ippon blade Q&A Complete Edition
Practical Body Mechanics Edition
Introduction
In the previous “ippon blade Q&A Complete Edition,” I explained the background of its development, pricing, safety, product features, and why we continue to create ippon blade.
But in reality, many people also ask more practical questions.
How should I walk?
How should I run?
Why does it feel easier?
Why can it make movement faster?
Why does my balance change?
These are questions about actual movement.
However, I do not want to teach one fixed form or one specific style.
Because form is only the result.
The real essence is the principle behind it.
Even if you copy the form of a famous athlete, imitate the movements of samurai or ninja, or try to reproduce old Japanese running methods, you will not be able to use them properly unless you understand the principle behind the movement.
But once you understand the principle, you can understand many different movement methods and use them according to the situation.
So in this Practical Body Mechanics Edition, I will explain the way we understand and teach movement through daily practice with ippon blade.
Q. What is the difference between walking and running?
Many people think walking means moving the legs, and running means moving the legs faster.
But that is not the real essence.
Human beings do not move forward simply by moving the legs.
We move by shifting the center of gravity.
The legs move as a result of that shift.
For example, even if you move your legs very fast in one place, you will not move forward unless your center of gravity moves. On the other hand, once your center of gravity moves, the legs naturally move to support the body.
Walking and running are fundamentally the same in this sense.
The difference is how the center of gravity is moved.
The center of gravity is the virtual point where the weight of the whole body is gathered. The body is always trying to support that point.
This is where the base of support becomes important.
The base of support means the area that supports the body. When standing, it is the feet. When standing on one leg, it is the foot that is touching the ground. With ippon blade, the point where the blade touches the ground becomes extremely important.
When the center of gravity is within the base of support, the body is stable.
When the center of gravity moves outside the base of support, the body begins to move.
Walking can be understood as a continuous process of moving the center of gravity outside the current base of support and creating the next base of support.
That is why I believe we should first look at the center of gravity, not the legs.
And the pelvis plays a major role in controlling that center of gravity.
Q. Is anterior pelvic tilt always correct?
In running and posture instruction, we often hear that anterior pelvic tilt is correct.
But I do not think anterior pelvic tilt is always correct.
Anterior pelvic tilt has a role. Posterior pelvic tilt also has a role. A neutral pelvic position also has a role.
What matters is not fixing the pelvis in one correct position, but being able to use each position depending on the situation.
Anterior pelvic tilt shifts the center of gravity of the pelvis forward.
It is like an accelerator.
When you want to accelerate.
When you go uphill.
When you jump.
When you need explosive propulsion.
In these situations, anterior pelvic tilt can be useful.
On the other hand, posterior pelvic tilt works more like a brake.
When going downhill.
When slowing down.
When reducing landing impact.
When moving on slippery ground.
In these situations, slightly tilting the pelvis backward helps adjust the center of gravity toward the rear.
And the reference point that allows you to use both anterior and posterior tilt properly is the neutral pelvic position.
Here, many people misunderstand one important point.
They confuse anterior pelvic tilt with leaning the head forward.
But moving the pelvis forward and dropping the head forward are completely different things.
If only the head moves forward, the body begins to collapse forward. The center of gravity moves away from the base of support, the body becomes unable to receive ground reaction force efficiently, and unnecessary tension appears in the neck, shoulders, lower back, knees, and ankles.
That is not true forward movement.
It is simply falling forward and using the legs to stop the fall.
What matters is not dropping the head forward.
What matters is carrying the center of gravity of the pelvis forward.
In traditional Japanese performing arts such as Noh walking, the head does not fall forward. The pelvis moves forward, and the whole body follows as a result.
The same principle can be seen in martial arts, dance, and skilled runners.
The head does not rush forward.
The center of gravity is carried from the pelvis.
Q. What is a neutral pelvis?
Some people say anterior pelvic tilt is correct.
Some people say posterior pelvic tilt is bad.
But the human body is not that simple.
The body is always changing.
When accelerating.
When decelerating.
