Coach Decker's Mat Monkeys Martial Arts for Kids lesson 12 - Kuzushi Balance 2.0 - The four corners.

Kuzushi is an application of force to an opponent to make him or her move in a certain way to put them off balance and create an advantage for executing an offensive technique. Kuzushi can be a subtle push or pull that the opponent may not even feel or a large force. Application of Kuzushi is necessary before application of an offensive technique but can be applied before an opponent moves or attacks.

The (8) directions of #kuzushi are called HAPPO NO KUZUSHI in #Judo: (1) toward the front, (2) toward the right front corner, (3) toward the right, (4) toward the right rear corner, (5) Toward the back, (6) Toward the left rear corner, (7) Toward the left, (8) Toward the left front corner. #coachdecker #matmonkeys #freestylejudo #shingitaijujitsu

Some Japanese judoka divide the execution of a throw into three stages namely kuzushi, tsukuri, kake but Kano divided it into two stages – tsukuri and kake with kuzushi as part of tsukuri. This duo-trio (kuzushi/tsukuri/kake) appears unique to judo. Kuzushi is very much a Kano devised principle and is usually taught in eight directions, although in the beginning it was in six directions. Japanese jujitsu books use the verb kuzusu in its everyday meaning of break down or destroy but it does not seem to be used in the same manner as Kano used it.

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