Hitoemi
Original Poster: bamboo
Forum: Others
Posted On: 02-11-2004, 12:43
Orginal Post: bamboo: Hitoemi is the japanese term meaning the concept of moving your body along a single line as one mass. Although there is often a specific stance attributed to this concept and used in many sword arts, I wish to discuss the movement concept as a whole.
When learning this concept at first in my dojo, we talk about moving forward with center or hips as the primary movement, it usually gets lost on beginners and they almost always lead with a front foot or push off with the back foot. I often find that pushing off with the back foot can really help a beginner to start learning but always emphasise that all movement should begin and end with the center when executing any sort of body movement.
Personally, I use this concept in all movement and try to practice it simply as walking. The bushi walked in this manner which gave them a very noble "air" but was actually served a martial purpose as it always kept them very well balanced and grounded.
One of my many questions regarding the concept of whole body movement is how a practitioner of a striking art uses this concept? I have seen and discussed this with seasoned boxers but never with someone that uses kicks on a regular basis. Any input would be happily accepted.
cheers,
-bamboo
Post: aldarianraider:
I'd imagine the concept is used just as in a non-striking art, except with a striking art, the hips would generate the power to the legs, leading the leg to the atemi. Same with the fists, elbow, etc...When the hips lead, the rest of the body follows, generating more power. That's how I see it, anyhow. I don't know if this helps or not, but I'm not too sure how much sense it makes either :)>
Post: bamboo:
Thank you AldarianRaider.
This is what i was looking for, input and ideas. :)
-bamboo>
Post: aldarianraider:
Any time. We all have opinions to offer, and when asked, who are we to hold in from helping others? :)>
Post: bushidoka:
I believe what you are asking Bamboo, is where does the power come from for the strike, in this case a straight punch. I'll answer it that way anyway, you can tell me if it's not what your'e asking.
the strike starts at the rear foot, heel cocked in. As you strike the heel pivots outward in an arc, the knee pivots, then the hips and shoulders snap into the circle, picking up the momentum your lower body has started, finally, the arm whips out last as the elbow and wrist snap ridgid as the mass(your body) slides forward. You should come into contact with your target with a straight back, leaning slightly forward as if you were pushing a car.>
Post: jlambvo:
I haven't actually used the term used before to describe this, I guess we just usually refer to this as using taijutsu :)
The first thing we learn in the sanshin (5 solo forms) is how to generate striking power moving the body as a unit based off the hips. The legs almost always (there are few truisms in the system it seems :o ) "glide" with the hips, acting as a foundation of the kamae and not the source of movement or power.
This is true for kicking, punching, body checks, all manners of strikes. A basic front kick is a matter of rotating the leg up at the hip joint as if you are walking up a set of stairs (raising the knee), letting everything below the knee hang as dead weight, which swings up from this momentum generated in the hip as you stop the rotation. I teach people to visualize throwing a knee strike at the halfway point to the target and spontaneously relaxe everything below knee where the knee impact would occur.
Because there is no actual thrust or drive to this kick, it never takes you off your center, you are actually hitting with your hips through your leg, along everything attached to it. It leaves you free to make immediate followup strikes or repositioning with that leg, and happens VERY fast. If you are taken off your center, you can execute such a kick by throwing your hips back into place and relaxing the knee.
Pretty much all of our strikes are essentially taking a kamae where the fist ends up an inch or two into the opponent. Kamae channel the reflected force of impact down through your center and into the feet?you sort of become a wedge between yourself and the enemy, you could think of it as grounding an electrical circuit. So this is sort of how I think the idea of hitoemi works in our striking methods including kicks.>
Post: bamboo:
Quote: If you are taken off your center, you can execute such a kick by throwing your hips back into place and relaxing the knee.
This followed by what you described sounds very interesting.
I do have a follow up question: When you mention being taken off centre, would you mind describing what this means to you in your art in terms of methods to off balancing?
I ask because my idea of off balancing includes a constant connection to stop someone from regaining any balance and assumes that uke will do thier darndest to try and regain balance and counter.
As well, if you have any drills related to the kicks and regaining balance after its been broken I'd love to learn.
BTW, we don't actually practice this concept individually very often at all, its all included in the tai-sabaki, I just like to isolate one aspect and "delve" into it. :) .
Many thanks,
bamboo>
Post: jlambvo:
I think I've mentioned before, there are few if any truisms in this system, but when I refer to being centered I primarily think of the ears being in line with the hips, ie the back is straight. Not necessarily aligned vertically since some ryu such as Togakure ryu and Kumogakure ryu make particularily use of angling the body in confusing ways, but this basic structure seems apparent even in these instances.
So in reverse, most of our technique?be it striking, grappling, weapon-based or what have you?tends to produce bends and locks in the spine so as to take the ears and hips out of this line, primarily through the manipulation of what we call "shomitsu." This is the weak line of balance most largely described by (but not limited to) the line perpendicular to that formed by the heels (or whatever the two points of contact with the ground are; on one foot, the shomitsu runs perpendicular to the heel->toe).
In a more refined state, we like to seek this to a point where the opponent's balance is not upset enough that he feels compelled to move at all, but simply finds himself unable to do so when he tries. It's one thing to keep constantly moving to catch up with your balance, but it can be even more creepy to find yourself greatly weakened or practically paralyzed without noticing it :mrgreen: The goal is to reach the sweet spot where you are free to throw and hit uke where he cannot resist or counter, and draw it out as long as possible. This is that point of maximum potential I mentioned in the transitional rangs thread... you should never be too eager to close such a great moment :cool:
I can't think of any isolated drills for regaining balance, its just built into the kata I guess. I would just recommend playing with strikes and other techniques that can be powered by the motion used to re-center yourself (sacrifice throws come to mind). For the kicks I was describing, you already practice walking from the hips. As you walk, try spontaneously relaxing your knee up and letting the foot rotate out, without breaking stride. You aim this kick with the position of your hips, not with the foot :). Do it to the front and the sides. The motion is sort of like walking, so it should feel comfortable to do this way. I find it usually helps me kick better if I walk up too the target in the manner you describe and executing the kick in stride.
Its very important to keep everything below the knee very relaxed, its good practice alone to stand on one leg and raise the opposite knee, letting everything below hang like dead weight. This is suprisingly difficult since our legs are so constantly tensed from standing and walking.>
Post: bamboo:
Quote: As you walk, try spontaneously relaxing your knee up and letting the foot rotate out, without breaking stride. You aim this kick with the position of your hips, not with the foot .
Something we practice in beginners classes and solo, nice to see it gets done in other arts as well.
Cheers,
bamboo>
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