When jumping.
When landing.
When focusing.
When resting.
The angle of the pelvis changes according to the situation.
This is why the neutral pelvis is important.
A neutral pelvis means the middle state between anterior pelvic tilt and posterior pelvic tilt.
I sometimes describe this as a balanced center.
But this does not mean staying still in the middle.
It means being able to move forward or backward without being stuck in either direction.
When anterior pelvic tilt becomes stronger, the body becomes more active.
The extensor muscles become easier to use, and the sympathetic nervous system tends to become more active.
Acceleration.
Jumping.
Uphill movement.
Explosive movement.
For these movements, anterior pelvic tilt can be useful.
But if it becomes excessive, it can lead to excessive arching of the lower back, unnecessary tension, and shallow breathing.
On the other hand, when posterior pelvic tilt becomes stronger, the body moves toward stability.
The flexor muscles and deep stabilizing muscles become easier to use, and the parasympathetic nervous system tends to become more active.
Breathing.
Relaxation.
Stable movement.
Holding posture for a longer time.
For these situations, posterior pelvic tilt can be useful.
But if it becomes excessive, propulsion is lost and movement becomes dull.
So the point is not that anterior tilt is correct or posterior tilt is wrong.
The important thing is being able to use both.
You can use the accelerator.
You can use the brake.
And when you no longer need either, you can return to neutral.
That is the neutral pelvis.
In a neutral pelvic position, extensors and flexors, surface muscles and deep muscles, centripetal movement and centrifugal movement, fast-twitch and slow-twitch fibers, sympathetic and parasympathetic activity can coordinate more easily instead of conflicting with each other.
The body is not meant to be fixed to one side.
You can tilt forward.
You can tilt backward.
And you can always return to neutral.
That is a free body.
So what I aim for is not anterior pelvic tilt or posterior pelvic tilt.
I aim for a body that can use the neutral pelvis as a reference point and freely shift forward or backward when necessary.
That state also allows the body to receive gravity and ground reaction force more naturally.
Q. What is ground reaction force?
In running and sports, people often say, “Use ground reaction force.”
But many people misunderstand what ground reaction force actually is.
First, ground reaction force is not something you create by yourself.
It is the reaction force that comes from the ground when force is applied to it through gravity.
In other words, ground reaction force exists because gravity exists.
You cannot take out ground reaction force separately and use it by itself.
There is also a condition for receiving it well.
The center of gravity must be properly placed over the base of support.
For the human body, this is the foot.
For ippon blade, this is the point where the blade touches the ground.
When the center of gravity is placed properly over that point, the body can receive ground reaction force more efficiently.
But if the head drops too far forward and the center of gravity moves far away from the base of support, it becomes difficult to keep receiving ground reaction force.
So to use ground reaction force, it is more important to place the body in the right position than to kick the ground hard.
Many people try to kick the ground. They try to stomp harder. They try to push with force.
But what is truly needed is not forcing the ground.
It is accepting gravity, placing the body properly, and receiving the natural reaction that comes back from the ground.
The more you try to create ground reaction force by force, the more tension appears in the body.
The better you place the body to receive it, the lighter the body becomes.
That is why, with ippon blade, what matters is not making ground reaction force.
What matters is receiving it.
Ground reaction force is not just a physical phenomenon.
It is a dialogue with gravity.
Q. Is vertical movement bad?
In running instruction, people often say, “Reduce unnecessary vertical movement.”
This is partly true.
Excessive vertical movement wastes energy. If you jump too high, landing impact also increases.
But trying to eliminate all vertical movement is a mistake.
The human body is naturally built to spring.
The sole of the foot.
The Achilles tendon.
The calf.
The hamstrings.
The fascia.
The spine.
All of these have spring-like qualities.
Receiving ground reaction force means that the body is lifted slightly.
The problem is not vertical movement itself.
The real question is where that spring energy is converted.
If it escapes upward, it becomes unnecessary bouncing.
If it is converted forward, it becomes propulsion.
