Tai Sabaki

Tai Sabaki #

Tai Sabaki is a Jujitsu technique that means “body management.” The goal of tai sabaki is to get out of the line of attack using footwork and optionally counterattack. It uses push stepping, which is a way of moving where the back foot propels you, as opposed to normal steping.

Tai Sabaki 1 #

This is the basic technique. It moves in the four diagonals (R front, L front, R back, L back) and two 90 degree turns (L, R). You can do tai sabaki 1 with a partner or by yourself. The attack is a simple overhead strike repeated siz times.

  1. Step R forward diagonal, then back.
  2. L fwd angle, back.
  3. R back angle, return.
  4. L back angle, return.
  5. L 90 degree turn.
  6. R 90 degree turn.

Tai Sabaki 2 #

Tai Sabaki 2 is moving in a triangular path. This one does not have an attacker.

  1. R forward diagonal, feet together. L across, feet together. R return, feet together.
  2. L mirror of above.
  3. Back R mirror of 1.
  4. Back L mirror of 1.

Tai Sabaki 3 with Locks #

The attack is an overhand strike, alternating L, R.

  1. Step R like TS1-1, bring hands up into block, turn body to L into arm bar.
  2. L mirror of above.
  3. Step R like TS1-3, catch attacker’s hand with a cupping grasp, hold attacker’s hand in a lock at belt level, turn 180 degrees R to watch back.
  4. L mirror of 3.
  5. Turn L like TS1-5, catch attacker’s hand, turn forward into kote gaeshi wrist lock.
  6. Mirror of 5.

Tai Sabaki 3 with Strikes #

The attack is an overhand strike, alternating L, R.

  1. Step R like TS1-1, plum blossom block, hook to floating ribs.
  2. L mirror of above.
  3. Step R like TS1-3, plum blossom block, grab wrist with L, pull forward, front kick off lead leg.
  4. L mirror of 3.
  5. Turn like TS1-5, plum blossom block, grab wrist with L, step in R with side elbow, step back with R backfist.
  6. Mirror of 5.

Tai Sabaki 4 #

The first two attacks are L, R overhead strikes. The next four are L, R midsection punches, seven and eight are wide hook punches, nine and ten are palm strikes to the face.

  1. L 90 degree turn.
  2. Mirror of 1.
  3. L 90 degree turn.
  4. Mirror of 3.
  5. Fade R without moving feet.
  6. Mirror of 5.
  7. Step to R diagonal, R arm low, L protecting face, keep turning as you step behind attacker, full 360 degrees until your R foot is forward. Grab shoulders, pull off balance to your R shoulder, R kosoto geri sweep.
  8. Mirror of 7.
  9. Duck under R, come up close to shoulder to prevent a back elbow.
  10. Mirror of 9.
  11. Move head to R.
  12. Move head to L

Tai Sabaki 5 #

First two attacks are L, R palm strikes to face, next two are wide hooks, next two are palm strikes to the face, next two are cross elbows, next two knee strikes, finally two front kicks.

  1. Move head to R.
  2. Move head to L
  3. Duck under R, come up close to shoulder to prevent a back elbow.
  4. Mirror of 3.
  5. Move head to R.
  6. Move head to L
  7. Plum blossom block starting with R hand or outside block R followed by down elbow to top of arm.
  8. Mirror of 8.
  9. Turn L, position attacker’s thigh with your L palm down, up R elbow with R to side of thigh.
  10. Mirror of 9.
  11. Turn L, position with R palm down, L knuckle strike to top of thigh.
  12. Mirror of 11.