Shorinji Kempo Foot Movement

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Shorinji Kempo has a number of different foot movements (or Umpoho) to allow change of stances to be made, distance to be increased to avoid an attack or distance to be closed in order to execute a defensive action or counter attack. Descriptions of a range of basic foot movement is shown below:

Hiraki sagari ashi

1Hiraki sagari, step 1 2Hiraki sagari, step 2 3Hiraki sagari, step 3

 

Retreating movement resulting in change of stance. From starting position (1) front foot draws back and in to rear foot (2) foot then moves behind and out at a 45° angle.

Sashikae ashi

1Sashikae ashi, step 1 2Sashikae ashi, step 2 3Sashikae ashi, step 3

 

Advancing movement resulting in change of stance. From starting position (1) rear foot draws forward and in to front foot (2) foot then moves forward and out at a 45° angle.

Sashikomi ashi

1sashikomi ashi, step 1 2sashikomi ashi, step 2 3sashikomi ashi, step 3

 

Advancing movement with no change of stance. From starting position (1) front foot moves forward (2) followed by rear foot so feet remain shoulder width apart (3)

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Mae Chidori ashi

1Mae chidori ashi, step 1 2Mae chidori ashi, step 2

 

Advancing movement used to close distance and/or avoid an attack e.g. as in techniques such as Uchi Uke Zuki.

From starting position (1) the front foot moves forward at a 45° angle followed by the rear foot so both feet remain shoulder width apart.

Ushiro Chidori ashi

1Ushiro chidori ashi, step 1 2Ushiro chidori ashi, step 2

 

Retreating movement. From starting position (1) the rear foot moves back at a 45° angle followed by the front foot so both feet remain shoulder width apart.

Juji ashi

1Juji ashi, step 1  2Juji ashi, step 2 3Juji ashi, step 3

 

Left or right movement. This example shows stance with the left foot forward with the person moving to the right.

From the starting position (1) the left foot steps across past the right foot (2) the right foot then moves across to the right (3) so feet remain shoulder width apart.

From the same starting position to move left the right foot moves across BEHIND the left foot. The left foot them moves across so the feet remain shoulder width apart.

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