A little white ago I introduced a basic footwork drill done in Tou'on-ryu called "Ten-I-Happo". The next drill I'd like to talk about is sankaku tenshin or triangle footwork. Its something that I learned in both Tou'on-ryu and in my Goju-ryu days, and is common in many Okinawan Karatedo schools.
In the most rudimentary form of sankaku tenshin you start from migi neko-ashi dachi (cat stance with the right leg forward). Maintaining that position, you shift off to the left at an angle of 40 degrees or so. The next part is to step in at 40 degrees again with the right foot using a heel-toe step. At the completion, the hips are square and facing to the front again. Below I've also inserted a diagram of the position of the torso relative to performing the footwork.
In the most rudimentary form of sankaku tenshin you start from migi neko-ashi dachi (cat stance with the right leg forward). Maintaining that position, you shift off to the left at an angle of 40 degrees or so. The next part is to step in at 40 degrees again with the right foot using a heel-toe step. At the completion, the hips are square and facing to the front again. Below I've also inserted a diagram of the position of the torso relative to performing the footwork.
Sankaku tenshin is not an overly complex drill, but it is extremely important for beginners to learn, understand and internalize. In basic terms, it teaches efficient, non-telegraphed evasion, explosive power, and how to occupy an opponent's space.As I mentioned earlier, many Okinawa Karatedo schools practice a variant of this footwork drill, and if you do, you should try to watch your teacher when he/she demonstrates it. You will always learn something.
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