If it is converted into knee lift, leg turnover becomes lighter.
If it is converted into shock absorption, the body receives less stress.
When you watch a skilled runner, the body is certainly moving up and down. But it does not look like wasteful bouncing.
That is because the upward spring is being converted into leg turnover, pelvic movement, and forward propulsion.
On the other hand, if you stiffen the body in order to eliminate vertical movement, you become unable to receive ground reaction force.
Then the body sinks.
The center of gravity drops.
You are forced to run with the legs alone.
You become tired more easily.
Speed becomes harder to produce.
Injury risk also increases.
So the correct idea is not “Do not move up and down.”
The correct idea is “Reduce unnecessary vertical movement.”
And after reducing unnecessary movement, you should actively use the natural elasticity of the body and the ground reaction force.
The same applies to ippon blade.
Ground reaction force lifts the body and raises the center of gravity. From that floating-like state, the center of gravity is transferred by the tilt of the body’s axis.
As a result, walking and running become more natural.
Do not eliminate vertical movement.
Convert it into propulsion.
That is what it means to use ground reaction force.
Q. Why does it feel like floating when you get used to ippon blade?
People who continue practicing with ippon blade sometimes say,
“It feels like I am floating.”
“My body feels lighter.”
“I am touching the ground, but it feels like I am floating.”
This is not a mystical idea.
It is a physical sensation created by the body.
First, we must understand that human beings are always under the influence of gravity.
When standing, walking, or running, gravity is always pulling us downward.
Because of that, many people unconsciously try to hold themselves up with muscular effort.
They hold themselves with the legs.
They hold themselves with the lower back.
They hold themselves with the shoulders.
They hold themselves with the neck.
Then the body feels heavy.
But when the center of gravity becomes organized and the body can receive ground reaction force over the base of support, the situation changes.
The body no longer needs to be supported by muscular effort alone.
The reaction force from the ground begins to lift the body naturally.
Of course, your actual body weight has not changed. Gravity has not disappeared.
But once you can feel the center of gravity being lifted by ground reaction force, the burden of supporting the body becomes lighter. As a result, the body feels lighter.
What matters here is how you use that lifted center of gravity.
Many people try to move forward. They try to run. They try to produce speed.
But that is not necessary.
Once the center of gravity has been lifted by ground reaction force, you simply transfer it by tilting the body’s axis.
Then the legs naturally follow.
You can walk without trying to walk.
You can run without trying to run.
The sensation moves closer to that.
This is not about slightly losing balance and falling forward.
It is about transferring the center of gravity, which has been lifted by ground reaction force, through the tilt of the axis.
That is why the body feels light.
When the body feels lighter, breathing also changes. The field of vision expands. Tension decreases. Movement becomes smoother.
So the floating sensation does not mean you are flying.
It does not mean gravity has disappeared.
It means the relationship between gravity and ground reaction force has become more organized, and the body’s natural elasticity and reflexes have begun to work better.
To stabilize this sensation further, the next important concept is the relationship between one-axis and two-axis movement.
Q. What are one-axis and two-axis movement?
In ippon blade, we do not think that one-axis movement is correct and two-axis movement is wrong.
We also do not think that two-axis movement is correct and one-axis movement is wrong.
Both are natural functions of the human body.
They should be used depending on the purpose and situation.
Two-axis movement means moving while stabilizing the pelvis between the right and left leg axes.
Because the body is supported by both legs, the pelvis becomes stable and the body moves more like one cylinder. Side-to-side sway becomes smaller, and quiet stable movement becomes easier.
Traditional Japanese walking in kimono or certain forms of Noh movement are examples of two-axis body mechanics.
One-axis movement means placing the center of gravity of the pelvis and the central axis of the body over the support axis of the leg that is touching the ground.
In Japanese martial arts, people often say “put the hips in.” This does not mean twisting the hips or simply lowering the hips.
It means aligning the center of gravity of the pelvis and the centerline of the body over the supporting leg.
When this happens, the body becomes like a single pillar and can receive ground reaction force efficiently from the supporting leg.
