Sparring and Sideways Avoidance

[Freeform]

Has anyone else noticed the distinct lack of sideways avoidances in competition karate?

Everyone seems to want to block straight on and attack linearly head on.

Any comments?

Colin

[waya]

That's most of the movement I experienced in karate based training. We did very little movement other than linear at any time. That's a big part of the reason I changed systems

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Yep. :)

I love people who train almost exclusively linearly, step round them and they're lost. I believe it might be something to do with the stances, low stances are fine when you're moving forwards or backwards, but they tend to be neither particularly mobile not stable at angles.

[Cain]

The last time I tried side-stepping around my opponent, he caught me in my way with a spin kick from the opposite side and I ended up face down on the floor.
|Cain|

[LilBunnyRabbit]

It helps if you side-step off techniques, blocking and moving off as they're thrown. Naturally if you just try to sidestep while they're just standing there you're going to have trouble. They're going to be ready to throw a technique, and you're going to be in motion.

[TkdWarrior]

u mean moving side ways??...i think we do both type of attack linear n circular...
-TkdWarrior-

[Freeform]

Example: Reverse punch is thrown by guy1. guy2 either just blocks it, steps back out of range, or gets hit.

He doesn't block and set out so that guy1's arms in his own line of fire, thus giving himself some ribs to play with.

Col

[pgm316]

I think a high stance is important for mobility!

[Freeform]

People forget (even the people doing it, so it would seem) that the wide stances in some Karate styles are an excercise and not a fighting application.

Even thoughs that realise this seem to only want to move linearely.

Colin

[TkdWarrior]

"People forget (even the people doing it, so it would seem) that the wide stances in some Karate styles are an excercise and not a fighting application."
hmm this is intresting i would like to point out one article by bob orlando...
http://www.orlandokuntao.com/master_frameset_stances.html
check out...
-TkdWarrior-

[gingerninja]

Originally posted by Freeform
People forget (even the people doing it, so it would seem) that the wide stances in some Karate styles are an excercise and not a fighting application.

Even thoughs that realise this seem to only want to move linearely.

Colin

Hey Freeform, I still ended up using gingerninja!!

Firstly the reason people generally attack in a linear fashion during sparring is the automatic K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple, Stupid) response that comes with the rush of hormones through your body. Besides roundkick, reverse punch - easy, jumping spining round kick - hard and the opponent can see it a mile away!

As for the question of stances, a high fighting stance as in Wado is a fast stance but can be unstable. Teaching and learning the classical stances allows the practioner to drop in to these stances during a fight or sparring session. You have to ask your self the question of are classical stances such as a reverse cat stance or a horseriding stance, the kind of position you want to be in during the fluidic envornment that is sparring/combat.

[Kat]

Please consider Angles rather then linear movement.
45 degrees forward 45 backwards,moving siddeways forces a change of direction in the attacker but maintians the distance.
Please refer to my post in the Thai Boxing thread as I beleive forms of evasive movement are fundetmental for all types of Fighting.

[Terry Matthes]

I am in karate and we practice side stepping in sparring. It's just how your taught. Don't let this turn into a karate is bad cause my one experience with it did not include side stepping thread. Side stepping is useful but if your just doing it while not currently in a manouver or avoiding one there is really no point (unless you want him to turn and are setting him up for something). I like the K.I.S.S. theory also Gingerninja fancy things with big wind up often don't work, and put you in bad positions.

[Freeform]

You never see any bobbing and weaving either. Do you think this form of avoidance could be used?

Colin

p.s Gingerninja, ha, now you have claimed the name as your own!

[Cain]

Hmm...those kind of techniques I occasionally see in boxing but I myself am not used to them.
|Cain|

[LilBunnyRabbit]

They work nicely, saving energy over blocks, and giving you a nice angle for counters. Slips are quite effective as well, true confidence destroyers.

[TkdWarrior]

bobbing n weaving r good n i think it shouldn't be avoided just because u only see them in boxing...
personally i don't think that high stances r unstable...it's true that low stance gives u more stability n less mobility(says who?? i hav seen hung ga guys moving from one low stance to another with a swissssssshhhhh...;))
proper high stance will never be stable as far as rooting is concerned it can be practiced with high stances too...
those who do hsing-yi would agree with me...
-TkdWarrior-

[johndoch]

If its points fighting bobbing and weaving wouldnt serve much of a purpose because karate scores nothing hits. Its more of a continious in-fighting technique. How often do you see close range in-fighting in a karate tournament.

