Aikido Kata-Dori Practice, Episode 1 Tai-sabaki & Footwork for Kata-dori

Learn the fundamental movements of "Kata-dori" in Aikido, where Etsuji Horii Shihan demonstrates the unification of offense and defense.

Fundamentals of Kata-dori Body and Footwork

Etsuji Horii Shihan emphasizes the seamless integration of offense and defense in Aikido's "Kata-dori" techniques. Starting from a left stance, the movement involves pulling back while delivering an atemi strike to destabilize the opponent. When the right shoulder is grabbed, pulling the right hand and foot while extending the opposite hand enables simultaneous atemi and control. Adjusting the angle according to the opponent's arm length ensures a stable stance and effective offensive and defensive balance. This deceptively simple movement allows practitioners to achieve control in a single action, embodying the depth of Aikido's kata-dori technique.