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.
Quick Facts
Word breakdown
Definition
Tai sabaki (体捌き) is composed of the words tai (body) and sabaki (handling, control). It means a whole-body movement by which a fighter leaves the line of attack and gets into a position from which they can continue the attack, evade it or respond. It includes footwork (ashi sabaki) and turning the hips and trunk. In aikido, tai sabaki is based on the movements irimi and tenkan. In judo it is turning the body when entering a throw, in karate evasive moves followed by a counterattack.
Relations to other terms
Narrower terms
A forward movement into the attacker's space, off the line of his attack. Together with tenkan it forms the basis of movement in aikido.
Tenkan転換A turn of the body on the spot by which the defender blends with the direction of the attack and leads it onward. Together with irimi it forms the basis of movement in aikido.
See also
A forward movement into the attacker's space, off the line of his attack. Together with tenkan it forms the basis of movement in aikido.
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.
Tenkan転換A turn of the body on the spot by which the defender blends with the direction of the attack and leads it onward. Together with irimi it forms the basis of movement in aikido.
Ma-ai間合いThe distance between opponents from which one can strike or evade. It is not only meters but also the time an attack needs to cross the distance.