Big Thanks to Lennon West Custom Photography.

Kuzushi is the act of off balancing. I am sure it has many terms in many martial arts. But one thing for certain is if you don’t understand this principle everything is harder. When you try to sweep/ throw/ reverse if you haven’t off balanced(kuzushi) it becomes a strength move and is slower and more tiring. When you broaden this definition of kuzushi of off balancing as just tipping in your favor. weather that is position, footwork. Even in real life research against things you dont favor. You are at an advantage over these opponents because you have upset their game and put odd in your favor.

Back to the martial aspect. In striking kuzushi could be using footwork to get a person out of position. Maybe using certain tactics to draw a response that is more easily dictated. It is alot more easily defined in the grappling phases but I think this definition is only the beginning of it. Jason Jones(Dagaso on our forums) is very skilled in Kenpo, and Pekiti Tirsia Kali and has other arts influence also. I know that he uses off tactics that take and put a person out of their game with both arts. To me that is also kuzushi. In kali the block/ strike that makes the opponents stick react differently than the holder intends thus disrupts the balance of the stick. In kenpo the sector in different angles that cause the person to not be able to react very well and if they do react they are out of their base. Kali also has such footwork, I think Kuzushi is a HUGE part of kali, & silat. Its all about these subtle knee bumps, little taps and traps, a little pressure here and there. All of a sudden you are compromised. the other part of kuzushi I think is obvious don’t disrupt your own balance to disrupt others. This would give them opportunity to counter in the similar way even worse you did your off balancing so you gave it to them.

I have seen also where the principle gets looked at too much also and doesn’t take into account a response from the opponent. Sometimes a slow gradual build up to a disruption. An example of this is Aikido. I know a highly ranked Aikido practitioner who is in law enforcement. They are also ranked in a typical karate style. He says that Aikido is difficult to use in its pure sense because your joe average guy doesn’t move and respond as a trained opponent. It also doesn’t take into account crazed attackers that are very random  and unpredictable. So he has to mix the karate into it for it to work in his job as a law enforcement agent. 

I think this element(kuzushi) is really lacking in MMA and some modern Americanized martial arts. A true understanding of off balancing. Especially out of the slugger type training groups. I even see people who are pretty good martial artist who don’t use the concept. They stay head to head and exchange. Test of manhood type mentality. I owe the forum at www.defend.net a thanks for having a topic on this subject. That topic led me to www.judoinfo.com. http://judoinfo.com/kuzushi.htm
http://judoinfo.com/kuzushi1.htm
http://judoinfo.com/balance.htm

Again thanks to the CSW instructors. Erik Paulson and Greg Nelson. www.erikpaulson.com tons of info avail. I plan to meet Mr. Paulson next time he is  in the SLC, UT area for a seminar.

http://www.warriors-guild.com/EddieEdmundsSeminar.html

Eddie Edmunds Seminar – August 21st and 22nd
at the Warrior’s Guild!

  Friday 08/21: 7 to 8 PM – No Gi Session
Saturday 08/22: 10 AM to Noon – Gi Session
Cost is $50.00 for both sessions!

Don’t miss this opportunity to train with a world class, Pedro Sauer Black Belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor! Eddie Edmunds is the owner / head instructor at the Fusion Academy in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a black belt under Pedro Sauer.
A Gi is NOT REQUIRED for the Saturday, Gi session, but the instruction will be geared towards techniques using the Gi. You must pre-register / pre-pay for the seminar, either at the Warrior’s Guild Academy or online at www.warriors-guild.com.

Pre- registration required by Aug. 15th no walk-ins.

www.wyomma.com is having another showing on Aug. 15 2009

If you are interested in fighting in the show contact Dave at webmaster@wyomma.com. They follow the unified rules of mma. See below for links.

I will be updating this posting as I get more details myself. Most wmma shows are also listed on the www.mixedmartialarts.com under events. Link is below

Check it out. Dave and WMMA have shown to be good for the sport of MMA in Wyoming.

Rules and requirements

General
http://snurl.com/wymma.general
Ammy rules
http://snurl.com/wymma.am
Pro rules
http://snurl.com/wymma.pro

Card is below

official link varies from below: http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=stats.fightCard&eid=293a4189-11e9-404f-ba35-7194ade2ef5d#fight_103639

wyomma forum post on show: http://rmia.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=had2&action=display&thread=194

tom bingel vs jay roberts – lhw belt

casey barnum vs shawn conroy – pro 180 catch weight

danny august vs dallas meadows – ww belt

robert stout vs cody haverkamp – pro/am hvyw

dameon baker vs jay york – fw belt

lloyd blackbird vs tony woodruff – mw belt
tj yarborough vs brian hill – ww
john kinnamon vs tyler rodgers – lw
carson revelli vs kade johnson – lw
kim mcdonough vs ryan landis – fw
dean lightfoot vs terry stebbins – ww
chris finney vs brandon wiseman – mw
and looking for a 130 lb female to matchup

http://www.flaminggorgedays.com/

One of the up and coming local shows. They are having an event tomorrow. Here is a link to the card.

http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=events.detail&eid=58f96432-7557-4779-92f2-0baf0b8a8e72

They only have a MySpace page which I do not find terribly professional. they are trying to do some good things so the MySpace is petty.

http://www.myspace.com/wordoffist

I know two people involved with actually putting this show on. It is a lot better than the other alternative we have in Rock Springs.
I went to the inaugural event and it was good.

I wish all the fighters well. I will post the results when I get them.

Good luck all.

I hope to have some info on a show from wyomma.comm also…..

SURVIVAL EDGE TACTICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

Is proud to host

GRAND TUHON LEO GAJE JR.

PEKITI-TIRSIA KALI

___________________________________________________________________________

Recently featured on The History Channel’s Human Weapon and Discovery’s Fight Quest, Grand-Tuhon Leo T. Gaje is professionally recognized as the worlds leading authority on Knife Fighting and the Filipino Martial Arts. For more than three decades he has trained military, law enforcement, and private citizens worldwide in the Filipino fighting system of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali. Mr. Gaje has developed police & military close-quarters combat programs and trained military special operations forces across the world. Currently he serves as a senior consultant to the Philippine national government conducting training programs for military and law enforcement units engaged in joint allied counter-terrorism operations in the pacific region.

TUITION

1 day $100

2 days $190

Register before July 15 and receive $10 discount per day on registration.

For more information and to pre-register visit:

contact Jared @ survival.edge@yahoo.com (801) 673-8319

You can download the flyer here