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| Speed work: Sanbon renzuki in shizentai - hachiji dachi. |
This article will briefly
outline why I believe that the Shizentai (natural position), in particular
Hachiji dachi, is the most important stance in Karate-Do.
Please excuse the `name dropping’ but
I’d like begin by quoting the founder of the Japan Karate Association, Funakoshi
Gichin Sensei, whom emphasized that “…the various forms of shizentai are for
the advanced practitioner”; moreover, that “natural tachikata (stances) are
most basic and most advanced positions in karate-do”. There are two key aspects
underpinning this reasoning: firstly, that self-defence will inevitably be from
a natural position; and secondly, ‘generating maximum power from a natural
position is more difficult’—as it is more internalised (than, say, from a
zenkutsu-dachi, kiba-dachi, fudo-dachi and the like).
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| Hachiji-dachi from the rear (please note my right foot before looking at the next two photos) |
Based on
this rationale, “…irrespective of what tachikata you make or utilize, you must
replicate what is done and achieved in hachiji-dachi (and, indeed, other forms
of shizentai i.e. - heisoku-dachi, heiko-dachi, renoji-dachi, etcetera)”. In
particular, this relates to maintaining one’s shisei (posture); and awareness
and smooth/level application koshi no kaiten (rotation of the hips), tai no
shinshuku (contraction and expansion/stretching of the body)—again, this
strongly relates back to sustaining one’s shisei; and the use of the seika
tanden. Needless to say, this foundational point can be applied to all other
aspects of kihon; furthermore, kata and kumite. In other words, the relationship
between the actions in the most natural position(s) and the unique tachikata, featured
in karatedo, highlights a universal concept
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| Note the right foot from the previous photo. |
in budo (martial arts).
To expand on
this, let’s consider the most common ‘kamae’ in Shotokan style karate-do (which
un-coincidentally is performed in hachiji dachi). It is the `ryoken daitai mae’
position. Ryoken daitai mae is performed before and after completing kihon,
kata, and before and after the various forms of kumite. However, this kamae is
not simply performed in hachiji-dachi; rather, it moves from musubi-dachi
through heiko-dachi (interestingly, passing through its Okinawan roots) and
finally into hachiji-dachi “…with the fists moving into their final position in
perfect coordination with the feet pivoting outward”. Within this rudimentary
action includes the critical aspects of `te-ashi onaji’ (same timing of the
hands and feet) and `kakato-chushin’ (heel centreline), both of which the traditional
karateka will need to address throughout their karate journey.
Before I
wrap up I’d like to also reference hachiji-dachi in relation to the initial
movements of the Heian kata and Kanku-Dai (where the karateka must move
leftward for the first ukewaza). Consequently, this provides a fundamental
means for fostering kakato-chushin. This is because in order to form one’s
tachikata correctly the right foot of hachiji-dachi needs to be turned to the
correct angle to form a proper stance. The most blatantly obvious example is
when one makes kokutsu-dachi (i.e. – movement one of Heian Nidan, Sandan,
Yondan and Godan; and movement three of Kanku Dai), as the rear foot ideally
points 90 degrees; hence, the front and rear leg form a perfect right angle. Needless
to say, if the right foot remains in the hachiji-dachi position, it will be
incorrectly pointing rearward, and “…a weak/unstable and distorted,
`shiko-dachi-like’ stance will be formed”. So again, we can see how
hachiji-dachi teaches the karateka to move their feet correctly.
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| Movement 1 of Heian Shodan requires a larger action. |
Lastly, I
can’t help but mention that Hachiji-dachi gets its name from the positions of
the feet, which perfectly form the kanji for `hachi’ (eight). Of course, the
number eight is very important in Budo as, amongst other things, it relates to
happo (the `eight directions’) used in combat. While this is symbolic, it still
has meaning, especially when we think back to the aspects of self-defence
mentioned earlier; that is, “…in response to an assault, moving in any of the
eight directions in a natural state”.
In sum, hachiji-dachi
is extremely important as it tells us
a lot about our positioning, coordination and centring, amongst other things.
Likewise, ryoken daitai mae expands on this by forcing us to address basic
timing/hand-foot coordination. Next time you hear the command `yoi’ in your
practice; are training choku-zuki; or doing anything else in hachiji-dachi,
just remember that you are ‘simultaneously training both the beginning and end
of Karate-Do technique.
Osu, André.
© André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto.
Japan (2015).
