Fall over when performing fumikomi

by Olga
(Ukraine)

Some people fall over when they are doing fumikomi - their right foot catches on hakama and as a result they cannot finish fumikomi normally and fall down or even injure their toes.

What the reason can be? Is the problem in too long hakama or that may occur because of incorrect posture (knees are bent etc.)? Can you please advise any solution?

Answer: This is a common problem.  I will list some possible causes and solutions.

1. Hakama is too long. It should hide your legs up to your ankles.


2. A striker lifts his/her foot right up instead of forwards. (knee’s up too high).


3. Striking from a distance (or they think they cannot reach).


4. The striker’s right toe is pointing upwards instead of towards their opponent.


5. A striker is leaning forward (reaching out their arms without pushing their feet forwards).

Solutions

1. Adjust the length of hakama.


2. Tell him/her move their right foot forwards as if they are going to step on their motoachi’s left foot.


3. Have him/her closer to motodachni (chikama).


4. Use No.2 technique.


5. Use No.3 technique and tell them to stop trying too hard. Have them to concentrate on “delivering their body forwards” rather than “hitting a target”.

Hope this helps.