The importance of keeping your body connected.

So in talking with a Sensei at the dojo we talked about his training were he had learned about the importance of keeping your body connected in every move. What we discussed about that is connecting your hara in each move in karate. When you have this connected movement your body moves in a coordinated fashion. Much more like a fluid dance that has a very discrete starting position and ending position. I will be coming back to this post over time adding in more observations as I learn them myself. Currently what I must do is break down each basic karate technique and relearn it in being connected AND with the absolute minimal effort. Than take that technique and reapply it in every kata or kihon technique and than learn to chain those movements together.

Random thoughts in no particular order

• Connected means your hara ties the movement and strength of your legs to your core and your upper body to your core as well. Everything moves as one unit.
• You must have low stances. High stances can make it difficult to engage the correct muscles. Sensei does not tell you to lower your stance for no good reason.
• You must have good posture with your tail bone tucked in. I having had bad posture learned this very late in my karate life. If your posture is incorrect your hips and shoulders WILL BE disconnected. Think of a rubber band you can push on it even if you think it is tight and it moves. Your core body must be one unit of connected muscles from hip to shoulders.
• Movement. Shift your weight before picking that foot up and keep low.
• Watch that pelvis when moving the tendency is to stick the butt out or shoulders out of alignment between stances. That makes it three times more difficult to snap your body back into alignment at the end of the movement.
• Remove all the extra movements you add into your technique.
• Always, always, always have your core muscles engaged. Even if resting in stance it is your core that holds your body into alignment. Now many other muscles probably should be in a relaxed state and that is good.

Well that's my thoughts for now. It is the greatest thing when you get it as your kime becomes crisp and powerful with less energy.