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By: cejames

Tenshin: An Okinawan term relating to the movement of the body in relation to an opponent by shifting away or into a persons space with a focus on the transition of the feet. A practitioner would use this as a part of their shifting from stance to stance in relation to the moment in combat while performing ma-ai as a result of shifting into or away from the opponent. Taught as a fundamental to the kata. Used to develop non-telegraphed, efficient, and rapid movement. Many students are first taught the different stances used within their style which are used in kata practice. Then they are taught how to move properly resulting in tenshin practice. This helps the student to develop proper movement along with body alignment, balance, hyoshi (tempo), ma-ai (distancing), and timing.

Tenshin is an intricate part of kata training, an intricate part of karate training. Coupled with Tensho, transition of hands, it provides a means to train thoroughly within kata which has significant applications for combat and kumite. Utilizing the tori/uke relationship in training a pair of students can practice distancing and stance transitions to get the “feel” for how it all relates to facing an opponent. The tori would make the first movement either into or away from the uke while the uke responds with an appropriate response in movement to take advantage of the move by tori for either defense or offense. The actual defensive/offensive technique is not performed since this drill is taught before kihon yet in later practice it will have the appropriate technique visualized during practice. As students progress this will naturally migrate into actually performing hand transitions along with foot transitions; tenshin and tensho practice. Tensho: An Okinawan term relating to the transition of the hands. This portion of training is added into tenshin after the student learns the te-no-bu or upper body techniques. This is then practiced solo with visualization until the student becomes fluid. Then students are paired off into tori and uke relationships to begin practice. The only difference between tenshin/tensho practice and yokusoku kumite is contact. The tori and uke will practice much like the above description of tenshin practice but with out actual contact. Once they are proficient in this form of practice then it is time to move into yokusoku kumite which is prearranged techniques with physical contact. This also occurs after leaning the Ashi-no-bu or foot techniques. In this practice tori and uke no longer move freely but use specified sets of techniques which come from the basics and kata practice. As you can see there are many transitional forms of practice that take the practitioner through the various stages that will result in free form combat techniques and kumite.