Kaze Uta Budo Kai Forum Archive

Since we have put foot sweeps into the system, it seems that they are not like the foot sweeps in the Karate Kid. It seems more like we are trying to hold thier foot so they can not take the step that would keep them on balance. In doing so, it seems that there is a point where Uke's center of gravity reaches a point of falling. If he is able to get his leg out and take the step, the leg is grabbed again adding to his instability. By doing this, his instability is increased until he is no longer able to take a step. Is this an accurate way of viewing this?

I like to like about these foot sweeps less as a throw, and more as a sensor/control. Falling is often a benefit, but the primary goal is to know where uke's feet are and be able to mess with his steps. They can be a set up to another technique as often as a terminal technique.

Cool, that makes sense.

Good way to look at things guys.

Another thing the footsweeps do is provide more options. For example, this week we were working with the failure condition of uke stepping backward and attempting to pull his foot away from tori which results in tori stepping in for osoto-gari. Tori could step to the side (not backward like a lot of us old timers still do) and execute hiki-taoshi pretty easily. Tori could also step in and execute aiki-nage even more easily. Stepping to the osoto-gari position, however, has a very different feel. The timing is a little different, perhaps faster at the point of execution than the other two techniques though I'd have to play with it for a while just to be absolutely certain.

Some folks say music is the space between notes. A suitable analogy might be footsweeps are the space between techniques.

I like the analogy with music and footsweeps.

I have another question about the new foot sweep stuff. How come uke hold a belt wrapped around tore's torso while we do them, instead of just holding on to tore's gi? This is probably an obvious one, but I must have missed it...

By uke holding a belt, it forces tori to move correctly. If I hold your gi it provides a structure for you to rest against and gain stability. The belt provides no stability, and really works precision into the exercise.