Foot works (Ashi Sabaki)

[MuMuLi]

I have a question regarding foot works in Kendo and Kenjutsu. I am not claiming to be any kind of expert other than my own ability of observation. I am familiar with kendo Ashi sabaki, but I am not sure where did it originated from. Is the Kendo Ashi sabaki designed specificly for kendo, or is it still effective when applied to "Actual katana vs. katana matches". Is there a specific ryu-ha that emphasis on parallel foot placement and lunging abilities?

[Hishaam Bendiar]

For kenjutsu related questions there is the sword arts forum in the Koryu Bujutsu section of this board.
As far as kendo is concerned, either post in the gendai budo section here or try the kendo world forums (http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/)


PS: the KW forums can't be reached for the time being due to an upgrade in progress.

[Chidokan]

kendo footwork is designed for inside halls with nice smooth floors..... that brushing slide movement would stub your toes on anything lying about!! the footwork for kata is more 'normal walking' so could be ok.

[Brian Owens]

I have a question regarding foot works in Kendo and Kenjutsu. ...Is the Kendo Ashi sabaki designed specificly for kendo... Is there a specific ryu-ha that emphasis on parallel foot placement and lunging abilities?
I'm not a Kendoka, but my understanding is that the footwork in Kendo evolved over time based on what was successful in shiai, and so isn't closely related today to the footwork in koryu kenjutsu.

In my own practice of kenjutsu there was very little "parallel" foot alignment, the rear heel wasn't raised (or, sometimes, only very little), and the little "kick" of the rear foot when lunging that one sees in Kendo wasn't done.

But there are lunging attacks; both direct entries, and lunges "off line," followed by pivots and the like.

HTH.

[hyaku]

I have a question regarding foot works in Kendo and Kenjutsu. I am not claiming to be any kind of expert other than my own ability of observation. I am familiar with kendo Ashi sabaki, but I am not sure where did it originated from. Is the Kendo Ashi sabaki designed specificly for kendo, or is it still effective when applied to "Actual katana vs. katana matches". Is there a specific ryu-ha that emphasis on parallel foot placement and lunging abilities?

Footwork derives from Japanese culture as in agricultural methods.

Its common sense that if you are using a double handed weapon with the left hand cutting and the right guiding, that the right foot it generall placed forwards. This is where it ends as Kendo is footwork dones indoors and deals with a none injurious head on confrontation. Older classical methods need avoidance using the feet that take the whole body out of the way.