The concepts of "center" and "chi" are central to the study of many styles of martial arts, including karate. Your center of balance, also considered the center of personal energy, rests just below your navel -- a position that also is just below the knot of a properly tied karate belt.
Center of Gravity
The area of your body directly beneath your karate belt is your center of balance and gravity. In grappling or pushing contests, a karate practitioner is at an advantage if he keeps his center of gravity below the center of gravity of his opponent. This interrupts the opponent's connection with the ground, limiting his power and stability.
Center of Balance
Your center of balance is the point at which it is easiest to rotate your body to throw or trip you. In most standing positions, your center of balance is just above your hip girdle -- below the belt knot of a karate uniform. Many throws and sweeps from karate will rotate an opponent's body around this point, such as a hip throw that immobilizes the hip girdle while pulling the shoulders forward and pushing the legs back.
Center of Motion
A karate punch is best visualized as pushing the fist with your body, rather than reaching out with the fist. This is true of all motion in karate. Movement begins with a rotation of the area around the belt knot, which then drives the rest of the movement of the karate practitioner's body. It's a common coaching technique for a karate sensei to watch the belt knots of students during class. If their hips are moving properly, the loose tips of their belts will snap sharply about the knots.
Center of Energy
The part of the body just below a karate belt knot also is called the "dan t'ien": the center of energy. Chi, a concept of energy and focused attention similar to "The Force" in Star Wars, is said to gather in and flow through this area. Advanced karate training includes exercises to learn how to access this pool of energy to improve both physical power and mental attributes.
References
- "Gung Fu: The Natural Way"; Michael Schmitt; 1995
- Dave Coffman; Martial Arts Instructor; Hillsboro, Oregon
- "The Tao of Jeet Kun Do"; Bruce Lee; 1978
Member Comments