Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei always greatly stressed these two aspects to me; furthermore, that they influence each other. Consequently, they are of great importance in the IKS (International Karatedo Shotokan).
While I could cover any number of karate-waza, 前蹴り蹴上げ (Mae-geri keage) vividly highlights the harmony between one’s ‘shisei’ and ‘junansei’. This is simply because the posture is very easy to analyze.
Before that I’d like to, in layman’s terms, establish what is meant by 'Shisei' (Posture) and 'Junansei' (Softness/Flexibility).
姿勢 (SHISEI)
The baseline or reference point for all postures in Karate-Dō is the vertical and horizontal alignment of: (1) the pelvis/hips; (2) back; and (3) head/neck. Please note, this is imperative in ‘foundational karate’; however, as insinuated before, is merely the main point of reference, which means deviations are natural and critical for the optimal instinctive responses in self-defense.
柔軟性 (JUNANSEI)
This is being in a state of muscular relaxation, to remain flexible, light, speedy and adaptable. In particular, this requires avoiding conscious use of the muscles and, instead, primarily focusing on using the joints (thereby, only utilizing the muscles required to make any given movement). This requires that one maximally employs 締め (Shime) to make "...the loading of techniques as compact as possible".
So, how do these two aspects harmonize or, for that matter, negativity influence each other? This was well investigated by Nakayama Masatoshi Sensei and expanded on by mentor, Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei.
Let’s return to Mae-geri keage as a case study.
The usual stationary practice in classical Shōtōkan-Ryu is to stand in heisoku-dachi and zenkutsu-dachi (both with gedan kakiwake-gamae).
However, today please consider standing in renoji-dachi, but still with with gedan kakiwake-gamae.
Firstly, Try a ‘strong kick’ from this position with the rear leg. The application of conscious muscular force will firstly result in a comparatively slow and stiff kick, also a shorter kicking action. But that’s not all.
It is also weaker, more telegraphed, less smooth, and here’s the one: disrupts your posture.
Next, try to concentrate on maintaining perfect posture. Play special attention to face/head/neck not moving. As the picture shows this is not easy, when the kick is executed at high speed, and especially when fatigue sets in: after many repetitions.
Raise the kicking knee as high and tightly as possible, and lightly/speedily whip the leg out, back and back to the floor.
If you: (a) remain deeply relaxed; (b) have kakato-chushin with your weight on the heel of the sasae-ashi; and (c), your posture is not influenced, your kick will be very effective, as it will be faster, smoother, more flexible, be more adaptable, have more impact, have a bigger scale, be 100% harder to be read by your opponent, and will not waste energy.
What’s interesting about this, if you concentrate on relaxation and just keeping your face set, you will immediately feel the connection. It’s as if facia also comes into play.
Conclusive remarks
High level budo karate preserves 古流武術技 (koryu bujutsu-waza)—old school bujutsu techniques. This is underpinned by harmoniously utilizing “…softness, natural energy and postural awareness” to generate explosive impact power.
Asai Sensei always taught me, this is like the Chinese seven jointed, the nunchaku and his favorite weapon, the kusarigama.
Brute muscular force is therefore not only inferior and unsophisticated, but also a barrier stopping high-level development.
I’d like to briefly mention about the 'psychology of precise posture and being in a state of relaxation'. It also greatly increases one's situational awareness and, therefore, 'reactivity'. Thus, muscular tension not only results in a physical fight against oneself, but it also results in the mental state of what is loosely termed ‘tunnel vision’.
To conclude, as we get older ‘hard karate’ is not only bad for the body, but also unsustainable for on-going improvement. In fact, it will result in regression. However, even for young people in their physical prime, ‘hard karate’ will greatly limit their skill development. This is because the term ‘hard karate’ is misleading. The real term for hard karate is actually ‘incorrect karate’.
We must keep in mind Newton’s Second Law…
F = ma (Force = mass x acceleration)
押忍！
André
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© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2026).
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