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Wastelander
Wastelander's picture
One-legged turn in Chinto

This week's Waza Wednesday takes a look at the one-legged turn found in Chinto, starting with the shuto-uke/enpi-uchi. We demonstrate against a punch but, as always, it doesn't really matter what your opponent attacks with, as much as it matters where you are in relation to your opponent, what points of contact are made, and where your opponent's energy is moving.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

I like it Noah! My take on that sequence is similar (see video below). The key commonality is the spin being used as a driving knee to the inner thigh to unbalance. You can then either have them fall into the crank (as I show) or fall to the floor (as you show). They are essentially variations of the same technique though and I love it when people with differing styles independently come to common conclusions. To me, that shows a commonality within the methodology of the kata; irrespective of the idiosyncrasies of style … as well as giving reassurance that we may be onto something :-)

Thanks for sharing!

All the best,

Iain

Mark B
Mark B's picture

I thought I'd share my take on this sequence out of Chinto,  which I taught at a recent seminar. I include a "what if " scenario as well

Here's the receive, strike and rotation done slightly quicker 

All the best

Mark

OnlySeisan
OnlySeisan's picture

Let's not fall into the confirmation bias Mr. Abernethy.

A general rule for any one-legged technique is that your opponent's structure needs to be severely compromised because of the inherent risk of inhibiting your own balance. It doesn't take much to push over someone standing on one leg. You also need to take into account that any time you compromise someone else's balance the odds of them grabbing onto the nearest object to keep their balance, usually you, is rather high, so one should take steps to make sure this can't happen.

Just some thoughts.

Mark B
Mark B's picture

OnlySeisan makes a very good point.

In my Chinto I don't apply the knee option,  I simply turn into Kosa Dachi,  so for my analysis I don't consider the knee strike. 

That suits me because as OnlySeisan states at extreme close quarters lifting your leg can be tactically very dangerous,  at least in my experience. 

Here's another consideration for the 180° turn , taken once again from my recent seminar on the application of Chinto

Regards 

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

OnlySeisan wrote:
A general rule for any one-legged technique is that your opponent's structure needs to be severely compromised because of the inherent risk of inhibiting your own balance. It doesn't take much to push over someone standing on one leg. You also need to take into account that any time you compromise someone else's balance the odds of them grabbing onto the nearest object to keep their balance, usually you, is rather high, so one should take steps to make sure this can't happen.

Mark B wrote:
That suits me because as OnlySeisan states at extreme close quarters lifting your leg can be tactically very dangerous, at least in my experience.

While I’d agree that being on one leg reduces stability, we can't ingnore timing and tactics. Kicking or kneeing is useful, even at close range. There are also other times were you need to lift the foot off the floor i.e. executing certain throws, etc. These techniques can work very well and they are not inherently dangerous. What makes them dangerous is a failing of timing or tactics. If I go on to one foot when there is not the opportunity to successfully execute the knee / kick / throw then that is a failing in tactics. If I go on to one foot when there is the opportunity, but I move late or early then that is a failing in timing. If, however, timing and tactics are correct, then the technique will work just fine.

In the videos above Mark shows a close range kick at 1:51 in the first video. The position the enemy in means that the kick will be effective so I don’t see that technique as being dangerous to tori. Mark is on one foot at close range there, but it’s effective. Had Mark just kicked at some random, inappropriate time then it may well have been ineffective and needlessly reduced stability, but there is nothing wrong with going on to one foot when appropriate to do so.

Seisan kata also goes on to one leg at numerous points (the front kicks, the knee lifts, the “crescent kick at the end) but I don’ think that means the kata is “faulty” for going so. And having chosen to make Seisan the whole of your karate, I’m assuming you agree otherwise you have made a poor choice (Pinan Sandan is the only kata I can think of off the top of my head that does not go onto one leg at some point). The going onto one foot in Seisan is not dangerous in those instances because of the circumstances in which it is done.

OnlySeisan wrote:
A general rule for any one-legged technique is that your opponent's structure needs to be severely compromised because of the inherent risk of inhibiting your own balance.

Back to my take on Chinto, the neck crank is what ensures that the timing and tactical elements are in place. The enemy’s posture and movement options are entirely messed up (and he’s just taken an elbow to the face). The advantages in executing a low knee strike to the inner thigh therefore entirely outweigh any minor remnant risk of instability. In the version Noah shows, the recipient has also had their posture disrupted.

There is also no doubt that the kata goes onto one leg there, as well as in many other places throughout the kata. However, I see those methods of being entirely practical and not inherently dangerous to the executor.

To say we should always avoid going onto one leg means that we should never kick, throw or knee. The timing and tactics need to be right though … as they are in all examples shown above. There can be little doubt that such methods are highly effective when done right … and that’s the point for me. Going on to one leg at the wrong time and in the wrong way is dangerous. There is however nothing wrong with going onto one leg at the right time and in the right way. Such methods work well and are a huge part of the combative arts. We also need to remembers that technique, tactics and timing (the what, why and when of combat) cannot be separated from one another in application.

All the best,

Iain

Mark B
Mark B's picture

Hi Iain

You're obviously absolutely right in saying techniques of kicking, kneeing, throwing are essential elements,  I'd add sweeping options too (Mikazukigeri)

The key is, as has been mentioned already, to apply the relevant option at the most tactically opportune moment. 

Certainly I use and teach those options.

For me, and as I say on the third of my clips above, it's case of using these options "if needed ". If I can apply, and not need to complicate things with Ashi Waza then I will. That said,  it's essential to understand how useful knees and kicks are in breaking down an opponent,  if first you can compromise their structure.

Regards 

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi Mark,

I’d agree with all of that. A personal preference of mine is to keep knees low too i.e. generally aim for inner and other thigh as opposed to groin or body. The reasons being that the foot barely needs to leave the floor and this reduces instability risks; and that the knee is far away from the enemy’s arms and as such is less likely to be grabbed or spiked. The “crane stances” in Chinto / Gankaku seem to be showing a similar methodology to me, which is why I felt I should include that thought in the thread.

Thanks for the inclusion of the videos!

All the best,

Iain