Yoi, come to ready, hands to cross in front of body, right hand inside, coming up to as though to grab your ears. As your hands come down, make a fists using pinky and thumb tight, bend the knees, lower your center of gravity in unison. You will come to heiko dachi (parallel stance), hands come down with strength movement to middle area of body. After attaining opening position take 80% off your dynamic tension, relax but do not relax. Now eyes look straight ahead, and gaze on one point in front of you. Listen for commands from your Sensei. Repeat after Sensei "Kihon Sono Nana" (so you understand which form you are asked to do). Sensei will say either ippon count (one move at a time) or no count, make sure you understand with a loud Osu!
Ichi: Look to your left, slide left foot angled 45 into a Zenkutsu Dachi, execute a powerful right chudan gyaku tsuki!
Ni: Slide left foot okuri ashi to 45 degree angle into kiba dachi, execute left furi uchi, shift to left foot forward zenkutsu dachi, execute right shita tsuki, powerful kia!
San: Slide left foot back to right foot, execute a right ushiro geri, re-chamber right foot and turn body 180 degrees (pivot on left foot), and set right foot forward to zenkutsu dachi, left gyaku tsuki, powerful kia.
Shi: Slide right foot forward (okuri ashi) to 45 degree angle into kiba dachi, execute right furi uchi, shift to right foot forward zenkutsu dachi, execute left shita tsuki, powerful kia!
Go: Slide left foot forward (getting ready to perform 45 degree angle techniques), up into a left fighting stance, left hand shoulder high covering centerline and right hand solar plexus high (one fist away from solar plexus). Perform Ibuki breathing. Maintain Zanchin!
Rokku: Look left 45 degrees, execute a right soto mawashi geri, left foot slides behind right foot (stay low) performing kaki ashi dachi, chamber right leg belt high, execute a right chudan yoko geri kekomi. Re-chamber and set right foot down into zenkutsu dachi, execute a right jodan tetsui uchi, followed quickly by a left chudan gyaku tsuki, powerful kia.
Shich: Look right 90 degrees, execute a left soto mawashi geri, right foot slides behind left foot (stay low) performing kaki ashi dachi stance, chamber left leg belt high, execute a left chudan yoko geri kekomi. Re-chamber and set left foot down into zenkutsu dachi, execute a left jodan tetsui uchi, followed quickly by a right chudan gyaku tsuki, powerful kia.
Hachi: Right foot slides to side, cover and turn into right foot forward fighting stance, doing ibuki breathing. Mentally preparing for another set of complicated techniques.
Ku: Right foot slides forward while positioning left foot pulls back to 45 degree angle into kiba dachi, execute right chudan soto uke, shift to right foot forward zenkutsu dachi at a 45 degree angle, execute a left chudan gyaku tsuki, powerful kia. Stay low.
Ju: Left foot slides straight ahead, now pull right foot back to 45 degree angle into kiba dachi, execute left chudan soto uke, shift to 45 degree angle zenkutsu (left foot forward), execute right chudan gyaku tsuki. powerful kia.
Ichi: Execute a right uchi mawashi geri, execute a left chudan mae geri, quickly followed by left uraken gammen uchi, from left zenkutsu dachi execute a right chudan gyaku tsuki, powerful kia.
Ni: Now stay low and trun right foot into right kokutsu dachi, executing shuto uke with ibuki. By now you should be able to perform this stance perfect.
San: Stay low, left foot slides behind right leg through kaki ashi dachi, chamber right leg belt high and execute right kensetsu geri to opponents knee, re-chamber, execute a right jodan tetsui uchi, setting into right zenkutsu dachi, execute left chudan gyaku tsuki, powerful kia. Zanshin.
Shi: Slide right foot back (take up some room) into left foot forward fighting stance, "Iishia" (spirit kia).
Yamae: Sensei says come back to ready. Do we relax? No! You move your front foot (left) back to yoi dachi as explained in the above "Yoi" ready movement , nothing changes, smooth, controlled, and maintain "Zanshin". You say "What is Zanshin"? When you come back to ready, plain English, keep the motor running, knees bent, 50/50 gaze set, and maintaining Zanshin.
Example: Kyudo (archery) the final position of the archer, after the release of the arrow. The archer should remain in the final position of having released the arrow at least until it has reached the target, without out moving and without watching its flight.
Written by: Shihan John Lehner