Kuzushi: Principles and Exercises for Static and Dynamic Offbalancing (Updated)

This video explains some ideas and exercises regarding offbalancing ("kuzushi") in Aikido. The main principles discussed include:
- Misalignment, and the role of posture and structure
- Finding the "breaking point" at which uke's structure cannot resist a technique
- "Sankaku" (triangles), both omote (ikkyo point) and ura (shikaku point)
- Happo No Kuzushi, an "8-direction offbalancing" exercise using Uke's point of contact
Note, this is an updated video based upon some great feedback and suggestions by our viewers. If you have an old link, please make sure you are using the newest version!
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The ASU Aikido Chuseikan of Tampa Bay dojo is affiliated with the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba and Aikido World Headquarters, and provides quality adult and family martial arts instruction in Tampa, Florida.
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Copyright © 2018, Creative Commons Non-Commercial Attribution license - please use and share, but give a link and credit if you do!

[@afiqsince86]

i think you have the best aikido concept video so far on youtube.

[@WadoRyuBenkyo]

Very nice video and explanation of this fundamental principle of the martial arts. Very well explained and demonstrated. Thank you.

[@TheAjbarron]

Thank you for posting these videos.

[@tavana123]

This is a magnificent video.
Thanks. This is helping a lot.

[@sevynn3970]

This is really fantastic info. thanks for posting!

[@lancejackson9108]

Nice video. Thank you.

[@mauropalumboaikido8612]

congratulation sensei, very interesting excercices

[@tiyowprasetyo]

This is essential to be applied by any kinds of martial artists. I do hope mixed martial artists can learn something important from this video: kuzushi.

[@jurikulbin6556]

Good video. Thanks!

[@AikidoChuseikan]

Glad you liked it!

[@TonyPacenski]

Excellent

[@Pinoy2Pinas]

Awesome

[@ahafeel]

This is a useful way to analyse aikido waza. I would also use the analogy of a sword being wielded by the nage. So the nage's arm acts similar to a swordsman's motion. We can discuss this further

[@AikidoChuseikan]

Precisely - or a spear (for linear attacks). Similarly, Nage can view their own footwork and connection as through a sword or spear.

[@user-ii6hd7lv2w]

Nice

[@EagleTrue]

Shikaku Point & Ikkyo Point

[@EagleTrue]

Omote sankaku, Ura sankaku

[@TonyPacenski]

What is the 3 level?

[@lovelytrumpet3367]

Is ukes arm the direction of the arrow?

[@AikidoChuseikan]

For the diagram, usually, yes. Especially for linear attacks (to simplify the concept).

[@eugeniascandella762]

Kuzuki Kiko Tajiri sense fujama in the street small and big

[@immasud41]

Hi, I'm Masud. I'm from Bangladesh.please I'd like to see how Aikido's legs move.

[@heinrichwendel5129]

the old problem : it works only on people , who practise this stance and this bodywork. Other stance - other body work -does not work,

[@AikidoChuseikan]

Of course. As shown, this is all static, or relatively static. That's why it's basics / principles; to get student's mental gears turning and exploring, and moving away from muscle-v-muscle struggling. It's up to each martial artist to then figure out how to find smaller slivers of kuzushi as the opponent moves faster, responds / recovers immediately, changes footwork - or, even harder - doesn't use committed linear attacks.

[@FreeSalesTips]

I'll have to take issue about your distribution license you have for this video. You claim that the video distribution is licensed under Creative Commons No-Commercial Attribution but then you also state that the video must not be altered or redistributed. These distribution terms are contradictory. The purpose of the Creative Commons license is to explicitly permit people to distribute the Copyrighted works. What you've written here is that you are permitting the public to distribute this video under the CC-NC while simultaneously requiring the public to ask permission to redistribute this video.
If your desire is to publish this video without allowing the public to implicitly redistribute the video, it would be best if you didn't license the video under any Creative Commons License.

[@AikidoChuseikan]

Thanks 100%. I actually stand by the CC License, but we had an old TH-cam posting template that had conflicting language in it. I'll edit the copy.

[@tonywilliams49]

.002 of a second is how long he would last against a MMA fighter. Sorry sir.

[@AikidoChuseikan]

tampaaikido.com/articles/aikido-vs-mma-the-unflinching-comparison/