taijutsu

Taijutsu is the empty-handed fighting system of the Ninja. Points that the body strike with (also called natural weapons) are the head, the mouth (in one technique called Shi-Ken)the shoulders, fist knuckles, the palms, the edge of the hands, the finger tips of the hands, the 2nd knuckles, the bottom of the closed hand, the elbow, the hips, the knee's, the tips of the toes, the edge of the feet, the flat of the feet and the heels. Taijutsu utilizes striking techniques, throwing techniques, escape from locks and throws, Sabaki (sword evasion), Taihenjutsu (acrobatics, rolls, breakfalls), locks, grappling and disarming techniques. High level taijutsu deals with daken-tai (practical patterns-when the techniques are carried out against a striking opponent)with swords, instead of evading, simply combating them. This is called Muto meaning *no sword* and it is when Taijutsu becomes non-empty handed and deals with tools such as Shuko to grab weapons with. Taijutsu also deals with multiple attackers, as ninja needed to cover all aspects. There are a few main stances in Taijutsu- Katate Ichimonji no Kamae-The normal stance, wide open and most weight is on the back leg, front arm extended outwards, back arm covers the heart. Shizen no Kamae (Shizen Tai)-Relaxed natural posture. Za-gamae (Fudo Za) A horrible way of sitting down, worse then seiza, where one leg is in the *cross leged fashion* and the other leg is in Seiza. Doko no Kamae-Like ichimonji no kamae, but you hold a rear hand near your ear holding a boshi ken fist. Kosei-no-Kamae-One hand over the forehead, one hand protecting the groin. Things unique to Taijutsu are the hand-striking techniques, like Boshi ken where your fist is clenched but your thumb tip protrudes slightly over the top of the fist, Sui ken and Shihan ken ect, The kicking method-It is not a snap kick. Imagine a cobra, rearing up before, the enemy, and then suddenly lashing out. This is a Taijutsu kick metaphor, you raise your knee to your chest inwards, then the leg springs out and you smash with the flat of your foot. This was to deal with Samurai wearing armour.