You will still get hit while you bob and weave the principle is to dissolve the punch (especially in the weave) by body movement and minimse the impact of the blows.

[LilBunnyRabbit]

bobbing n weaving r good n i think it shouldn't be avoided just because u only see them in boxing...

Not only boxing, thank you.


proper high stance will never be stable as far as rooting is concerned it can be practiced with high stances too...

I'm sorry, why won't a high stance be stable? You can stand upright can't you?

[gingerninja]

You can see bobbing and weaving in Karate but it seems to more popular technique with those people who do not fight in rigid Karate competitions. In my experience the umpires don't like this style of fighting because you are lossing sight of your opponent and is not a pretty technique - just look at the lack of open hand, grappling, locking and throwing techniques in most clubs these days because of the 'sporting' aspect of martial arts.

As for big techniques they are generally good for the movies and bad for the street, just ask Freeform he's seen my spining kicks! Even kicking off the back leg for mawashigeri can put you in a bad spot , I tend to kick off the lead leg and not the back, its a far quicker kick, hence reducing the time you are off balance. The only down side is it makes doing your traditional drills A LOT harder because you are used to kicking off the lead foot! Also it could be argueed that this is a kung fu style tactic because they favour lead leg kicking.

ps Freeform you should be ashamed of yourself for missing training, I'm going to have to slap you for that!!!

[TkdWarrior]

oh lol CKD i was writing the same thing which u said just added "Never" i didn't meant there...even that's why i put Hsing guys as a example...if u read my third line
"personally i don't think that high stances r unstable..."
-TkdWarrior-

[Andrew Green]

Originally posted by Freeform
You never see any bobbing and weaving either. Do you think this form of avoidance could be used?
[/i]

Hmm...

Guess I;ve been hallucinating a lot in class then...

Or do you just mean point karate competitions? If so then it is simply because of the rules and the scorring

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Guess I;ve been hallucinating a lot in class then...

One class is not representative of the whole. Your style sounds fairly reasonable, there are others out there though.

[Freeform]

I was originally intending competition, but we could have a look at 'proper scrapping' as well if you want.

Does bobbing and weaving work against linear strikes? Especially gyaku tsuki?


ps Freeform you should be ashamed of yourself for missing training, I'm going to have to slap you for that!!!


Like you would have slapped me when I was their anyway! I've let my coursework pile up and my training is suffering. PANTS!!!!

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Does bobbing and weaving work against linear strikes? Especially gyaku tsuki?

Don't know about gyaku tsuki (what is that anyway) but it definitely works against linear strikes, very effectively in fact.

[gingerninja]

Think Freeform means Gyaku Zuki (reverse bunch) he's always using wierd and wonderful names for basic techniques.

bobbing does work against linear strikes, especially if your opponent is as slow as Freeform at punching! Besides the best way to avoid these techniques is to use the ancient technique of slide back a bit, unless you enjoy getting hit all the time.

Originally posted by Freeform


Like you would have slapped me when I was their anyway! I've let my coursework pile up and my training is suffering. PANTS!!!!

:woo: NAH, I would of used my trademark 'Gyak from hell' anyways!:D

[Andrew Green]

nope tsuki is correct, and it means thrust. tsuki is used to describe weapons thrusts as well, it doesn't just mean punch.

But why not by clear and just call it a straight punch of the back leg?

and slipping, bobbing, weaving seem to work fairly well for boxers, who include linear strikes.

There are other options, but not being their is always a good one.

Head avoidances won't work well in a non-contact environment. If the punch isn't actually going to hit you, moving just enough for it to miss you is pointless.

Judges would also have a hard time with closs misses, would it have hit or not? can't really be sure unless it was meant to hit, not to almost hit. best to block rather then risk getting scored on even when you did avoid it.

[LilBunnyRabbit]

Does it really matter if its tsuki or zuki, given that the spelling is phonetic anyway and doesn't translate into our alphabet?

Absence of body is better than presence of mind.

[Freeform]

Or Suki in fact! Seen all three, its these Wado guys, they don't known the difference between Oi tsuki and Jun zuki :P

So are we of the consensus that bobbing and weaving would be virtually pointless in a point scoring environment?

Does anyone feel that their 'real' MA training is suffering because of the prominence of competition?

