Tachiwaza principles or heuristics

Proudly stolen from Nick Lowry - stuff to work on in standing judo - I love lists of hints like this...

• Be offensively oriented
• Every time a foot moves you have a chance
• Get religious with the line conditions: on, down and ,across the line
• Point your foot in the direction of the throw
• Keep weight on the ball of the foot, knees slightly bent—cat like
• Keep posture upright (don’t get sucked into jigotai) 
• Grip with little fingers-loose upper fingers
• Grip lapel at shoulder level
• Grip sleeve with wrist down and elbow in 
• Turning causes two pulls- elbow up and elbow in
• Elbow in is locked to your ribs using the pecs and lats
• Eyes at the heart/chest
• Never block for defense, always counter with movement-- dance out
• Work with graduated resistance
• For sweeps and reaps: point the toe and flex from the knee-not upperleg
• At the intermediate stage work all ashiwaza from progressively smaller steps
• Hip throws are crack of the butt on the lead thigh (posture may distort to accomadate) 
• Fulcrum of hip throw is the HIP
• Shoulder throws , fulcrum is shoulder—posture stays straight
• At the intermediate stage, work all big throws from all stepping conditions
• Hands stay light –dont hang weight on the grip
• Hands always support foot actions
• Stay in step (mostly)
• Work with continuous movement
• Throw on the move – dont stop the center to throw
• Work for kuzushi on the step
• In beginning stage-- lots of nagekomi (no resistance --trading throws) 
• Intermediate to advanced stage –renraku waza -- esp. footsweep to control drill including allashiwaza on both sides 
• Advanced and for competitors: stugeiko and renzoku (consistant consecuative attack against conditions of resistance within prescribed rules)

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Patrick Parker
www.mokurendojo.com