How to Do Tai Sabaki (martial Arts Body Shifting)

Co-authored by John Graden

Last Updated: September 18, 2024

Martial artists can get out of the line of attack by using Tai Sabaki techniques. This is a general guide that can be used with many styles such as karate, aikido or jujitsu. The explanation will be on Hanmi, Irimi, Issoku Irimi, Tenkai, Tenkan, Irimi Tenkan & Hanta Tenkan. For the purpose of easy understanding, all technique will start from Migi Hanmi (Right Foot Forward Stance) & the martial artist is presumed to face north. For the meaning of the terms used, see the tips column.

1

Irimi (Move in).

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Bring your back foot up to resume your stance. Your left foot will still be at the back of your right foot.

2

Issoku Irimi (Step through).

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Your back foot will now become your front foot. Bring the other foot in behind to resume your stance. When you have completed the movement, you should have changed your stance to Hidari Hanmi.

3

Tenkai (Pivot).

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If at the starting position, you face north in Migi Hanmi, when you have completed the movement, you will be facing south and be in Hidari Hanmi.

4

Tenkan (Turn).

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Turn in the direction of your back 180 degrees by bringing the other foot around behind. You will now be facing south and still in Migi Hanmi stance.

5

Irimi Tenkan (Step through & turn).

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From Migi Hanmi, perform Issoku Irimi, that is, step through with the back foot. Then pivoting on the ball of the new front foot, turn 180 degrees in the direction of your back. You should now be facing in the opposite direction and in the opposite stance (Hidari Hanmi) to when you started.

6

Hanta Tenkan (Step through & half turn).

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Pivot on the ball of your front foot (left foot), then turn as if performing a tenkan but only 90 degrees (to your right). Your back should be facing west and you should now be facing off to the side of your original direction (your front body will now be facing east)in Hidari Hanmi (that is the opposite stance to when you started).

7

Keep practicing.

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Tips

HIDARI HANMI = It is the mirror of MIGI HANMI that is a ready or fighting stance whereby the left foot is in front and the right foot is behind the left foot.

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Benefits of Tai Sabaki: If you are well versed in Tai Sabaki, you can avoid being hit without the need of blocking with your hand. You can also avoid or dodge a sword attack.

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MIGI HANMI = It is a ready or fighting stance whereby the right foot is in front and the left foot is behind the right foot. As an analogy, it is more or less similar to a fighting stance, small forward stance or sanchin stance in Karate.

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Warnings

Never rely on footwork alone to prevent an attack.

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you should always stretch before performing any of these moves.

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