Many
karateka go into yoi by moving both feet, crossing arms low in front of the
body (or making large arcs above their heads), then spreading their arms down
wider than their bodies. I was taught to
stand straight (musubi dachi), cross arms at chest level covering the solar
plexus, then move the left foot out shoulders-width and uncross the arms
down narrow, within the body’s width.
Which way is correct? Is there a
difference?
The
first yoi is very expressive; ideal for performing kata. While dramatic, the first yoi takes two
steps, keeping you on the embusen (line of attack). Folding the arms low on the body leaves your
torso and head exposed to attack. Making
large arcs above the head leaves the lower part of your body exposed to
attack. Spreading your arms wider than
your body leaves you exposed to frontal attack.
Yoi as I was taught is better for self-defense. Crossing the arms at chest level makes it
equally easy to block high or low, while covering vital organs and the solar
plexus. Moving the left foot out takes
you off the attack line. Bringing the
arms down narrow within the body’s width offers more protection from
attack. Like the front bumper of a car,
the arms can absorb some impact from a forward attack.
A
student once asked me how wide (or narrow) the arms should be. I told him, “The rule of thumb is to extend
the thumbs from your fists and they touch.”
He smiled and said, “So the rule of thumb is the rule of thumbs.”
Yep. He then thought if I wrote
this blog entry it should be called ‘The Thumb - Going My Way’ (a play on words
since ‘Dō’ means ‘The Way’).
So,
which yoi is correct? Which yoi
is proper? The correct yoi is the
one your sensei requires at your dojo.
The proper yoi is either one, although you can probably guess my preference.