A model walk is also a clear example of one-axis movement, even though it is walking. The body places weight onto one leg and transfers the pelvis forward.
So it is not true that walking is always two-axis and running is always one-axis.
What matters is where the center of gravity of the pelvis and the centerline of the body are placed.
There is one-axis movement in walking.
There is two-axis movement in running.
The same applies to martial arts, sports, and daily movement.
When stability is the priority, two-axis movement can be useful.
When acceleration, change of direction, jumping, or strong propulsion is needed, one-axis movement can be useful.
In reality, human movement is not made only of one or the other.
Walking, running, martial arts, and sports all move continuously between one-axis and two-axis patterns.
ippon blade makes this difference very easy to feel.
On a single blade, you cannot hide the position of your center of gravity.
If the center of gravity of the pelvis and the centerline of the body align with the support axis, you become stable.
If they do not align, you become unstable.
It is very simple.
The goal is not to become one-axis only.
The goal is not to become two-axis only.
The goal is to understand the qualities of both and use them freely when needed.
Q. How does eye focus affect the body?
When people start learning body mechanics, they tend to focus on the center of gravity, the pelvis, ground reaction force, or muscles.
But there is something just as important.
That is the eyes.
Human beings unconsciously adjust body position based on visual information.
When the eyes change, the center of gravity changes.
Posture changes.
Muscle tension changes.
Balance changes.
For example, when people keep looking down at their feet, the head tends to drop.
The neck moves forward.
The back rounds.
Breathing becomes shallow.
As a result, the center of gravity drops and the body becomes tense.
On the other hand, if you look too far away, you may lose important information from the ground directly in front of you. This can be dangerous on uneven surfaces.
So the eyes should not be too low or too high.
They should be adjusted according to the situation.
The eyes are also deeply connected to balance.
Human balance is not created by muscle strength alone.
It is created by the cooperation of three systems.
Vision.
Vestibular sense.
Body sensation.
The vestibular sense is the system inside the inner ear that senses gravity, acceleration, and movement. When the body tilts, rotates, or accelerates, this system sends information to the brain.
Vision and the vestibular system are always working together.
That is why when the gaze becomes stable, the body also becomes more stable.
When the eyes move around too much, the body also becomes unstable.
When people first try a single-blade geta, they often stare at their feet.
Then they lose balance even more.
That is because the body is pulled toward the ground by the eyes.
But as they become more used to it, their gaze naturally becomes farther and wider. They begin to see the whole space around them.
Then the body becomes more stable.
This is not mental theory.
The eyes are changing the center of gravity and muscle tension.
The same is true in martial arts, dance, and sports.
Skilled athletes do not look at only one point.
They look at what they need to see while also sensing the whole surrounding space.
In Japanese, we sometimes distinguish between “seeing” and “observing.”
The eyes are not only for looking at scenery.
They determine the direction of the body.
They determine the direction of the center of gravity.
They are an important sensor that adjusts the balance of the entire body.
So if you want to change the body, first try changing the eyes.
Changing the center of gravity and changing the eyes are deeply connected.
Q. What are Nanba and Edo-style running?
Recently, words such as “Nanba running” and “Edo running” have become more visible, especially among people interested in old Japanese movement culture.
However, these words can be misunderstood outside Japan.
First, “Edo running” is not a clearly established historical term that people in the Edo period officially used for a specific running style.
Rather, it is a modern name used by some people to describe and reinterpret movement methods that may have existed in old Japan.
In old Japan, there were couriers, samurai, farmers, craftsmen, mountain ascetics, and many other people who had practical ways of moving through daily life.
They walked long distances.
They carried loads.
They moved on mountain paths.
They wore kimono.
They used sandals or geta.
Some carried swords or tools.
Their way of moving was not created for modern sports competitions.
It was created for real life.
The purpose was not only speed.
It was also endurance, stability, safety, and the ability to move efficiently in the environment.
Nanba is also explained in many different ways.
