Texte de Avi Rokah Sensei
Voici la première partie d’un texte que Rokah Sensei a écrit pour distribuer au camp ITKF à San Diego. Il s’agit des concepts fondamentaux pour délivrer un coup fatal en karaté. Demain je vous livrerai la deuxième partie du texte. Désolé que ce soit en anglais seulement, nous pourrons traduire ce soir. Bonne lecture…
Fundamental requirements for maximizing impact
Posture
Allows for optimal and balance function of all muscles, especially core muscles. Allow for smooth, least effort in body dynamics, and for power transmission from ground reaction to torso and to technique.
Intention and breath at Tandem
Picture, imagination of line of energy from body center, allows for reaction and action to initiate from center, and for the rest of the body to cooperate to one direction (accompany movement) Lower abdominal breath allows us to activate the action in proper muscle recruitment sequence.
Arms and legs potentially to center
This means connection of body center to elbows and legs, so any body action, or muscle action can express and transfer fully to technique. The arms connection to the body through the inner muscles, through the back rather than shoulders. Legs squeeze to each other and suspended.
Action from feet, breathing from feet
Any action starts as reaction from external force, otherwise no matter how strong the body center of mass cannot increase energy. (understand principles of stance)
Sacrum as action center
The center of gravity is between S1, 2, which is approximately 3 fingers under the belly button toward the spine. Action initiates from small diameter of the spine, the rest of the body will follow in a ripple effect. (Accompany movement.)
Each joint as optimal, stable axis (action center) for transmission of power
Such as knee does not move during rotation in front stance, such as optimal movement at the shoulder, not moving the shoulder itself. (Sensei Nishiyama used to say “don’t use shoulder” but what he meant is use the shoulder optimally, not in access)
Sequence, timing of technique.
The movement at each body segment has to be maximized before transfer to next segment, from feet through legs to body center, to upper torso to elbow to top technique. Or in the case of kick from body center to knee to contact area. Sensei Nishiyama used to say simply: “body action first than technique”. Proper sequence is important not only for the sake of maximizing power but also for avoiding compensation throughout the kinetic chain and injuries.
