Exercises - Basic Foot movements - Unsoku
     
 

The correct way of performing the Unsoko foot movements is to a FAST count, finish the move quickly, pause in each position and wait for the next count.

At all times when you pause, you should be in a stable position, with your feet flat to the floor. When moving your feet, they should slide just above the floor, almost touching it. Also you must never step passed your other foot. by moving in this way you are performing a Tsugi-ashi movement. A direct translation is 'succeeding feet'.

Counting should be either in Japanese or English.

Number Japanese Phonetic
     
1 Ichi E - Chee
2 Ni Knee
3 San Saan
4 Shi she
5 Go go
6 Roku Row Ku
7 Shichi She - Chee
8 Hachi Ha - Chee

Our thanks to the Trowbridge Aikido Club for the use of these images
 

  
 
Unsoku - Movie
 

The Unsoko foot movements as a mpeg2 file. Click on the picture to view the movie. This is a 9mb file so it may be very slow to download. Or click here for a 900k version
 
Number 1 Tsugi-ashi forward & backwards
 
 

 

This movement enables you to tsughi-ashi forwards and backwards along your centre lines and is used for keeping your distance 'ma-ai' from your opponent, and also moving in to attack.

Note that the middle position, position 4 is the same as the start/end position: this enables you to change from left foot forward to right foot forward.
 
Start Neutral posture
1. Move forward into left posture.
2. Then tsugi-ashi backwards staying in left posture.
3. Tsugi-ashi backwards again.
4. Return to the centre to neutral posture .
5. From a neutral posture move forward into right posture.
6. Then tsugi-ashi backwards staying in right posture.
7. Tsugi-ashi backwards again.
8. Return to the centre to neutral posture.
 
 
Number 2 Tsugi-ashi left & right
 
 

 

This movement is used to sidestep an attack to the left or right.
 
Start Neutral posture
1. Tsugi-ashi to your left.
2. Then tsugi-ashi to your right.
3. Tsugi-ashi to your right again.
4. Tsugi-ashi to your left to return to the centre to neutral posture.
5. From a neutral posture tsugi-ashi to your right.
6. Then tsugi-ashi to your left.
7. Tsugi-ashi to your left again.
8. Tsugi-ashi to your right to return to the centre to neutral posture.

 




 

  
     
 
Number 3 Tsugi-ashi front corner & back corners
 
 

 

This movement avoids attacks (especially knife), and also changes your direction and distance enabling different techniques for counter-attacking.
 
Start Neutral posture
1. Tsugi-ashi to your front left corner.
2. Then tsugi-ashi back to centre.
3. Tsugi-ashi to your right front right corner.
4. Then tsugi-ashi  back to centre to neutral posture.
5. From a neutral posture tsugi-ashi to your back left corner.
6. Then tsugi-ashi back to centre.
7. Tsugi-ashi to your back right corner.
8. Then tsugi-ashi back to centre to neutral posture.