In my view, Nanba is a movement principle that applies the same-side coordination seen in quadruped animals to upright human movement.
When dogs, cats, or horses walk, there are moments when the front and rear limbs on the same side coordinate with each other. This is called lateral gait.
Humans are upright, so we cannot simply copy animal movement as it is.
But we can use the coordination principle.
So Nanba is not one fixed form.
It is one way of coordinating the body.
And it is not an exotic or magical Japanese running technique.
Modern people also use similar movement unconsciously.
When carrying heavy objects.
When climbing uphill.
When walking on uneven ground.
The body naturally uses same-side coordination in these situations.
This kind of movement was also reasonable in old Japan.
People wore kimono.
They used sandals and geta.
Roads were not flat like modern pavement.
There were no cushioned running shoes.
Some people carried swords, tools, or loads.
In such an environment, reducing excessive twisting and keeping the body stable was practical.
However, the most important point is this.
Whether the movement is Nanba, cross-pattern movement, one-axis movement, or two-axis movement, the essence is the same.
The center of gravity is being transferred.
The timing and coordination may be different.
But the essential principle remains the transfer of the center of gravity.
That is why ippon blade does not treat Nanba as the only correct method.
We use cross-pattern movement.
We use Nanba-like movement.
We use one-axis movement.
We use two-axis movement.
Sometimes the body spirals.
Sometimes the body stays quiet and compact.
The best choice changes depending on the situation.
What matters is not which style is superior.
What matters is which body mechanics are reasonable in that moment.
And that reasonableness is determined not by fashion or image, but by universal principles such as center of gravity and ground reaction force.
Q. What is the difference between Japanese and Western body mechanics?
Recently, some people say Japanese body mechanics are superior, or Western body mechanics are inefficient.
I do not think that way.
The first thing to understand is that the body adapts to the environment.
Kimono culture.
Sandal culture.
Sword culture.
Tatami floors.
Mountain paths.
Farm work.
Martial arts.
These environments shaped certain Japanese body mechanics.
On the other hand,
Boot culture.
Stone pavement.
Modern roads.
Horse culture.
Sports culture.
Hunting culture.
These environments shaped different body mechanics.
So the question is not which is superior.
The question is which environment the movement adapted to.
In general, Japanese body mechanics tend to be centripetal.
Gathering toward the center.
Organizing the body.
Converging into the axis.
Concentrating force into one point.
This tendency can be seen in martial arts, Noh, tea ceremony, and other traditional arts.
Western body mechanics often tend to be more centrifugal.
Expanding outward.
Using space widely.
Extending the limbs.
Using a large range of motion.
This tendency can be seen in athletics, ball sports, and many modern sports.
But centripetal movement alone is not enough.
Centrifugal movement alone is also not enough.
If the body only gathers inward, movement becomes small.
If the body only expands outward, the axis is lost.
What truly matters is integration.
Because there is an axis, the body can expand.
Because the body can expand, the axis becomes alive.
Breathing is the same.
You cannot live only by inhaling.
You cannot live only by exhaling.
Both are necessary.
Body mechanics are the same.
The force that gathers toward the center and the force that expands outward are both necessary.
A martial arts master is not strong because the body is stiff. The body becomes strong because centripetal and centrifugal forces are used at the right moment.
The same applies to elite athletes. Even when they move dynamically, they do not lose the central axis of the body.
So the debate between Japanese and Western movement is not the essence.
The essence is whether one understands universal principles such as center of gravity, ground reaction force, base of support, the center of the pelvis, and the body’s central axis.
Once those principles are understood, the body can use both centripetal and centrifugal movement. It can use one-axis and two-axis movement. It can use Nanba-like coordination and cross-pattern coordination.
It can switch freely depending on the situation.
That is the kind of body ippon blade aims to develop.
It is not about being trapped in one tradition.
It is not about worshipping one culture.
We learn from Japanese wisdom.
We learn from global wisdom.
And we integrate both through the axis.
That is the body philosophy of ippon blade.
