(Approx 2 minute read)

I thought I would write a follow-up to my article on kuzushi, as it was mentioned that there is a certain kata that teaches an unbalancing technique.
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Balance is everything, right? The ability to maintain your own stability while breaking your opponent’s balance is a key factor in effective combat.
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In my humble opinion, it’s important to remember that kuzushi is a universal principle, that would be present in all kata, it is not just a technique.
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In case you missed my earlier article, the term kuzushi refers to breaking an opponent’s balance to create an opening for attack or to neutralize their threat. In practical terms, it involves destabilizing the opponent physically (or mentally). This concept is vital for self-defense, as it disrupts the opponent’s ability to continue attacking or resist effectively.
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However, while certain kata may have examples of this concept, it’s not unique. Every kata contains principles of balance manipulation, and each one gives us a chance to practice it in different contexts.
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Kata, in its essence, is about practicing core principles. Whether you are practicing, Naihanchi, Seienchin, Seisan, Passai or any other, kuzushi is always present – it has to be – sometimes overtly, sometimes subtly.
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The study of kata is about more than memorizing sequences of techniques. Kata serves as a tool, a template, for understanding fundamental principles that apply to real combat. Kuzushi is one such principle. Every time we move, strike, or shift in a kata, we’re either maintaining our own balance or affecting that of our opponent. The key lies in recognizing these moments and internalizing the concept so that it becomes second nature.
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When you focus on the concept of kuzushi across all kata, you learn how to break balance in a variety of situations and scenarios.

It’s easy to see why one kata maybe highlighted for teaching balance-breaking techniques, but it’s important not to overlook other kata. When kata were created, students often learned only two or three.
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Remember that it’s a universal principle not a singular technique. If the principle of unbalancing were introduced in just one kata, this vital skill could have been missed in a student’s learning.
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Each kata contains valuable lessons, but kuzushi is one of those universal concepts that goes beyond the specific movements of any one kata.
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As martial artists, our goal should be to explore how these concepts flow through all of our training, not just isolated examples. By doing so, we deepen our understanding and increase our ability to apply these lessons in real-world situations.
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In the end, every kata teaches kuzushi in its own way – the challenge is to recognize it and integrate it into every aspect of your practice.
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Here’s a powerful quote from Sampson Sensei, 9th Dan Judo, that highlights the significance of this principle: “Breaking someone’s balance is the single most important aspect of judo, and the very principle that makes judo effective.” Surely, that tells us something..
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Written by AC.
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Photo Credit: With thanks to Iain Abernethy for the photo
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