Unsoku Undo

This series of basic foot movements seem simple, but done with purpose it contains the foundation of Tomiki Aikido movement.

Being extremely mobile, avoiding and blending with the oncoming energy of an attack is a fundamental skill of Aikido. It is imperative that the Aikidoka move his or her feet aggressively, in order to maintain proper balance, distance and position. The feet are moved with tsukii-ashi, or sliding steps. The feet always remain in contact with the floor, so as to retain good solid balance. 

The foot movements make up the first portion of what is commonly referred to as the walking kata. There are 3 sets of foot movements: front-to-back, side-to-side, and the four corners. Each set of eight movements is repeated twice.

Set 1:  Shomen Ashi - forward step
Set 2:  Waki Ashi - side to side step
Set 3:  Tenkan Ashi - step feet

Video Published on Oct 25, 2014 取:小中淳二, 監修:佐藤忠之. Tori:Junji Konaka, Supervised by Tadayuki Sato
Produced by JAA, Educational Div., Committee on Instruction (JAA教育局指導委員会作成)

The basic principles underlying this practice are ‘mushin mugamae’ (no-mind; relaxed posture) and ‘ido ryoku’(locomotive power) : being in a relaxed but ready physical and mental state and being able to move freely and powerfully.

Unsoku allows us to develop understanding of and use these principles.  Be where you are, not in front of the count, not behind the count but anticipating the count.  As soon as you hear the count, you move; then you stop.  When you hear the next count, you move; then you stop, etc,.  Simple but very difficult.  Each count is an isolated event; you are not bouncing through a set of eight moves times in three directions; you are practising 24 separate moves, put together for the sake of learning and preparation for Randori. 

Video Published Apr 9, 2020
Demonstration by hombu instructor Joe Adams and explanation by Shihan Tetsuro Naruyama.
昭道館合気道における基本動作の一つである「運足法」。移動力を学ぶための基本となる稽古法です。本部指導員ジョーアダムス先生による実演と成山哲郎師範の講習会での解説。

 

Tandoku Undo*

Hand Movements

Unsoku Dosa

It's not just calisthenics