The Study of Kuzushi.

**TonyU** · 12-16-2007, 17:40

One of my karate brother sent me this link of an article on kuzushi written by Neil Ohlenkamp
Good article imo.
Enjoy.

Article

**Jeff C.** · 12-16-2007, 19:16

Great article! Thanks, Tony.

Jeff Cook

**Abbax8** · 12-17-2007, 06:39

Great article.

One of the interesting things about judo is that as throws become more advanced the chance of uke stopping the throw becomes less, if tori is sufficiently skilled.

Take the Ankle Prop throw, Sasae-tsuri-Komi-Ashi (actually Lifting Pulling Foot). Basically in this throw tori catches uke stepping forward, blocks the step and pulls forward. It is timing that makes it work, but uke must step forward. Uke can stop the throw by placing weight on his propped foot.

Contrast that with Harai-Tssurikomi-Ashi - Sweeping Lift Pull Throw - here tori needs to move in close, bring uke on their toes, then sweep. Tori is standing close on one foot, bending backwards while throwing. The mechanics of the throw are much more complicated, however, once tori is in place, the throw is on. Also this throw has many opportunities, uke can be moving forward or back or even on an angle. If uke is moving sideways the throw becomes Okuri-Ashi-Harai.

In all cases, kuzushi makes the throw work, the better the kuzushi, the more effortless the throw.

Peace

Dennis

**wildwills** · 12-17-2007, 07:08

That is a good article. Now if I can just get my body to comply with what my brain wants it to do....I won't have to "muscle" my uke as much for effective kuzushi...

**Jeff C.** · 12-17-2007, 11:15

I strongly feel that the hand technique uki otoshi is one of the ultimate expressions of kuzushi, if done effortlessly. I find myself working that throw to the point where it is becoming a "go-to" throw for me. Since I am getting better at it, I see improvement in my other throws too, and in my sensitity not only for offense but defense as well. It has also made me realize just how far I have to go.

Jeff Cook

**wildwills** · 12-17-2007, 13:19

Originally Posted by Jeff C.

It has also made me realize just how far I have to go.

Jeff Cook

Haha....I fell that way every Tuesday and Thursday when I'm paired up with this one gal is about 3 inches taller than me and outweighs me by about 100 lbs. Sensei Yoshida keeps yelling at me to remember effective kuzushi. I must be giving him a look like, "yeah, right!", cause he keeps repeating it to me.