Kumite Kotowari/ 組手理 /Grappling Hand Principles Fighting concepts Metsuke/ 目構 /Eye Posture Eye control Maai/ 間合 /Interval Harmonize Distance/timing/rythym Kokyu/ 息直 /Breath Change Breath control Kuzushi/ 崩 /Sink Down Keeping balance while taking balance Ishin/ 意心 /Will Intention Total commitment become the conflict Kiai/ 気合 / Will Unify Spirit shout/acoustic unification
Tai Soubaki/ 体操場気 /Body Exercise Change Energy Body movement Zen(Zan)shin/ 全 ( 生 ) 心 /Universal (All Existence) Center Total awareness/ complete sensory utilization Muchimi/ 鞭御 /Whipping Manage Stickiness(whipping, wrapping, sticking, striking) taco Jin/ 仁 /Benevolence Universal compassion/kindness The Kumite principles are a number of concepts that, when taken as a totality, help the student realize the way of the empty hand. The Order is not necessarily meaningful or random. Metsuke: The posture of the eyes is pertinent to martial endeavors. Initially, a point somewhere inside the triangle described by a horizontal line parallel to the ground passing through the third eye terminating above both shoulders of the opponent, and a point 3-5 inches above the belly button, including the eyes, the throat and
the center of mass, may be gazed at with an unfocused but intent view. The throat may be observed to time strikes with the breath. The eyes may be observed or used as a means of engaging without physical body contact. The center of mass may be used to detect and time actual changes in position. The eventual goal is to do all of the above with purely peripheral vision on a subconscious level so as to minimize the gap between necessity and action. The secret to achieving this is patient committed training. Maai: Distance, and timing, which is intrinsic to changes in distance, are concepts central to this principle. To harmonize the intervals between moments will enable the practitioner to lead, follow, break, or flow with the rhythm of the motion. This training begins and ends with exercises designed to create awareness of relative time and space; of differing magnitudes, with and without weapons. It is often in the space between moments where the greatest opportunities for change exist. Kokyu: Breath changes drive the core movement. At a cellular level optimal oxygenation is created by aerobic metabolism. On a more apparently physical level, breathing acts as a pneumatic driver for both exerting muscular effort and protecting the vital internal organs
during action. Different breathing techniques are taught to develop the coordination of breath, intention, and action. Kuzushi: The concept of balance, combining sinking and falling, or centering of one s own balance, is inseparable from the destruction or breaking of another s. This is initially a physical duality but eventually the separation between two balance points ceases and the system operates as one. Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance points all exist and are encompassed in the unified system. Ishin: Total commitment, unification of mind, body, spirit into one utterly focused point, is the aim of this principle. Imagine focusing all of your will, every fiber of your being into each and every moment, and you will begin to connect to this idea. Only moments of such complete necessity absolutely require such a response. Both identifying and becoming such momentous need requires the complete unification of mind, body and spirit through which any singularity may be transcended. By becoming the conflict and balancing at the cusp, necessity or lack thereof is recognized, adapted too, changed or taken opportunity of, thereby altering the nature of the perception.
Kiai: Joyfully acoustically realized by the spirit shout; the unification and harmonization of energy is what is created by a successfully executed kiai. All creation vibrates with sound and is imbued and enlivened by such vibration. To be in tune with the harmonies, changes and rhythms of the moment is the ultimate goal of this principle; which begins with a shout and ends with breath. Tai Soubaki: Avoid a falling rock, is an aphorism called upon to explain this principle. It is said the best way to avoid an incoming calamity is simply not to be there. Moving and positioning the body so as to minimize the potential for harmful collisions is the beginning of tai soubaki. Both the movements of the individual limbs and synergistic associations of those of ourselves and others are included in the concept. Zanshin: If one could simultaneously be the center of all locations in the known universe and knowingly be no more than one step away from each and every one of them at a single moment in time, then this might be considered zanshin. Martially, reaching out with all your senses to their limits while maintaining complete focus on the task at hand defines this principle. Sight, hearing, touch, smell all provide information relevant to
surviving the dangerous opportunities inherent in any perceived conflict. Muchimi: Whipping, wrapping, sticking, immobilizing, striking, breaking and throwing are all contained in this concept. Using continuous contact to identify, and adapt to conflicting circumstance may be considered the beginning of sensitivity or muchimi, contact awareness. Like an octopus(taco), strong and supple, spiraling around any contact at once taking balance, moving through, neutralizing and redirecting Jin: Benevolence; Kindness, compassion, mercy all are aspects of this principle. "Do not hurt when holding is enough; Do not wound when hurting is enough; Do not maim when wounding is enough; Do not kill when maiming is enough; The greatest warrior is he who does not need to kill." Jin may begin here but ultimately, by forging one s body in the fire of one s will and committing totally to the path of the warrior, violence may be transcended and the peaceful resolution to any turbulence, easily seen when balanced at the cusp, will become the path that may be renewed each and every moment.