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Common Spear (Yari) Tactics - The Use of Cross-stepping (Jumonji Ashi)

The nature of the spear means that for the most part the user maintains the hanmi body position (side on) whilst moving.  There is little or no ability to change sides with the hips and this means cross-stepping is a natural footwork (although like the theory of Chin GemPin 'inventing' Jujutsu, the footwork argument against cross-stepping needs continual debunking).

I have not found a credible example of a Japanese spear in which this is not included and it should be obvious, however it is important to establish this when considering how attack and defence are effected with the spear.

I will elaborate on this in the coming posts.



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