15-45 degrees

[dorkusxmaximus]

whenever i try to go for men, i always have this stupid tendency to lean as i go in for that strike because i assume it's faster for me to do it this way, but everyone that practices with me sees it from a mile away, especially my sempais and senseis. it's sooo fustrating :mad: .

[JSchmidt]

Heh, I struggled with that for a long time (Might still do :p), but got the worst of it corrected by improving my footwork. For me it was a case of not taking a long enough step.
1 exercise I found extremly useful was something like this:

From chudan, take a small step forward with your right foot only, so you stand in a wider stance. Don't drag the left foot up with you. Take a micro pause to find your balance and load up the left leg and from there, push off with the left and cut men.
If you have any tendencies to lean forward, back, to the sides, etc, you will feel it straight away, as the out-of-balance feeling will be exagerated and you will need to keep your posture straight to avoid that.
Do a couple of sets of those and then go back to a 'normal' men.

Jakob

[Neil Gendzwill]

Find a distance from your partner where you can hit him with one large step. Then repeatedly hit one-step men without moving the left foot or drawing it up. Stop at the point of contact and check that your back is straight, your feet are straight, you made proper contact, your arms are straight... have your partner give you feedback as well.

[slidercrank]

Originally posted by dorkusxmaximus
i always have this stupid tendency to lean as i go in for that strike because i assume it's faster for me to do it this way, but everyone that practices with me sees it from a mile away

Leaning doesn't make it faster. By leaning first, you're telegraphing your move without gaining anything for yourself.

JSchmidt's advice is a lot better than leaning. Your opponet may not necessarily see your right foot's move at all, or may assume you're just adjusting maai. In additon, I think it also gives you a better control for the center that you don't get from leaning.

Ultimately, though, Gendzwill's advice is the best. Absolutly no telegraphing, and total commitment to the attack.

I'm working on the samething myself...

[JSchmidt]

"JSchmidt's advice is a lot better than leaning. Your opponet may not necessarily see your right foot's move at all, or may assume you're just adjusting maai."

Ah, I wouldn't use it for ji-geiko, it's purely meant as a footwork/posture exercise, especially as due to the wide stance, you will be fairly immobile, should the opponent react.

Jakob

[slidercrank]

Originally posted by JSchmidt


Ah, I wouldn't use it for ji-geiko

Jakob

I've seen a lot of high-ranking players do exactly that in keiko; except when they step forward, it's a small step; and it only takes them like a micro-second to tense that left leg and launch forward.

[Ares2907]

Aussies at the seminar prior to the taikai just gone were treated to some high-level commentary on this very subject. There seems to be a tendency to step out with the right rather than push/kick off with the left. This (according to Ishida sensei - you know, the bloke from the NHK documentary), is the major cause of the 'lean' and resultant weak fumikomi.
Just as an aside, just because you can make a nice booming sound with your foot, does not mean that your fumikomi is correct or strong. In fact, the fumikomi that Ishida sensei demonstrated was not 'booming', but was undeniably strong because of the way he used his left leg.
He said that it was better to concentrate on pushing off from the left and not assisting at all with the right. Think of the right leg as a pendulum that is along for the ride. It moves only because it is relaxed and not because it is assisted by the muscles in any way. This way, the right leg is always under you when it lands.
Same thing goes for doing okuri ashi etc. Try it - it's nowhere near as easy as it sounds.
As for mechanics, he said left leg almost straight, right knee bent (yes I know it's not news to most of you, but you'd be surprised at how many know it, but don't do it). About 70% of the weight should be on the back foot.
This was all stuff that I thought I was doing. Then I stopped and really thought about it, took it back to bare-bones basics. I was amazed by the change in dynamics when I finally started to get it. I still can't do it consistently, but give it 12 months or so and hopefully I'll be closer to it.
hth.

[dorkusxmaximus]

well i do have weak fumikomi....anyways, thanks for the advice jschmidt and neil gendzwill. i'll be sure to try it out.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Originally posted by slidercrank

Ultimately, though, Gendzwill's advice is the best. Absolutly no telegraphing, and total commitment to the attack.


Thanks, but what I was suggesting is just a drill for getting the mechanics of the cut correct.

[Kendoka]

Originally posted by Neil Gendzwill


Thanks, but what I was suggesting is just a drill for getting the mechanics of the cut correct.

Read Ares contribution again.

Practice your footwork as described by him.

If you develop the strength you will not need to lean forward.

Practice that as well and push from the hips.

Start now.

Hajime !

[dorkusxmaximus]

jeez dude you're pushy. i'm already trying to make my left leg stronger. my fumikomi has improved quite a bit. i think my only problem now are those little men strikes. i think that's what is making me lean in.

[Nishi]

Dorksmaximus,
What is your left hand doing during the leaning men cut? We stress at our club that you should attack your opponnent with your body (hips, to be exact), the cut almost follows like a "backdraft". But it is immpossible to do correctly if your hips are on an angle(leaning), the hips should be settled and straight, and as you perform fumikomi-ashi, your hips should travel more or less in a fixed solid line.
I hope this helps in some way.......