Tsugi-ashi

by Olga
(Ukraine)

When is it better to use tsugi-ashi than okuri-ashi?


Do we need to train tsugi-ashi like we train okuri-ashi or we only learn okuri-ashi and tsugi ashi is like an improvisation during jigeiko for example?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of tsugi-ashi?

Answer: Good question. I just told my students about tsugi-ashi the other day.

First of all, okuri-ashi is the basic footwork in kendō so we must practice this until it becomes our second nature.

Difference:

In okuri-ashi, you move your body by moving your right foot followed by the left foot.

In tsugi-ashi, you move your left foot forwards closer to the right foot. (the left foot does not pass the right foot. If it passes, it is called ayumi-ashi.)

An advantage of tsugi-ashi: you can reach your opponent from a little further than your usual striking distance.

A disadvantage of tsugi-ashi: you may get struck while you are moving your left foot forwards.

Once you are able to perform okuri-ashi properly, you can start experiment the other footwork such as tsugi-ashi.

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Sep 07, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Use it against jodan
by: Raffa

I will try to be clearer.


"..I think you are talking about shitachi chasing uchitachi who takes a step backwards taking hidari jodan..."


Exactly. For someone in jodan is a very threatening movement.


"...If so, I cannot picture how you use tsugi ashi seen in kata number six. If you are using ayumi-ashi to get closer to jodan, I can understand but it is pretty dangerous to do so unless you have a good distance between yourself and jodan opponent..."


From toma close in with tsugi ashi, menacing his left kote, now in issoku itto distance. In my limited experienced I have noted that usually the jodan kenshi will either launch an attack (but with a good seigan is not too difficult to react with a suriage to a katate men or kote), or withdraw to establish a distance more suited to him.


Kendo-Guide.Com: What we do with tsugi-ashi is to just move our left foot forwards. So we cannot really get closer to our opponent. Tsugi-ashi is for a striker to reach his/her opponent a little bit far from where the striker can usually execute a cut and reach his/her opponent.


So unless we take another step forwards onto the right foot after performing tsugi-ashi with the left foot we cannot really get closer to our opponent.


I think that's what you do, right?


An advantage of tsugi-ashi is that our opponent does not really notice that we are trying to use tsugi-ashi. A disadvantage of tsugi-ashi is that there is a possibility that we can get struck while moving the left foot forwards.

Thanks again for sharing your experience.
Sep 01, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Use it against jodan
by: Raffa

I found that tsugi ashi is very effective in fighting a jodan kenshi. Just assume seigan and press in using tsugi ashi with the spirit showed in kata N°6. You will menace his left kote very effectively!

Kendo-Guide.Com: Thank you for your comment. I think you are talking about shitachi chasing uchitachi who takes a step backwards taking hidari jodan.

If so, I cannot picture how you use tsugi ashi seen in kata number six. If you are using ayumi-ashi to get closer to jodan, I can understand but it is pretty dangerous to do so unless you have a good distance between yourself and jodan opponent.

If you can explain a bit more, probably we can picture your tactics more clearly.

Thanks!

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