Post by Please Delete on Jul 7, 2012 1:01:50 GMT -5
In Battodo we often talk about jo-ha-kyu. It is also a common term in Japanese music and drama, talking about a slow build-up to a crescendo. In budo it implies slow, faster, fast. On the one hand, when techniques are done with this attitude, there is a sense of power being built up and then crashing into the opponent. But what is the reality? Why is jo-ha-kyu important? And will it work in a non life-and-death situation such as SCA?
My own observations:
1) Fast, twitchy movements are often more likely to elicit a fast, twitchy response.
2) Changing the time of the attack messes with people--they can end up locking themselves into a slow time, even as you speed up.
3) Jo-ha-kyu is most evident when coming to itto-no-maai (one sword distance) and entering the killing zone. In this case, the context makes sense as you slow down upon approaching the danger zone, but you get faster as you reach (and eventually pass) the point of no-return.
4) Big, slow motions are more likely to elicit a response that you can work with.
Thoughts? How does this concept work (or not) for you?
My own observations:
1) Fast, twitchy movements are often more likely to elicit a fast, twitchy response.
2) Changing the time of the attack messes with people--they can end up locking themselves into a slow time, even as you speed up.
3) Jo-ha-kyu is most evident when coming to itto-no-maai (one sword distance) and entering the killing zone. In this case, the context makes sense as you slow down upon approaching the danger zone, but you get faster as you reach (and eventually pass) the point of no-return.
4) Big, slow motions are more likely to elicit a response that you can work with.
Thoughts? How does this concept work (or not) for you?