S.A. Katansky Grand Doctor, Professor of IUFS, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Education at MEPhI NRNU
A.A. Paperno, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Physical Education of MEPhI.
Comparing the biomechanical bases of kicking and throwing techniques, it can be noted that being seemingly opposite in execution, they have many common biomechanical principles. In both cases, the trainees have to keep a stable body position, which will depend on the posture, the height of the centre of gravity, the size of the support area, the degree of deviation of the projection of the centre of gravity over the support area, as well as the strength and action of the muscles that maintain balance. Comparing the stances in different types of martial arts, it can be noted that the main principle of their execution is the preservation of the projection of the centre of gravity on the support plane between the feet both in static position and in dynamics. When performing leg holds both in throws and kicks, the general rule is also applied, which states: the less the projection of the centre of gravity goes to the support area, the more stable is the position of the body. This is fully in accordance with the laws of mechanics. Since the above mentioned types of sports wrestling are based on different types of techniques, for the growth of sportsmanship it is necessary to determine the mechanism of transferring positive and negative skills both to separate techniques and to the classes of different types of martial arts, which is especially important in the basic period of training.
Comparing the stances of fighters in different types of martial arts, it is recommended to keep the projection of the centre of gravity within the support area.
(Matson O., 1970) notes that teachers in China and Okinawa devoted a lot of time to exercises aimed at improving stability. From their point of view, they strengthen the muscular corset and develop correct posture, which develops a sense of balance and the ability to move quickly.
First of all, let us consider the stances which such classics of martial arts as: (Takai A., 1978), (Funakoshi G., 1981), (Kano D., 1986), (Ueshiba M., 1991), (Musashi M., 1995)-relate to natural stances, which have the common Japanese name ‘Shizentai’. The simplest of them are ‘formation’ stances found in all kinds of martial arts: heisoku-dachi – feet together, heels together; musubi-dachi – heels together, toes apart; heiko-dachi – feet shoulder-width apart. descriptions can be found in monographs: (Harlampieva A.A., 1964), (Chumakova E.A., 1964), (Chumakova E.A., 1964). ), (Chumakova E.M.,1967) and others; in judo in this stance the toes are turned outwards, and it is called ‘shizen-hontai’ (shizentai). Movements in this stance are carried out in the lateral direction (eko-ashi).
The following natural positions, as noted (Nakayama M., 1972), include the stance called ‘motto-dachi’ in karate: the feet are spread shoulder-width apart and one leg is put forward parallel to the other. In the Sambo training manual (Andreeva V., 1967) this stance is described as ‘heiko-dachi’.
The heiko-dachi stance in Sambo is called ‘narrow frontal stance’, it is called ‘right-sided’ or ‘left-sided’. In the judo textbook by D.Kano, reprinted in 1986, there is a modification of this stance called ‘mini’ or ‘hidari’: the rear standing leg is turned at an angle of 450 outwards, the front standing leg is turned with the toe forward. Such position of legs is given in their work on sambo (D. Gulevich, G. Zvyagintsev, 1976). Movement in these stances is carried out forward-backward and sideways.
As noted: (Brant R., 1994), (Flocke A., 1995), (Isamu K., 1995), (Hais K., 1996) in Aikido, Kendo, Aiki-jutsu, Ninjutsu the natural positions include migi-hanaami or hidari-hanaami stances: the feet are placed perpendicular to each other, one leg is moved forward approximately to the length of the foot. A similar stance, which in karate is called ‘tensi-dachi’, can be found in the book (Pajieva S., 1994) and in fencing textbooks (Fischer B., 1796), (Valfil A., 1817), (Lugar A., 1910). Renoji-dachi stance can be considered as a modification of this stance: the back foot turns outwards at an angle of 450. The description of this stance can be found in the book (Kanazawa H.,1995). The movement in these stances is the same as in the previous stances, with the addition of a natural step (ayumi-ashi).
Wide frontal stance in karate, kendo, aikido is called ‘kiba-dachi’ – the feet are perpendicular to each other, or ‘shiho-dachi’ – the feet are turned at an angle of 450. In kung-fu a similar stance is called ‘ma-bu’, in judo – ‘jigo-hontai’ or ‘jigentai’; their description can be found in the books (Matveeva V.V., 1990), (Smirnov V., 1991), (Samuilova Z., 1991), (Tovkaya G., 1992), (Baranovsky V.V., Kutyrev Y.N., 1992) (Hatsumi M., 1996).