Colin

[gingerninja]

Originally posted by Freeform
Or Suki in fact! Seen all three, its these Wado guys, they don't known the difference between Oi tsuki and Jun zuki :P

So are we of the consensus that bobbing and weaving would be virtually pointless in a point scoring environment?

Does anyone feel that their 'real' MA training is suffering because of the prominence of competition?

Colin


You've seen the reaction of the competition fighters in our club when you slightly touch them during sparring, they're the biggest bunch of crybabies you will ever meet. We are after all training in MARTIAL arts - i.e. Martial - for war/combat. There should be a real aspect in everybodies training but few clubs favour this because unlike in competitions there is a real risk of injury.

ps. Freeform, Shotokan is the Macdonalds of the Karate world - Its everywhere, it's good for a quick fix but is ultimately bad for you!;)

Ha Hah, Dove beats Tiger

[iolair]

Back when I was at University, I was fortunate enough to be coached by Wayne Otto (he was at the University at the time, as well as being World Karate champ!)

A major part of the training he used in his weekly Kumite sessions (it comprised the first part of EVERY session) was designed to build ability in dodging/footwork, and we really reaped the benefits in terms of improvement in our Kumite!

Wayne himself, when fighting or demoing techniques, would dodge his whole body quickly from side to side as he came in to attack. The result: you had little idea which direction his punch would eventually come from, which made the tactic VERY difficult to defend against!

[paul paterson]

Osu,

I find it hard to understand why someone would leave their school/club just because they were not learning about side stepping.

Tai Sabaki should have been taught and karate has what you are looking for. It does have side, forward, circular, reverse, angles, and so on.

I do agree that some schools of karate as well as other art forms are very straight when attacking in competition but that does not mean that they are like that ale the time. The next time you watch a knockdown karate competition, ie. Kyokushin, as well as the K1 Grand Prix. Have a good look at the many different ways the fighter will move....Learning to move with and around your apponent is just as important as learning to hit him or her.

Osu.

Paul Paterson
1st Dan Jiyuseishinkai
Section Keeper
Glasgow Zoo.

NB.
make a point to partaking in one of Ticky Donovan's courses or his Summer School, you will be amazed at what the body can do and how timing and stance work really does work.

[AAAhmed46]

So......while on the topic, can one of you actually give tips on side stepping?
My teacher tells us about it all the time, but when i cant side step he gets pissed off.

Advise?

[Knight_Errant]

Try slipping a jab or a cross by sliding your back foot over, and twisting your body round for starters. As this is a beginning level, just finish it off with a jab
and watch his little face light up :love:

[animefreak88]

sidestepping is very good, but for some people, its hard to do effectively. i for one, have a hard time with it. i sometimes sidestep a move that i'm parrying, but generally, its much easier for me to come straight in to an opponent's attack. and although this sometimes requires some sidestepping (mainly if the opponent is fighting from the side), it doesn't generally require as much agility as flat out dodging an attack.

[Mawa]

In my style, Ashihara Karate, we try to avoid straight lines! We don't wanna meet the opponent head-on, because then, logically, the strongest person will win the clash. Instead we wanna circle around him, to his side or back, where he has more difficult to hit you while you get's it easier to hit him.
If you go against him head-on, then it's a 50-50 situation. You both have your weapons against each other and that way you have the same possibilities. Through moving around him, you get more advantage while he gets less!

regards
- Marcus Wallén
Ashihara Karate Sabaki-Do
Sweden

[Knight_Errant]

Ideally you want to move up onto his blind side - the left part of his back, assuming he's an orthodox fighter and facing half towards you.

[cjw314]

Try slipping a jab or a cross by sliding your back foot over, and twisting your body round for starters. As this is a beginning level, just finish it off with a jab
and watch his little face light up :love:


I'm sorry, KE, but my brain (and body) is having a hard time picturing this; can you restate it plz?

I even tried it standing up and it seems the counter-jab would come from a very akward angle. . .

[YODA]

Ideally you want to move up onto his blind side - the left part of his back, assuming he's an orthodox fighter and facing half towards you.
Sounds feasible. As with any defence it's a mistake to do it too often - I can see you eating left hook if you do that once too often :D

[YODA]

I'm sorry, KE, but my brain (and body) is having a hard time picturing this; can you restate it plz?

I even tried it standing up and it seems the counter-jab would come from a very akward angle. . .
That's the idea!

[cjw314]

So I'm standing left foot forward, att swings right jab, I step back(right) foot to the left, TWIST my core/trunk around, like in prep for a spinning backfist?, or just dodge/lean around the punch to get @ 'the blind side'?

