Nine Moving Forces

[Jonathan Forrester]

Undou Chikara comprises the basis for all martial arts training. It originates from the Chinese arts which included Tai Chi, Pa Kua and Hsing Yi. Some martial arts only teach some of the moving forces making them incomplete arts.

Okinawan Te originally included all of the Nine Moving Forces of Karate. However, when Karate was introduced into the Japanese school system, some of the more deadly aspects of the art were removed to make it safer to teach to those who might misuse it.

In some cases, teachers have totally forgotten and/or purposely ignored teaching some of the moving forces involved in proper Karate-do training. In other cases, these forces have been presented as “Secrets of Karate” by unscrupulous teachers.

This provides an overview of the moving forces so that you have a better understanding of why they are important in your training.

• Breath Control (Kokyuu-waza) —This includes the timing of the breath (inhale and exhale) and the technique, to develop greater internal energy.
• Absorbing and controlling pain or punishment (Kote Aite) — This is also known as “Iron Shirt Training” and includes conditioning the body to be able to receive a blow.
• Applied Pressure (Appaku-waza) —This includes the study of the five systems of the human body:
  • Skeletal System
  • Central Nervous System
  • Muscular System
  • Circulatory System
  • Respiratory System
  Study of these systems will increase your ability to inflict pain on an opponent by targeting of specific points of weakness on the body.
  
• Striking vulnerable and paralyzing areas (Atemi-waza) — This includes the study of Chinese Meridian Theory, and Pressure Points (Kyusho-jitsu) to better understand the more vulnerable areas of the human body. This is an advanced study which may take many years to completely understand.
• Joint Bending (Kansetsu-waza) — Joint bending targets the study of the skeletal and muscular systems by bending, locking and twisting specific areas of the human body to increase the pain you can inflict on your opponent for efficient control.
• Choking and Rendering Unconscious (Shime-waza) — This includes the study of both the respiratory and circulatory systems of the body to be able to inflict unconsciousness on your opponent to render them non-threatening.
• Throwing and Sweeping (Nage-waza / Ashi-Barai) — This includes the study of how to unbalance an opponent and use their weight and momentum against them to throw them to the ground or unbalance them to the point where they lose their balance and fall on their own. Sweeping involves lifting or pulling kicks to ankles and the fold of the knee.
• Holding and Grappling (Katame-waza, Osae-komi-waza, Ne-waza) — This includes a study of controlling an opponent by holding, pinning and ground techniques for in-close and ground fighting. This also includes the concept of marriage with all holds.
• Counters to all of the Above (Kaesu) — This includes the study of all of the above techniques and how to effectively negate them so that they cannot be used on you. It can also be used to turn a technique against someone else utilizing a counter technique.

So the question (required for all discussions) - Which of the Nine Moving Forces does your school not teach. I had originally posted this in a Shuri-Ryu discussion but wanted to open it up to others on the site as well.

[Berserk]

By the way, my 'school' never taught me a lot. I learned and practiced breathing techniques, joint bending and manipulation, conditioning etc., on my own.

YouTube rocks!

[James M. Gray]

Berserk

What I learned in Kung Fu is what has carried me through. The school I am at now I haven't learned any new kicks, punches, grabs or blocks. All I have learned is his Forms. I read a lot of books and watch a lot of DVD. I really love to train with Troy Price didn't get to go Saturday was sick or I would have trained with him. Will train with him on December 12, 2009.

[Berserk]

Feel better soon.

I just remembered, I have this awesome book on Human Anatomy and pressure points. Will read it more often. It was recommended by Jonathan.

[James M. Gray]

Berserk

You brought up breathing do you do reverse breathing? I asked Troy about it and he said he use to and would probable start back. He took up with me at the training. In his spare time he would single me out and we had some good talks. I even asked him about Bart and Jonathan.

[Berserk]

What is reverse breathing? Sorry for being a noob.

I just hold my breath and tighten my core, to absorb an incoming strike. I don't 'move back', with the strike. I kind of push towards it; so, the attacker often becomes off balance. Newton's third law - for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction. :)

[larry nicholson]

Ohayo Gozaimasu, Sensei Forrester.

I am very blessed to come from a school that, has instilled these teachings,in my Martial Training. I do believe, that all 9 forces, discussed, are in Kata. Even Katame waza. Which I think maybe harder to see, But the applications are there.

[James M. Gray]

Beserk

Everything that I do I want it to be natural (become second nature). In reverse breathing you plactice everwhere you are at. When we breath, we take in air and the abdoman expands. Now think in reverse air comes in and the abdoman comes in, air goes out and the abdoman expands. I had about a 250 lb, 20 year old kid who got upset because I put a broom handle around his chest and held with both hands our and he couldn't get out. Then it was his time he got the broom handle put it around me and I heard him get a belly full of air I got the broom handle on both sides and arched my back in and pushed and arched my back out at the same time. He hit the floor gasping for breath.

Now reverse breathing try it and hit yourself in the stomach in or out it don't hurt as bad as having a belly full of air.

There is more to reverse breathing I think it is on my Kung Fu teachers website www.chionline.com

[Berserk]

Thank you, Sir. That's some great info!

Will practice.

[James M. Gray]

Berserk

You are welcome and the thing on Iron horse stance is a good time to practice reverse breathing.