taisabaki

[JEM618]

footwork.

[Charlie]

Taisabaki, or sabaki method, is a method of circular and/or pendulum motions used in combatting your opponent. It's the key technique for Ashihara and Enshin karate. If you watch some Karate matches with karate-ka using the sabaki method, such as at: http://sabaki.enshin.com/ you'll observe that the fighters are constantly circling, swinging or moving while parrying and attacking in order to try to put themselves at an advantage over their opponent by placing themselves in the their opponents blind or weak spot. Sabaki also tries to use the opponents momentum against them by redirecting the opponents attack into a different direction that puts one in an advantageous position.