Movement¶
This section deals with how stances are used in motion.
In Kyokushin, dachi is not only something held in a stationary position. Stances must also be carried through movement, turning, and transition. It is therefore natural that Oyama, in his works, places walking and turning directly in connection with the stance section, and lets stances, balance, and walking and turning methods form a coherent area.
A stance that works only when the body is still, but is lost as soon as the practitioner begins to walk, turn, or change direction, has not been fully mastered.
Basic principle¶
Movement in Kyokushin means moving the body without losing:
- balance
- structure
- direction
- readiness
- the ability to carry technique
Movement must therefore not be understood as something that happens after the stance. Movement is how the stance continues to function when the body is displaced.
Stance and movement belong together¶
In Oyama’s system, balance and walking and turning follow directly after the presentation of the stances. This shows that stance work does not end when the form has been built, but continues in the ability to move correctly out of and into stance.
This means that every stance must be understood on three levels:
1. Entry¶
How the stance is built.
2. Holding¶
How the stance is carried once it is established.
3. Transition¶
How the stance continues into the next movement or the next stance.
The purpose of movement¶
Movement in stance training serves several functions.
1. It tests whether the structure is real¶
What looks correct in stillness is tested in movement.
2. It binds technique and body together¶
Strikes, blocks, and kicks must be executable during or after the step.
3. It develops direction¶
The body learns to carry technique forward, backward, sideways, and in turning.
4. It makes the stance usable¶
Without movement, the stance remains a form. With movement, it becomes part of karate.
Basic requirements in movement¶
When the body moves between stances, the following must be preserved:
Balance¶
The center of gravity must not fall outside the base or need to be rescued afterward.
Height¶
The body must not bounce up and down without function. The level of the stance must remain under control.
Direction¶
The body must continue to point and carry force in the intended direction.
Base¶
The footwork must create a new stable base without the old one dissolving too early.
Readiness¶
The practitioner must be able to strike, block, or react throughout the entire movement, not only when the step is finished.
Moving the center of gravity¶
Movement does not begin in the foot alone, but in how the center of gravity is organized.
When the body moves forward, backward, or to the side, the center of gravity must be guided so that the step becomes a consequence of correct bodily direction, not a jerk or a fall. If the foot moves without the center of gravity being organized, this often creates:
- empty steps
- late balance
- heavy landing
- weak technique at the finish
The center of gravity must therefore be present in the movement from the beginning.
Leaving a stance¶
Leaving a stance correctly is just as important as entering it correctly.
When a stance is left, the practitioner must:
- know which leg is bearing
- know which leg is moving
- keep the hips and spine organized
- avoid the body collapsing between two positions
A common weakness is that the stance is first dissolved and only afterward the movement begins. In correct practice, the transition must happen continuously.
Entering a stance¶
The new stance should not arise because the practitioner first steps and then “adjusts” into place.
Instead, it should already be formed during the step, so that:
- the foot lands functionally
- the knee is already working in the correct line
- the hip comes into the correct position
- the weight is received under control
The better the stance control, the less after-adjustment is needed once the foot has been placed.
Transition between different types of stances¶
Movement looks different depending on the type of stances one moves between.
Neutral to directed¶
From a neutral basic stance to a forward-directed or rear-weighted stance, the body must gain clear direction without becoming heavy or slow.
Symmetrical to asymmetrical¶
When the body moves from an even base to a stance in which the front and rear legs have different functions, the weight distribution must become clear.
Rear-weighted to forward-directed¶
Transition between rear weighting and forward drive requires especially good control of center and timing.
Stance to balance stance¶
When the base decreases, for example in one-legged or lightened positions, hip control must increase.
Turning¶
Turning is not only changing direction with the feet.
In technical terms, turning means that the whole body:
- reorients
- keeps its structure
- continues to carry balance
- is immediately ready for the next technique
Turning must therefore happen without the body becoming empty, lifted, or disconnected. Just as in walking, the center, hips, and footwork must be coordinated.
Movement in different contexts¶
In kihon¶
In kihon, movement is trained as part of the basic form of the technique. Here the relationship between step, direction, hips, and technique becomes especially clear.
In ido geiko¶
Here movement becomes more explicit as its own area of training. The stances are directly linked to movement across the floor.
In kata¶
In kata, movement must carry both direction and form. The steps are not neutral transport, but parts of the technique itself.
In kumite¶
In kumite, movement becomes more flexible and less formally marked, but the principles remain. Balance, direction, center of gravity, and readiness must still be maintained.
Common movement principles in dachi training¶
The following principles should apply throughout stance training:
Move without rising¶
The center of gravity must be kept under control.
Move without falling¶
The step must be carried, not rescued.
Move without losing center¶
The hips and spine must remain organized.
Move without becoming passive¶
The body must remain technically alive throughout the movement.
Move so that the next technique is already possible¶
The movement must end in readiness, not in an empty position.
Movement forms tied to stances¶
In Oyama’s more detailed presentation, movement is treated not only in general terms, but also as different walking methods, tied to specific stances, for example walking in sanchin-dachi, cat walk, and walking in straddle stance. This shows that movement in the system is not separate footwork, but closely connected to the structure of the individual stances.
This means that each main stance also has, in practice, a way of moving:
- how it drives forward
- how it holds level
- how it receives body weight
- how it changes direction
Training significance¶
Movement training develops:
- balance in motion
- leg strength
- coordination
- hip control
- the body’s understanding of direction
- technical transition between forms
It also ensures that stance training does not stop at outer form, but becomes usable in technique and fighting.
Common mistakes¶
Common mistakes in movement between stances are:
- the body rises during the step
- the weight falls late into the stance
- the foot lands before the body
- the hips become passive
- direction is lost in turning
- the stance is destroyed just before technique is performed
- the practitioner has to adjust several times after landing
These mistakes usually show that the structure of the stance has not yet been fully integrated into movement.
Summary¶
Movement in Kyokushin means that the stance continues to function during motion.
This requires that the practitioner can:
- leave a stance without collapse
- enter the next stance without after-construction
- carry center of gravity and direction throughout the whole movement
- preserve balance, structure, and readiness in stepping and turning
Movement is therefore not an addition to dachi. It is part of the stances’ real function.
Comment¶
Stances that cannot move are incomplete.
In Kyokushin, dachi must be understood as living forms: they must be able to be entered, held, carried across the floor, turned, and transformed into technique without losing their structure. Only then does stance training become real karate.