Whipping Action as a basic principle.

[HanshiClayton]

I propose “whipping action” as a basic principle our students should be taught and should recognize in practice. I have not seen this proposed before, or perhaps have not recognized it in the existing literature/lore of basic principles. It is, however, clearly a basic principle on the same order as hip rotation and futi (wrist rotation).

Whipping takes place when a limb (arm or leg) “coils” into a contracted mass and rotates around the hip joint or shoulder joint, building momentum toward the enemy. The shoulder or hip rotation suddenly stops with the elbow or knee pointed toward the target. At that point the momentum passes into the smaller, less massive, and therefore much faster extremity of the limb... the forearm/hand or the lower leg/foot. A second, much faster rotation occurs at the elbow joint or the knee joint, resulting in a “snapping,” whiplike delivery. There may also be a slight pullback at the hip or shoulder to give a genuinely whiplike snap to the technique.

Where do I see this?

Gedan barai
Uraken uchi
Shuto uchi... as in step 9 of Heian Yondan.
Mae geri keage
Yoko geri keage
Mawashi geri

All of these techniques coil with the elbow or knee pretty tightly bent. All involve a launching rotation at the shoulder or hip. All finish with a snapping rotation at the elbow or knee. All of these techniques are inherently nonlinear, although you can add linear power to some of them.