Q. How should we move on hills and stairs?
If you try to use the same movement on hills and stairs as you use on flat ground, movement becomes difficult.
That is because the relationship with gravity changes.
First, uphill movement.
When going uphill, the pelvis tilts slightly forward.
The important thing is not to drop the head forward. It is to send the center of gravity of the pelvis forward and let the whole body lean into the slope.
From there, you press the ground down using the hamstrings and glutes.
Then ground reaction force lifts the body, and forward movement becomes more natural.
Many people try to climb uphill using only leg strength. But the more you depend only on muscular effort, the more tired you become.
The important thing is not climbing with the legs.
It is carrying the center of gravity.
On a long uphill, you do not always need to kick strongly.
When you become tired, relax the back, shorten the stride, and use the stretch reflex of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia with a small rhythmic step. This is often more efficient.
Next, downhill movement.
What is dangerous downhill is speed.
The more you fall forward, the more gravity accelerates you.
This is where posterior pelvic tilt becomes important.
By tilting the pelvis slightly backward, you can adjust the center of gravity toward the rear. It is like releasing the accelerator and using the brake.
Beginners often try to stop only with the legs. Then the front of the thighs and knees receive too much stress.
The body should not be controlled only by the legs.
It should be controlled by the position of the center of gravity.
First, adjust speed with a slight posterior pelvic tilt. Once you become more skilled, gradually return the pelvis toward neutral and use ground reaction force while moving.
This reduces unnecessary stress on the body.
Stairs follow the same basic principle, but each step makes the shift of the center of gravity even clearer.
When going upstairs, after placing the foot on the next step, do not pull the body up only with the front of the thigh. Use the hamstrings and glutes to lift the pelvis.
Do not climb with the legs alone.
Lift the pelvis.
If the head rushes forward, stress goes into the knees and lower back. The important thing is to send the center of gravity of the pelvis to the next step and place the body over it.
The same applies when taking two steps at once.
Do not simply stretch the leg far forward. Transfer the center of gravity of the pelvis to the next step and move the whole body there. The leg is the support. The main actor is the center of gravity.
When going downstairs, the movement is reversed.
Do not descend from the foot first.
Descend from the pelvis.
Send the center of gravity of the pelvis to the next step, and then the foot follows.
This greatly reduces stress on the knees.
People who feel fear often look only at their feet and try to brake with the legs. Then the front thighs become tight, and stress concentrates on the knees.
In that situation, slightly tilt the pelvis backward and control the speed at which the center of gravity drops.
It is perfectly fine to use a handrail when needed. What matters is not whether you use the handrail or not. What matters is sensing where the center of gravity is and when it moves to the next base of support.
Stairs are one of the most accessible training places for learning center-of-gravity movement in daily life.
Going up teaches the accelerator.
Going down teaches the brake.
Returning to flat ground teaches neutral.
Hills and stairs are not places to test leg strength.
They are places to learn how to work with gravity.
Q. How should we move on stone pavement, gravel, and uneven ground?
The body moves differently on flat pavement compared to stone pavement, gravel, mountain paths, and uneven ground.
That is because the ground itself is unstable.
On flat ground, even if the foot lands somewhat roughly, it may not become a big problem. But on stones or gravel, the ground can move at the moment of contact.
If you place your full weight on the entire foot too early, the ankle may twist, and stress may travel to the knee or hip.
This is where the ball of the big toe becomes important.
On uneven ground, keep awareness around the ball of the big toe. Especially avoid letting the foot roll outward too easily.
When people become unstable, they often escape toward the little-toe side. But in that state, it becomes difficult to control the body.
By keeping some weight toward the big-toe side, the center of gravity becomes easier to control.
Another important point is not placing your full body weight too early.
On stones or gravel, the feeling is not “step and commit.”
It is closer to “check and move.”
Before the foot fully sinks into the ground, transfer the center of gravity to the next step.
For that, shorten the stride.
A long stride concentrates body weight on one leg. A smaller step makes it easier to keep adjusting balance continuously.