Zenkudtsu-dachi is a front stance in which approximately 70% of the body weight is on the front leg. It is found in karate, judo, aikido, kendo at the moment of attack when one of the partners makes a lunge. Moving in this stance can be either a gliding or natural step.
Kagi-dachi is a stance in which the back foot steps behind the front foot and the feet are placed perpendicular to each other. This stance is found in all forms of wrestling, clothed and unclothed, and is used when the attacker turns his back to his partner to execute a throw or kick.
Another link between different types of martial arts are the koso-dachi stance, when the performer steps behind the front standing leg with the back foot, and turns – sabaki. They can be performed both from a standing position on the spot – at 3600, and in motion, when the performer steps behind the front foot with the back foot and makes a turn at 1800, or when the front foot is placed perpendicular to the back foot and makes a turn at 900. Such cross steps in combination with dodges and turns in fencing are called volts and are described by Podesaul (Gladkov N., 1893) and (Kapkan Y.1916).
When comparing film and photo materials on the execution of Aikido, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu techniques, their biomechanical similarity and presence in different types of martial arts is striking. For example, in throws over the thigh (koshi-nage, koshi-guruma), in throws over the shoulder (seoi-nage ipon), throws over the shoulders (kata-guruma), throws with front foot (tai-otoshi) there is one and the same element – turn. This similarity can be traced in the execution of painful holds on various parts of the body, which are performed mainly by twisting or bending joints, as well as in choking holds. To the listed technical actions we would like to add the presence of similar kicks with different parts of the body, included in the training programmes of the above mentioned types of wrestling.
Comparing the basic technique of defence and attack techniques of karate and fencing techniques, such as kendo, kobudo, it can be seen that they are close in execution. Blows with fingers – stabbing blows with the sword tip, blows with the edge of the palm – chopping blows with the sword blade, blows with the base of the fist are similar to blows with the hilt of the sword, and blocking movements with the forearm are similar to the withdrawal movements of the sword. This similarity is pointed out by karate masters – Ya. Atzato and Y. Itosu. They advised him the following: ‘When practising karate, always think of your hands and feet as swords’ (Funakoshchi G.,1995)
‘Karate and kobu-do are mutually complementary martial arts, knowledge of one style greatly enhances the ability to perceive the other. Athletes who do not possess the basics of karate, will not be able to reach the pinnacle of skill in handling tonfa. On the contrary, getting good skills in handling tonfa will help karate athletes to quickly and efficiently master various defensive and offensive techniques’ (Demuro Fumio, 2002).
The interrelation of striking and throwing and swordsmanship can be traced on the example of aikido. Many elements and techniques of aikido originate from the traditional Japanese art of sword fencing. This kinship is easy to notice if you carefully analyse all the basic stances and movements used in aikido: for example, the attacker (nage) uses his hands and palms in various ways for strikes, jabs, slashing movements, thrusts and deflecting the opponent’s blows. This is usually the only ‘weapon’ of an aikido fighter figuratively called ‘sword-hand’ (‘tegetana’).
Aikido technique was developed not for sports wrestling, but for repelling attacks with cold weapons and releasing from grabs of various parts of the body. It has elements of fencing technique, which harmoniously fit into various technical actions. In addition to similar techniques of movements carried out at the expense of blows, the interrelation of these types of martial arts can be traced on the example of disarming, for which the techniques of aikido biomechanically perfectly developed. Defensive actions of aikido fighter are calculated on the circular or linear trajectory of the opponent’s hand, due to the inertia of movement of which a throw, transition to the painful reception and weapon selection are obtained.
From the above, we can conclude that despite the external biomechanical difference of different styles of martial arts, which are part of the general system of hand-to-hand combat, they have a lot of technical actions that have common, key elements of execution.
Therefore, when teaching hand-to-hand combat it is very important to notice associative links between at first glance different in biomechanical execution of technical actions included in its system. Then to bring to consciousness of pupils key elements of their performance and to help to realise positive transfer of skill of performance from one technique to another.
On the basis of the conducted literature analysis the following conclusion can be made. Most of the above-mentioned martial arts are biomechanically related to each other and are constituent links of the complex system of modern hand-to-hand combat.
