![]() ![]() (See Chapter -: Evolution is not revolution!) Scientific studies have shown this to be so and it is surely a no brainer anyway!. A little often (30 minutes for example) will in the long term create greater gains than a lot (2 hours for example) infrequently. it is essential that they are practised repeatedly and regularly to obtain maximum gains. Or, they are genuinely being studied diligently in one of those sadly rare Shotokan Clubs that has decided to return to a study of shotokan as a more true to origin martial art.Īs with all techniques and concepts etc. Or, they are being practised but either far too infrequently to be of any value (lip service practice so instructors can state "of course we practice X, Y or Z!)". It is my belief, as with other aspects of shotokan Karate, Taisabaki is amongst those aspects of Shotokan Karate that has either been woefully neglected, often due to the pursuit of a pre-set Grading Syllabus or an overly studied 'Competition techniques are Karate' agenda. Repeatedly and regularly – what does that really mean? I would argue that spending a two hour session repeatedly practising Tai Sabaki will be wasted if it is six months before you give it any further study time. Please take a moment to consider that advice. This is an acquired skill and like such skills it requires detailed analysis and understanding to be fruitfully deployed.Īs in all aspects of your karate your Taisabaki should be practised repeatedly, and regularly enough, until it becomes an efficient trained reflex and involves no unnecessary or wasted movements. This is not a small point and the best possible aim in Tai sabaki is to move/shift your body just enough to gain a position that is advantageous to you and creates a disadvantage for your opponent - this must remain the uppermost aim. (Please see Chapter: Five Stages of Technique)Īlthough Taisabaki is usually translated as 'evasion/s’ or 'body shifting' it is important to understand that the root word sabaki has within its intent the concept of 'just enough' or 'optimum utilization'. I would suggest that, as with many aspects of Shotokan Karate, Taisabaki is more fully mastered as a skill if it is firstly studied in its component parts and then applied as a whole package when the required proficiencies and understandings are achieved. I fully accept that many will know of Taisabaki in a general sense but I feel that this knowledge could be significantly expanded if Karateka made themselves more familiar with the nuts and bolts of Taisabaki in order to ensure it becomes a structured and goal orientated process rather than merely thought of as ‘moving your body out of the way’. In fairness it is accepted that the finer details and essential components of Taisabaki are not only complex but also require detailed study if proficiency is to be gained. ![]() Taisabaki is one such aspect of Shotokan karate that is often given lip service but is, in some Dojo, insufficiently studied to be at its most potent. (See Chapter: Terminology - Old and New/Ours and Theirs! And Chapter: Go explore and discover that - We have it too!) and once understood and familiar to you I am sure you will agree. However, this does not in anyway mean that Shotokan Karate does not have these concepts etc. In other MA’s the importance of such strategic or tactical concepts is given more overt importance and set exercises have been and still are derived to help students understand and become proficient in these areas. TAI SABAKI DEMONSTRATION FULLIt is my opinion that a wider scope of tactics and strategies are part of the Shotokan arsenal but they are often either unknown, woefully disregarded or simply not understood well enough to glean the full potential from them. (Please see Chapter: Be proficient or pass a grading?) However, when studied fully it is far from being so but to be fair - one has to accept the criticism if we look at the commonly used versions of the Kyu and Dan Grading Syllabus and the up and down the room Kihon and Kumite training drills that are a major part of the training at many Shotokan Dojo. ![]() I have sadly oft heard the observation 'Shotokan only goes forward and backward – it is as if you are on tramlines'. It is a long, but sadly widely, held misconception that Shotokan Karate is very linear in it’s application. ![]()
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