Can you rise and fall at the same time?

Photo courtesy of ISAFMedia

One of the strangest phenomena in aikido (and judo and karate, etc...) is the motion of the Center of Gravity (COG) of the body as we move around.  Consider this example...

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From a natural, upright, relaxed posture (shizentai), take one sliding step (tsugiashi) forward a couple of feet with the left leg, then bring the right leg up under your center.  During the first part of this step, as your left leg is moving, is your center of gravity rising or falling?

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Falling, right?  Sort of...  But it's also rising at the same time!  How can your center of gravity be both falling and rising at the same time?

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As you take the first part of that step, your center of mass (approximated by the knot of your belt) gets closer to the ground.  voila - your center is falling!

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But as you separate your legs to take the step, your knees and the bottoms of your feet get closer to the top of your head.  This means the mass of your legs is moving upward, floating your center of gravity along with it.  Your center is no longer approximately under your belt knot - it has risen some.  Voila - your center is rising!

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Rising and falling at the same time!  Now that's odd!  But what does it mean in a practical sense?

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Patrick Parker is a Christian, husband, father, martial arts teacher, Program Director for a Cardiac Rehab, and a Ph.D. Contact: mokurendojo@gmail.com or phone 601.248.7282 木蓮

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