Anyone got 3DSMax / Poser loaded up? LOL. :)


I'm looking forward to using this next time I spar with the fellow whitey in my class. . . :grin:

[Knight_Errant]

Sounds feasible. As with any defence it's a mistake to do it too often - I can see you eating left hook if you do that once too often
Gotcha
So I'm standing left foot forward, att swings right jab, I step back(right) foot to the left, TWIST my core/trunk around, like in prep for a spinning backfist?, or just dodge/lean around the punch to get @ 'the blind side'?

Either will do. I think. corrections, yoda?

[YODA]

So I'm standing left foot forward, att swings right jab, I step back(right) foot to the left, TWIST my core/trunk around, like in prep for a spinning backfist?, or just dodge/lean around the punch to get @ 'the blind side'?

Anyone got 3DSMax / Poser loaded up? LOL. :)


I'm looking forward to using this next time I spar with the fellow whitey in my class. . . :grin:

If he's throwing a right jab then you are in mis-matched leads. That changes the whole scenario. In that case you want to step to the left with your lead (left) foot and throw your counter jab over his.

[cjw314]

If he's throwing a right jab then you are in mis-matched leads. That changes the whole scenario. In that case you want to step to the left with your lead (left) foot and throw your counter jab over his.


Duly noted - although that's not what I meant.

I'm thinkin KE 'made it click' for me;
I've tried it a few more times (in a room away from co-workers -yeah, im @ work on sat) - and it feels a little better. practice, practice. :)

:edit: and holy shizzle! I had never noticed yer post count until KE referred to you for correction - that's INSANE!!!! :/edit:

[animefreak88]

i'll agree its almost always better to move to catch the opponent's blind side, and i've gotten a little better at it, but i'm much better at coming in, which is why i currently prefer that option.

[Nrv4evr]

Joe Frazier utilized this very effectively, and it might work for anyone who likes to attack head on. Basically, you fly straight at your opponent, bobbing and weaving, up and down, while keeping your hands up. If you can catch your opponent by surprise, he will panic, and when he throws his punches, you can just weave through them. It's not great against kicks, but if you feel confident, it's a good method to throw off your opponent's game.

[Mawa]

Knight_Errant quote: ”Ideally you want to move up onto his blind side - the left part of his back, assuming he's an orthodox fighter and facing half towards you.”

Yeah, but not only the left side. Let’s say he does a right kick, then he’s right suddenly becomes the closest to me so then I move to that side. The quickest way to the blind spot is moving around the side that are closest to me.


YODA quote: ”Sounds feasible. As with any defence it's a mistake to do it too often - I can see you eating left hook if you do that once too often ”

That’s sure possible, but the idea is to block his attack first, then you move around him the short moment he has missed his attack. Or you move around him like a part of a combination or something. But you shouldn’t just do it from scratch – then you’ll end up eating left hooks!


Cjw314 quote: ”So I'm standing left foot forward, att swings right jab, I step back(right) foot to the left, TWIST my core/trunk around, like in prep for a spinning backfist?, or just dodge/lean around the punch to get @ 'the blind side'?”

Both are possible, as long as you find a blind spot. The idea is to block his attack and circle around that side (if he attacks with left you move around his left side), because that is the most simple way to place yourself behind him. From there you can ”chain-attack”, then he will have trouble!


Regards
- Marcus Wallén
Ashihara Karate Sabaki-Do
Sweden

[Rurounin]

It is the stupidity of competition!! All that is trainned is speed and strenght! The worst part is that most of the times, not even that is done well! A wonderfull example or round movements is Sensei Hitoshi Kasuya, head of WSKF!! He is a delightfull sight in Kumite!
But i believe the error begins in basic trainning, where Kihon is seen as linear, and Kihon ippon kumite is done the same way!!

So, if most people train since white belt this linearity, it would be a bit difficult to change!! Not impossible, but very difficult!

[Chruffin]

Yeah, I noticed that. Come to think of it, that's one of the major differences I've experienced between Wado Ryu and Shotokan. Wado Ryu does seem to train a lot more sideways movement while in Shotokan I've always been taught to drive forward in a linear way.

