Thursday 17 July 2014

More on "Shiboru"

In Monday's class, Aragaki Kancho, the head of the dojo, taught us how to execute the mawashi uke block used, for example, at the end of the kata Gekisai Dai Ni.  One part of it consists of a kake uke, or "hooking block," where the hooking arm is then twisted by rotating the forearm and pulling the elbow down into the side of the body. Aragaki Kancho said that the correct term in karate is "shiboru" or "wringing" - as in wringing out a wet cloth or towel.  The pectoralis major muscles are tensed at all times, as, of course, is the tanden. The block is executed while "dropping" into nekoashidachi, so the pulling or throwing down of one's opponent uses the entire weight of the body and not just the arms.


This is definitely an oral tradition!

No comments:

Post a Comment