180 degree turns

[Dana Sheets]

When you turn 180 degrees in a form are you dealing with something in front of you or dealing with something behind you?

This changes how you use your legs and when you shift your weight. So what are you rehearsing when your perform your kata? Both, either, neithter?

[Griffin]

depending on the kata and how I'm expressing myself in that kata. Sometimes someone is in front and sometimes, I'm dealing with an attack from behind. I don't pick which will happen when, it all depends on how the imaginary fight is going in my head. Strange how I win most of the time. lol

[gmattson]

so my feeling is maintaining balance is very important. With balance and timing, you should be able to adapt to any senerio. Practicing different applications will hopefully bring out different understanding and use of the turns.

[Guest]

are they really "turns" per say? If you'll notice that half-way through the "turn" there is a blatently obvious kicking technique which can be used to stop kicks, strike the back of a leg, stomp on a foot, etc.

There are also many other applications for the twisting that goes on here, including Irimi Nagi (judo style throw).


As George says, keep your kata "neutral" and make your bankai precise.

[JimHawkins]

Don't forget the other 179 degrees.

As you turn in space lots of things happen, weight/balance shifts, exposed targets and linier power alignments appear and disappear, potential energy is made and released, the ability absorb energy and redirect energy manifests.

As you turn you face/address all the 'degrees' in the turn – indeed an attack may enter from any one of these angles. In WCK as you turn you are clearing all the space you turn through.

One key aspect in these systems is ‘facing’ read target, the opponent. This is a huge part of combat as most opponents will be moving around your guards and attacks. In order to ‘gain control’ of these slippery opponents we must be able to *track* meaning face, follow and stick to the opponent, sticking not just with the arms or legs but with the whole body.

Turning and moving while maintaining a low center of gravity and generating radial power to redirect and to attack through turning is the source of many tactical elements that address energy/motion management, both his and yours. In the end the root of all 'technique' resides in how we move and therefore energize our body core, our true and most powerful weapon.