Here's a little aspect of Tegatana that Bridge brought up this evening. We rarely talk much about it but tonite we explored it in detail. - the number of steps it takes to turn a certain degree is dependent upon your hip and knee flexibility - and most everyone has the same amount of slack in their lower extremities. For instance...
- It takes 2 foot motions or weight shifts to move anywhere within about 135 degrees of where you are facing. We practice this in the first four pushing motions in Tegatana and in the hip switch.
- It takes 3 motions or weight shifts to move farther than about 135 degrees - as in turning to face backward (180 degrees). We practice this in all the turning motions of tegatana as well as the motions of Hanasu (it takes 3 steps to turn around and start walking the direction uke is attacking).
You don't want to blur through these steps. You want the things that take 2 steps to actually take 2 steps and you want the things that take 3 steps to take 3 steps. You learn from every repetition this way.
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Count the number of steps that you are taking on each movement and watch carefully for extra weight shifts or steps. A little shift here or there might seem insignificant, but consider it this way, if it should take you 2 steps to make a move and it takes you 3 then you are 50% less efficient or 50% slower! If it is taking you 4 steps to do a 2 step move then you have the potential to be twice as fast as you are now!
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Patrick Parker, is a Christian, husband, father, judo and aikido teacher, Program Director for a Cardiac Rehab, and a Ph.D. Contact: mokurendojo@gmail.com or phone 601.248.7282
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