Tai sabaki & mushin

A student is practicing kakarikeiko. I try to force him into attacking with more intensity, but it just makes him more agitated and less focused. So I wonder: how to get him to move and react faster, with less time to reflect. I figure that he needs to get his body in position if his mind is to let loose... For kids, this means a couple of hours of kakarikeiko. That'll do the trick. But for grownups, this might not work. Ifind that pushing them that way maybe will "free their mind" but certainly will introduce strange posture. So some form, some mechanics is in order before going any further. I note that his taisabaki is unbalanced and muddy towards the end of zanshin. He ends up either wobbling left/right or tap dancing before his next launch. So we work on that for 30 minutes... - men, zanshin, 1, 2, 3 steps- plant right foot straight- pivot on ball of right foot- land on ball of left foot - relaunch instantly ... repeat 10 times ... Or until problem corrected
He now knows what to do. In the short time practicing this he hasn't mastered it to a satisfying point. But he knows what to reach for and will eventually get it right. I decided to work on that aspect of zanshin much earlier next time. Perhaps as early as tonight with the beginners supposed to join.

Not only does this help perform kakarigeiko better, it also has to do with improving the reaction after a missed waza such as men. Following a missed men, supposing the two bodies come in contact for a fraction of a second, that moment is a great time to try hiki waza. What often happens though is that one's body stops completely in front of motodachi, a brawl occurs and some form of hiki waza is tried. My theory is that proper taisabaki is crucial to proper follow up (hiki waza). Specifically, hiki waza requires advanced footwork, not arm ability. This is a concept usually misunderstood in western dojos.