Of course I'm sure there's strengths in both approaches - I'm just a bit biased as I've been training in Wado Ryu for longer than Shotokan so I understand the systems and theories behind it better... :)

[CobraMaximus]

Because Im quite small tend to use sideway switch steps to quickly dodge. But otherwise yes, I have noticed most people career head on and can often leave good openings for those who use fast side steps

[Shisochin]

In Goju-Ryu we are taught to go straight in, diagnally and sideway. Not just linear. Sidestepping and attacking from the side is very effective. When i practised Shotokan, that was all head on, i have to admit. GoJu is different form most karate style IMHO.

[powerof0ne]

When I think about it when I was a shodan and below in shito ryu I mostly sparred/fought head on. I think what cured me of this was doing 2 years of Aikido. Many styles of karate(Enshin, Ashihara etc.) advocate "sabaki"/tai sabaki/blind spotting, etc. Good schools of Muay Thai advocate the same thing..just like anything doing these kind of tactics have there time and place. I for one am against bobbing and weaving in any type of competition that allows kicking and kneeing. I've seen too many people get ko'd bobbing and weaving when the opponent throws a body kick or a knee. If I was to ever enter boxing I would do poorly because I trained myself not to bob and weave. That's just my own philosophy..it doesn't mean that there are other fighters in the world that can't bob & weave effectively in muay thai and related competition.

[Cain]

I've seen too many people get ko'd bobbing and weaving when the opponent throws a body kick or a knee

Bobbing and Weaving wer'nt designed for that, more for avoiding blows to the face while still staying in range, trying to bob or weave when someone is throwing a kick towards your torso is'nt exactly something I would do ;)

|Cain|

[powerof0ne]

umm no kidding..it happens during combinations. When I've seen people bob and weave and get ko'd by a knee or a body kick it was because a combination was thrown. Most of the time in Muay Thai or any of these fights combinations are thrown usually starting with the hands. That's why people accustomed to bobbing and weaving get into a "boxing" mode and start to bob and weave. The person throwing the knee or body kick wasn't expecting there opponent to bob and weave right into it. I have a friend that was just defending his title a few mo nths back and made this mistake against someone he outclassed. This is just one of the many times I've seen someone bob and weave and pay for it in competition allowing knees and kicks.
So thanks for your powers of observation on telling me that's not what bobbing and weaving were made for; I can now sleep better at night knowing that.

[karate_fiend]

in my karate style we do a lot of slips covers ducks stone walls etc etc and things like that. and we do a lot of linear and side to side movements.

[Cain]

umm no kidding..it happens during combinations. When I've seen people bob and weave and get ko'd by a knee or a body kick it was because a combination was thrown. Most of the time in Muay Thai or any of these fights combinations are thrown usually starting with the hands. That's why people accustomed to bobbing and weaving get into a "boxing" mode and start to bob and weave. The person throwing the knee or body kick wasn't expecting there opponent to bob and weave right into it. I have a friend that was just defending his title a few mo nths back and made this mistake against someone he outclassed. This is just one of the many times I've seen someone bob and weave and pay for it in competition allowing knees and kicks.
So thanks for your powers of observation on telling me that's not what bobbing and weaving were made for; I can now sleep better at night knowing that.
It's ok, I misunderstood :D

|Cain|

[oddTKD]

Ugh...there's a black belt in my shotokan club who insists on trying to spar from a very deep front stance, and just sort of stumbles backwards if he can't block...it's kinda sad when a white belt can soundly and easily beat a black belt. Our instructor does teach us some sidestepping, but there's almost NO footwork.

granted, I'm a white belt with a BB in a different art and 8 years training...

[kickass]

is anyone here familiar with frame shifting? i'm not very informed on it but it seems useful for getting around your opponent.

[Mawa]

What is "frame shifting"?
(sorry, but my english isn't great....)

[kickass]

Frame Shifting (http://www.donrearic.com/SignalsKeating.html)

[samuri-man]

at my dojo we do both : block gouter and run away, get out of range or a good one called dei (dee-i) eg guya and guyb, guya attacks guyb instead of blocking moves in on guya and attackes aswell.

[Sankukai]

The style of karate I study (sankukai) places a lot of emphasis on movements into or away from an attack by (very) delayed steps away at an angle from the direction of attack.

Karateka in opposite stance - attack with right [in this instance]

Attacker steps in and punches to head,
Defender mustn't pre-empt attack, moves very late to his left at an angle to the attack and uses shuto to deflect incoming punch. (NB I don't say block as the move outside of the punch means that shuto takes little or no force to deflect the punch) Now the attacker is wide open for a variety of counters ;)
We also do a variation on this where both guys are in same stance, but this time the defender moves forward and inside (rather than outside) the punch and simply punches to attackers head with lead hand.

