1/2 youtu.be/TDhBAWpofXE Expansion and contraction, tensing, and creating energy through compression John Cheetham: Changing the state of muscle tension (excerpt): If you study the photos of Kanazawa Sensei [pictures found in SKM, no. 44, (Aug. 1995) ] you can see a perfect example of the principle of Relaxation – Tension which is of course a most important and integral point in executing karate techniques. Without this interaction of the muscles you will never have smooth and fluent body movements and achieve explosive, destructive, focused power in your techniques – Kime. However there are times during the various KATA where the absolute opposite physical situation occurs. This is known as Expansion – Contraction or the other way around, Contraction – Expansion, where energy is stored in the tensed state of the muscles like a compressed spring (contraction) then released (expansion). For good effective karate you must be able to utilise both forms of energy and both ways of making power in your techniques. ... Relaxation – Tension is certainly easier to both understand and put into practice with good effect. Its impossible not to see the difference in the muscular state of Kanazawa Sensei in the photos. He literally goes from one extreme (top) to the other (bottom). One important point is that in the top photo where he is relaxed, there will be one part of his body that is not totally relaxed. The HARA, lower abdomen, the muscles immediately above the pelvic bone. The bodys energy centre. So, although the outside appearance is of total relaxation, the body centre will be like the compressed spring about to explode. This is a point worth thinking about very seriously for traditional karateka. Many of the Japanese Masters, especially the older ones have complete control over this most subtle of body conditions. Full article: John Cheetham, Relaxation – Tension Contraction – Expansion. What is the Difference? Shotokan Karate Magazine, no. 44 (August 1995) shotokanmag/SKMN/skmiss.php?pageNum_skmbacis=34
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 08:00:01 +0000
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