gedan Shō De Kime □ Sono Te De Ganmen Uraken Uchi

16. Kōsa Uke □ Shutō Suihei Uchi □ Zensoku Kakato Geri

17. Kōsa Uke □ Shutō Suihei Uchi □ Kōsoku Kakato Geri

18. Zensoku Kakato Geri Dōji Ni Uraken To Seiken Zuki

19. Kōsa Uke □ Hiza Geri

20. Kōsa Uke □ Yoko Hiji Uchi

21. Kōsa Uke □ Tate Hiji Uchi

22. Kōsa Uke □ Furi Hiji Uchi

23. Kōsa Uke □ Shūkoken Uchi Dōji Ni Shō Oshikomi

24. Ryōte Hiki Uke □ Kōsoku Chūdan Geri

Why Learn the Names in Japanese?

The Japanese names for the taisabaki waza are not really names. They are descriptions of the moves. As such, the wording sometimes changes. We could give the descriptions wholly in English, but giving the names in English would take more words to be perfectly clear. Most of the taisabaki waza terms are used over and over again in many contexts, and can be remembered almost without effort. Besides, knowing the Japanese terms makes it easier for us to understand Sōke Kaichō Kinjō.

An Aid to Memorizing

Unless you expect to be asked to lead taisabaki waza you can relax and concentrate on the training. For those who do lead, memorizing the order can be challenging. The core taisabaki waza can be roughly divided into groups as an aid to memory. I offer my names, but call the groups what you like. Good luck.

1-3Upper
4-6Middle
7-9Lower
10-12Easy ones
13-15Combinations
16-17Back to suihei
18-19Odd ones
20-22Elbow strikes
23 – 24Last two