Cheers
S

[Nanbudo]

In the style which i practice which comes under Karate-do as its not strictly Karate but has some of its origins in karate we always move/escape to the side.

This is drilled into students from when the 1st step into the dojo.

Our competition system of combat is also different from most other styles in that points can only be scored from defending. emphasising the defensive aspects of the martial art.
While in competition there are only 3 forms of attack tsuki, maigeri and mawahigeri there are over 200 defences available against these attacks. In the competition each person attacks the other 7 times using the above attacks meaning each defends 7 times allowing them to score pointsby defending. to make things more understandable if the attacker does not attack with conviction then they can be peanalised.

Again we always move to the side, as its far easier, quicker and offers more security.
After all if you are standing on the road and a bus is coming you move to the side and out the way you do not move back and block.

Just my thoughts
stuart

[Sankukai]

Hey Stuart !!
Scott

[Nanbudo]

Hi Scott

How are things?

Stuart

[Sankukai]

Eeeessh....not great. Had this cr@ppy flu/cold thing for the last week so haven't been able to train and with a grading coming up am not in the best of spirits ! Still...no use complaining - might train Saturday & grade on the Sunday this week see how I'm feeling ?! How things yerself ?

Cheers
S

[Nanbudo]

I am fine Scott

Have been doing some dreaded night shift this week so my body clock is all to pot, other than that I cant complain.

Good luck with your grading.

Ossu
Stuart

[Sankukai]

I am fine Scott

Have been doing some dreaded night shift this week so my body clock is all to pot, other than that I cant complain.Urk...bummer.

Good luck with your grading.
Ossu
Stuart
Thanks Stuart.
Cheers
S

[RobA]

hehe this is my downfall in class...
My sensei is constantly telling me, "move your target"
mostly when we do the alley..
the alley for those that don't know is this
the class lines up in two parallel lines and each student
takes a turn walking down the center from one end
to the other.. as the student passes you can either
punch, kick or stand there...

I have a tendency to go head on with my blocks , rather than moving
off to one side or the other ( moving my target ).. I am working to improve
this and like all things just takes practice

[karate princess]

we get taught sometimes to step to the side and roundhouse kick or hook kick, or step to the side to get out of the way.

[prowla]

we get taught sometimes to step to the side and roundhouse kick or hook kick, or step to the side to get out of the way.We do a lot of tai-sabaki!
Goyon Kumite and the one-steps...
Were you there on the course when sensei Perry spoke about shopping in Richmond?

[karate princess]

Were you there on the course when sensei Perry spoke about shopping in Richmond?

lol, nope, only the adults and people dan grading were, but im sure it was quite intresting

[prowla]

lol, nope, only the adults and people dan grading were, but im sure it was quite intrestingBasically he said that tai sabaki is just like when you're out shopping, and you're going to bump into somebody, so you both just step off line to avoid each other, and then carry on. (The point was that it doesn't have to be a huge exaggerated leap sideways.)

[karate princess]

Basically he said that tai sabaki is just like when you're out shopping, and you're going to bump into somebody, so you both just step off line to avoid each other, and then carry on. (The point was that it doesn't have to be a huge exaggerated leap sideways.)
hmmm.... makes sense though

[TheCount]

Has anyone else noticed the distinct lack of sideways avoidances in competition karate?

Everyone seems to want to block straight on and attack linearly head on.

Any comments?

Colin

At least when I fought, you had a box only about 10ftx10ft or tehreabouts, proper sidewalks movement is rather tricky when you have so little area to move to

[Sam]

Basically he said that tai sabaki is just like when you're out shopping, and you're going to bump into somebody, so you both just step off line to avoid each other, and then carry on. (The point was that it doesn't have to be a huge exaggerated leap sideways.)

Think I read somewhere that one of funakoshis favouriute past times was to go to the corwded high street and use tai sabaki to avoid the crowd.

I say sod that if they don't move they get walked into!!!! Ignorant so and so's :rolleyes:

[Moosey]

:D that wacky Funakoshi!

He's such a cheeky chappy!

[sonny boy]

i agree that there is hardly any use being used in moving to the side i personally like to move to the side quickly with a long stride and go for a strike to the head or anywhere leggaly open on the side it works for me 80% of the time. sonny