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Go-no-sen

後の先

Taking the initiative only after the opponent's attack. The fighter blocks or evades it and immediately strikes the opening that results.

Quick Facts

Term typeTactics, timing and mindset
LanguageJapanese
Formphrase
Pronunciation[goh noh sehn]
Alternative Namesinitiative after the attack
Readings and romanizations
Reading (kana)ごのせん
Hepburn romanizationgo no sen

Word breakdown

後goafter, afterward
のnopossessive particle
先senlead, initiative

Definition

Go-no-sen (後の先) literally means “initiative afterward.” The fighter lets the opponent attack, blocks or evades the attack, and when the opponent is exposed after it, takes the initiative with a counterattack. It is the easiest of the three ways of taking the initiative to learn, so most basic partner drills in karate or aikido, where one attacks and the other responds, are built on it. The higher stages, sen-no-sen and sen-sen-no-sen, require sensing the opponent's intention earlier.

Relations to other terms

Next phase

Sen-no-sen先の先

Striking the opponent at the moment they begin to attack. One of three ways of taking the initiative, whose exact interpretation differs between schools.

Equivalent in another art

Vor, Nach, IndesVor / Nach / Indes

A trio of timing terms in German fencing: who holds the initiative (Vor), who reacts (Nach), and the moment when the initiative can be gained (Indes).

See also

Tai sabaki体捌き

Whole-body movement that takes a fighter out of the line of attack into an advantageous position. It combines footwork with turning the hips.

Associated Martial Arts

KarateAikidoKendo