Wet stone pavement or mossy ground requires even more care.
On slippery ground, if you try to control everything with foot strength alone, you may slip. The more you resist the slippery surface with the foot, the more dangerous it becomes.
In these situations, use anterior and posterior pelvic tilt to control speed. Do not commit too much weight onto one leg. Use more of a two-axis sensation.
Then, before fully loading the standing leg, release the next leg from the hip joint. This is similar to increasing cadence.
Uneven ground is very honest.
It does not allow much cheating.
That is why stone pavement, gravel, and uneven ground are excellent training places for learning center-of-gravity movement and foot sensitivity.
Q. Should I grip the hanao strap with my toes?
When people talk about single-blade geta, they often say, “Grip the strap with your toes.”
In traditional geta culture, there were certainly techniques that used the hanao strap.
On slopes, stone steps, and uneven ground, there are situations where using the strap can help safety.
But gripping the strap and constantly clenching the strap are different things.
There are situations where you temporarily use the strap.
But you do not need to keep gripping it strongly all the time.
In fact, the more you keep gripping, the more tension appears in the body.
The toes become tense.
The sole muscles become tense.
The calves become tense.
That tension then spreads to the knees, hips, pelvis, and spine.
As a result, the body’s natural reflexes and elasticity become harder to use.
Excessive dependence on the strap can also concentrate stress around the metatarsal bones. In Japan, there is even a known type of injury sometimes associated with geta use.
Of course, this does not happen to everyone.
But it is dangerous to think that gripping the strap strongly is always correct.
ippon blade does not aim to support the body through the strap.
It aims to help the foot sense the ground.
What matters especially is the ball of the big toe and the ball of the little toe.
Many people focus only on the toes. But the body is supported by the whole sole of the foot.
The ball of the big toe.
The ball of the little toe.
The heel.
And the ground reaction force that comes through them.
The strap is only a support for that sensation.
It is not the main actor.
So first, do not try to grip the strap.
Stand through the sole.
Feel through the sole.
Control through the sole.
Then, when necessary, the strap will naturally be used.
That order is important.
People who focus too much on the strap often lose awareness of the ground.
People who can feel the ground tend to stop thinking too much about the strap.
ippon blade is not only for training the toes.
It is for using the whole sole, sensing gravity and ground reaction force, and integrating the entire body.
Q. Why does ippon blade reveal body habits?
People who use ippon blade often say,
“I noticed my body habits.”
“I realized my left and right sides are different.”
“I discovered movement patterns I had never noticed before.”
Why does this happen?
Because on a single blade, it becomes harder to hide compensation.
In daily life, even if the center of gravity is slightly off or posture is slightly collapsed, shoes and flat ground often compensate for it.
You can also hold yourself with muscle strength. You can force yourself to balance.
But on a single blade, much of that compensation is reduced.
Then the way your body actually operates becomes easier to see.
For example, some people shift their weight to the right. Some rely more on the left leg. Some have a tilted pelvis. Some have unstable eyes. Some hold too much tension in the shoulders.
These tendencies appear clearly.
But this is not a bad thing.
The important thing is noticing.
Every human body has history.
Age.
Work.
Sports experience.
Injuries.
Lifestyle.
Dominant hand.
Dominant leg.
All of these create the body you have now.
So no one is perfectly symmetrical.
The problem is not having asymmetry.
The problem is whether you are aware of it.
The body unconsciously seeks efficiency.
It uses the side that is easier to use.
It repeats the movement that feels familiar.
Then the body gradually becomes biased.
But because the person is used to it, it feels normal.
When you stand on ippon blade, that bias becomes easier to feel.
The right side feels stable, but the left side feels unstable.
Turning right is easy, but turning left is difficult.
Or the opposite.
It may feel like a new problem has suddenly appeared.
But in reality, it was already there. You simply became able to feel it.
That is why I do not see ippon blade as something that forcibly corrects the body.
First, know.
First, feel.
First, recognize.
That is the beginning.
Once you can recognize something, the body slowly begins to change.
