This provides a constantly stable base from which the Kendo practitioner can execute waza, even while moving. The left toes remain at all times behind the right heel. At no point does either foot leave the ground, nor does the left foot ever cross in front of the right. One step is now complete, and the left leg should be 'primed' to begin another. As soon as the right foot has stopped moving and temporarily supports the body's weight, the left foot snaps forwards to its original position relative to the body, and once again bears most of the weight. All the muscular work is performed by the left leg, particularly the calf. At this point the right foot does not reach forwards relative to the body any more than it did while standing in chuudan-no-kamae - rather, the left foot trails. The left foot pushes backwards against the ground, moving the right foot forwards *along with the body*. Starting from the standard foot position, the left foot bears the majority of the body's weight, and the left calf muscle is stretched slightly. "Pushing-forward footwork." This is the basic and most generally used footwork in Kendo. Ayumi-ashi can be used to move backwards by reversing "right" and "left," "forwards" and "backwards," "in front" and "behind," et cetera, within this description. It is used when entering and exiting the ring before a match has begun, and during a match when sufficiently far away from one's opponent that contact with them is unlikely within the next few seconds. Because the feet cross, this footwork sacrifices some stability in exchange for speed and freedom of movement. The net effect is that of the practitioner gliding smoothly over the ground, with little vertical motion. The motion is almost identical to sliding across a waxed floor in socks. The heels lift slightly from the ground, especially the one that is moving. Through all of this, the knees remain straight, but not locked the back remains straight and vertical, but not stiff and the toes and balls of the feet remain on the ground. The right foot then slides forward to its original position relative to the body and the left foot. The left foot then slides forward, past the right foot and just ahead of the body. Starting from chuudan-no-kamae (as all of these manoeuvres do), the right foot slides forward a reasonable distance, just ahead of the body. "Walking footwork." You probably know how to do this already. This technique is addressed at the end of this write-up. If okuri-ashi, hiraki-ashi, or tsugi-ashi is performed as part of a strike, it must be performed with fumi-komi-ashi, or a low stomp. Mastery of this kind of footwork is essential to proper practice of Kendo. This stabilizes the lower body and allows the upper body to move freely, without worry of becoming overbalanced. Therefore, all of these forms of footwork are performed with suri-ashi: sliding steps in which the feet never leave the floor. Because all of a person's movements are ultimately based on the point where they push against the floor, it is essential that the connection between the Kendo practitioner and the earth be robust, and capable of transmitting force at any moment. These are, in order of increasing difficulty, ayumi-ashi, okuri-ashi, hiraki-ashi, and tsugi-ashi. There are four basic types of ashi-sabaki, or footwork, in the Japanese sport of Kendo.
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