Zengo kaikyaku undo
Jumbi Undō 14¶
1. Name of exercise¶
Zengo kaikyaku, shōmen muite kaikyaku no undō
(Front–back leg opening / seated split stretch)
2. Romaji instruction¶
Hai, zengo kaikyaku desu.
Migi e muite.
Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, kyū, jū.
Hantai.
Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, kyū, jū.
Shōmen.
Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, kyū, jū.
3. Translation¶
Leg opening stretch.
Turn to the right.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
Opposite side.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
Center.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
4. Counting¶
Ichi – Ni – San – Shi – Go – Roku – Shichi – Hachi – Kyū – Jū
Hantai
Ichi – Ni – San – Shi – Go – Roku – Shichi – Hachi – Kyū – Jū
Shōmen
Ichi – Ni – San – Shi – Go – Roku – Shichi – Hachi – Kyū – Jū
5. Short description¶
The practitioner sits on the floor with the legs spread wide in a seated split (kaikyaku).
The legs remain as straight as possible and the feet are active with the toes slightly pulled back.
The stretch is performed in three directions.
First the upper body rotates toward the right leg and leans forward over it while the hips remain close to the floor.
After ten counts the command hantai is given and the same stretch is performed toward the left leg.
Finally the body returns to the center (shōmen) and the torso leans forward between the legs.
Throughout the exercise the legs remain straight and the hips remain stable on the floor.
6. Purpose¶
The exercise develops deep flexibility in the hips and legs and prepares the body for techniques that require large range of motion.
It:
- increases mobility in the hip joints and pelvis
- stretches the hamstrings and adductors
- improves flexibility in the groin and inner thighs
- prepares the body for high kicks and wide stances
Within the training system described in Masutatsu Oyama’s technical material, this seated kaikyaku stretch appears as a deeper flexibility exercise following earlier dynamic mobility movements.
Working in three directions — right, left, and center — systematically stretches the hip musculature required for kicks and low stances in Kyokushin.
Comments¶
1. Romaji
In many dojo the full expression zengo kaikyaku is not used in the command.
Instructors often simply say “kaikyaku desu” and then indicate direction.
2. Terminology
The term kaikyaku is used in Japanese budō both for dynamic leg opening and static seated stretching.
3. Structure in Jumbi Undō
This exercise marks a transition in the warm-up sequence where hip and adductor flexibility is deepened after the earlier dynamic mobility exercises.