Because the brain cannot adjust what it cannot recognize.
Body habits are not enemies.
They are information for understanding yourself.
ippon blade acts like a mirror that makes that information easier to see.
Q. Is ippon blade for learning one specific running style?
The answer is no.
I do not want to teach only Nanba running, only Edo-style running, or only one-axis running.
Of course, there are things to learn from all of them.
I have studied them myself.
But no running style is perfect.
Every movement method has strengths and weaknesses.
Nanba-like movement can reduce twisting and may work well with traditional clothing or carrying loads.
On the other hand, in modern sports where explosive propulsion and dynamic movement are needed, cross-pattern movement may be more useful.
One-axis movement can produce strong ground reaction force and propulsion.
But when stability is the priority, two-axis movement may be more reasonable.
So the question is not which running style is correct.
The question is what to use in each situation.
Martial arts are the same.
There is not only one stance.
There is not only one technique.
Everything changes depending on the situation.
Body mechanics are the same.
That is why I believe understanding principles is more important than memorizing form.
What is center-of-gravity movement?
What is the base of support?
What is ground reaction force?
What is the center of the pelvis?
What is the central axis of the body?
Once you understand these, you can understand Nanba-like movement, cross-pattern movement, one-axis movement, and two-axis movement.
Then you can naturally choose what is needed in each situation.
ippon blade is not for creating one fixed school or style.
It is not for narrowing the possibilities of the body.
It is the opposite.
It helps us understand the common principles behind many different movement cultures and integrate them.
Do not be trapped by form.
Understand the principle.
Then use the body freely according to the situation.
That is the true freedom of the body.
Q. What kind of body does ippon blade aim to develop?
So far, we have discussed center-of-gravity movement, base of support, anterior and posterior pelvic tilt, neutral pelvis, ground reaction force, vertical movement, floating sensation, one-axis and two-axis movement, eye focus, Nanba, Japanese and Western body mechanics, hills and stairs, uneven ground, the hanao strap, and body habits.
After all of that, some people may ask,
“So what is the correct form?”
But I still believe there is no single correct form.
Because human movement changes depending on the environment.
Flat ground and mountain paths are different.
Uphill and downhill are different.
Traditional clothing and sportswear are different.
Martial arts and athletics are different.
Young people and older people are different.
The condition, age, purpose, and environment of each body are different.
So it is impossible to treat one form as absolute.
ippon blade does not aim for one specific form.
It does not aim for one specific school.
It does not aim for one fixed theory.
What it aims for is the ability to use the body freely according to the situation.
You can tilt forward.
You can tilt backward.
You can return to neutral.
You can use one-axis movement.
You can use two-axis movement.
You can use Nanba-like movement.
You can use cross-pattern movement.
You can use centripetal movement.
You can use centrifugal movement.
You can choose the necessary body mechanics at the necessary moment.
That is what I consider a truly free body.
And at the center of that freedom is the axis.
Because there is an axis, you can move forward.
Because there is an axis, you can move backward.
Because there is an axis, you can move big.
Because there is an axis, you can move small.
Because there is an axis, you can become quiet.
Because there is an axis, you can become powerful.
Freedom without an axis is only instability.
But freedom with an axis becomes infinite possibility.
What I truly want to share is not the shape itself.
It is the potential of the human body.
The relationship between gravity and ground reaction force.
The principle of center-of-gravity movement.
The natural ability that human beings already have.
ippon blade is not only for running faster.
It is not only for health.
It is not only for competition.
It is for knowing the body, feeling the body, and developing the body.
As a result, walking changes. Running changes. Standing changes. And the way you relate to your own body changes.
I believe in that possibility.
There is no perfect final answer.
That is why we practice, test, and continue learning.
ippon blade is one entrance into that exploration.
If this text becomes an opportunity for you to look at your own body again, I will be grateful.
And if you have the chance, please actually step onto ippon blade and enjoy the dialogue between gravity, ground reaction force, and your own body.
That is the true entrance to ippon blade as I understand it.