your heart.
Opening up your heart and breathing into your core will eliminate your stress.
An assertive posture can be attained by learning how to manage your body.
Kiai—snarling, releasing inner energy out loud
Kiai is a shouting out of words within you and expressing your feelings.
When you kiai, you should lean forward mentally and physically.
Kiai should be short and sharp so it penetrates the other’s heart.
The sound also works as lowering the blood pressure of the person who listens to it and it can partially deaden the other’s senses. Good kiai can blow out your thoughts and doubts. It can beat up your opponent with willpower. The low frequency of sound—3.5 cycles per second—can also kill a person.
Before you kiai, you should capture the opponent’s figure, like a lion aiming its prey, and be prepared to take everything from him.
It is best if a kiai can take out the opponent’s energy with your opponent. Kiai can work like hypnotism.
Kiai has a magical power to diminish and purify the bad ghosts. You should learn how to pull this power out of your body.
Footwork
Use footwork to disrupt your opponent’s timing and focus. Footwork consists of offense and defense. It is necessary to gain momentum by movement.
If you wish to wait for the chance to counter attack against an opponent who is stronger than you, you should keep moving around the opponent until you confuse him.
Start attacking once you see a change. As soon as your first attack, take back where you can’t be reached. Your footwork should be continuous and fast.
If you want to wait for the other to attack you, take rhythms with your footwork and try to counter. Concentrate.
Favorite Technique
Everyone has his favorite way of attack; one who likes to trick, one who attacks first, one who waits for the turn, one who likes to jump, one who likes to throw, one who likes to let go. People all have favorite ways of attacking.
Sense the other’s favorite. Let him attack in the way he likes. If you know his favorite, you can counter him.
The Way to See How Skillful Your Opponent is
Anyone who deals with waza needs to be bold. Once you get the opportunity, pat your opponent’s arms or legs. If she/he can softly ward you off, you can assume she/he could be a good competitor.
Small Waza, Big Waza
When you deal with waza, you should straighten your back, elbows and knees.
One who has a small body tends to rely on small waza, and one who has a big body tends to rely on big waza. Therefore, one who has a small body should try to develop big waza; one who has a big body should try to develop small waza. Keep a good balance of your waza.
THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF ARMS
Mental Practice
There are two kinds of practice—physical practice and mental practice. During practice, if your arms tighten up, your waza will be small. If your back gets round, your arms tighten up.
If you can keep a straight posture, your arms can be relaxed and free. Your arms can be straight and your waza can travel fast. Waza can be more alive by straightening your posture.
Footwork
Taking too big a step or too small a step, you can be easily knocked down by sweeping.
Choose footwork that can go well with your waza. Your footwork should be stable so your weight stays down. Your powerhouse interacts well with good footwork.
Three Basics about waza
There are three ways to set off your waza.
1. Kuzushi (Breaking Down)—Break down the opponent’s posture and make room for your attack.
2. Tsukuri (Building Up)—Plunge your opponent further into an unstable situation.
3. Kake (Setting)—set your waza to your opponent.
Take your opponent off guard by breaking him down. Take the lead in the fight. Finally, set your waza and beat him.
When you set waza use your willpower and momentum while you stay relaxed mentally. Try the opposite of what the opponent thinks. Always aim opposite. By taking the lead, you can force the opponent to your pace. Beginners, take the first turn and attack positively.
The Basics of Heart and Mental Power
1. Kokoro (heart)—From the quiet moment, aim the opponent off guard. Concentrate and do not miss unguarded moments.
2. Ki (Inner Energy)—The momentum of inner energy.
3. Chikara (Power)—Power and the strength of your waza.
Four Rules about Waza
1. Do not be alarmed or afraid of your opponent’s waza. When you are afraid of your opponent’s waza, you can’t attack normally. If you are lost, you will be unguarded.
2. Do not be unsure. When you are unsure, you will be reckless. Recklessness will slow your body movement. It further allows your opponent to sense your hastiness and gives him a chance to attack first.
3. Do not doubt your waza. Whatever your waza is, go with a positive mind. Be very forward.
4. Do not back off. Backing off mentally and being defensive will give your opponent a chance to attack. You will also lose your chance to attack back. Pep yourself up with kiai and heighten your energy.
Positive Defense
The most sophisticated defense prevents the opponent’s offense beforehand and doesn’t let him touch you. It is a very positive way of handling the fight. You are always ready to attack back.
There is the saying “offense is the greatest defense.” The real defense comes from identification of offense and defense.
The Objective of Training with a Partner (Kumite)
The object of kumite is to train you to find the opponent’s unguarded moments. A calm state of mind is necessary. You can find your way to survive when you reach the point beyond life.
Let go of the opponent’s impact like water. Once you shift to offense from defense, your offence must have great momentum like a storm. In order to accomplish ideal kumite, you need to know the breathing of offense and defense, the truth of negative and positive. That will lead you to the unconditional kumite.
When you train by yourself, think of yourself confronted by multiple opponents. When you train with others, think of a situation where you confront all of them by yourself.
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