Taikyoku sokugi sono ni
Name
Romaji: Taikyoku sokugi sono ni / Sokugi Taikyoku sono ni
Japanese: 足技太極二段
Sokugi means foot or leg technique: the Taikyoku embusen trains kicks, support, retraction, foot placement and completion. Sono ni means the second form. Sokugi Taikyoku sono ni is an alternative name; Galaz Dojo keeps Taikyoku sokugi sono ni for consistency.
Introduction
The second Sokugi form develops the first form through higher sideward and forward kicks. At turns, perform Jōdan yoko geri, set Zenkutsu-dachi and complete Kake wake uke. On advances, perform Jōdan mae geri, then set Zenkutsu-dachi. Higher targets increase demands on balance and hip control while body alignment, direction, retraction, stance, kime and zanshin remain intact.
Place in the system
Group: Foundational kicking kata. Level: Beginner / early kyu. Practise after understanding the basic embusen and the kick–retraction–landing relationship introduced in Sokugi ichi. Check turning kicks, supporting-leg balance, hip control, controlled retraction, Zenkutsu-dachi after each kick, centre line, no corrective steps and zanshin after every action.
Technical profile
Stance: Zenkutsu-dachi. Foot techniques: Jōdan yoko geri, Jōdan mae geri. Hand technique: Kake wake uke. Movement: Taikyoku embusen with 90°, 180° and 270° turns. Kiai: 8 and 16. The focus is higher kicks with increased balance and hip-control demands.
Embusen and technical diagram
Diagram unavailable: The embusen diagram described in the source is absent from this edition. Follow the directions and movement sequence in the text.
The form follows the basic Taikyoku embusen, with 20 main counts. Read its directions and order alongside the sequence; a diagram alone cannot describe support, kick path, hips, retraction or breathing. Check main directions and turns, the supporting leg, controlled retraction, Zenkutsu-dachi after each kick, gaze before completion and absence of corrective steps.
Stances
Zenkutsu-dachi follows every kicking action and actively completes the technique. Keep the supporting leg stable, retract the kicking leg before setting it down, preserve the centre and land without corrective steps. The formal start and finish use Fudō-dachi.
After yoi, finish in Heikō-dachi or the selected local yoi position. Complete Kake wake uke together with the landing stance at the turns.
Principal techniques
Jōdan yoko geri develops a clear high side line, hip control, support and retraction; its application is an upper-level side attack or control from a new angle. Jōdan mae geri develops a high forward line with clear knee lift, path, balance and recovery. Avoid turning either into a loose swing or sacrificing knee lift and retraction for height.
Zenkutsu-dachi after the kick supplies stability, direction and control. Retraction is as important as the kick: losing it undermines balance, direction and the next technique.
Kake wake uke follows Jōdan yoko geri as the foot lands in Zenkutsu-dachi; it completes the movement. In application it can open, deflect or separate after a kick.
Start and finish
Begin in Fudō-dachi, facing shinden. Announce Taikyoku sokugi sono ni or Sokugi Taikyoku sono ni according to dojo standard. On yoi, take the selected dojo-standard ready position. In mugōrei, perform without ongoing counting after hajime. Only the 20 main counts are numbered here; start, yoi, naore and yasume are separate. On naore, retract the left foot and return 90° anticlockwise to Fudō-dachi, retaining the preceding gaze direction until the turn finishes. On yasume, return to rest.
Movement sequence
The following teaching sequence supports practice and revision according to the selected Galaz Dojo/modern Kyokushin standard; it does not replace dojo instruction.
| No. | Direction | Stance | Technique | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turn 90° left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri / kake wake uke | Turn anticlockwise, perform jōdan yoko geri, set Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 2 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan mae geri | Perform jōdan mae geri and advance into Migi zenkutsu-dachi. |
| 3 | Turn 180° right | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan yoko geri / kake wake uke | Turn clockwise to the opposite direction, perform jōdan yoko geri, set Migi zenkutsu-dachi and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 4 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan mae geri | Perform jōdan mae geri and advance into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi. |
| 5 | Turn 90° left onto the main line | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri / kake wake uke | Turn anticlockwise onto the main line, perform jōdan yoko geri and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 6 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan mae geri | Perform jōdan mae geri and advance. |
| 7 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan mae geri | Continue along the main line with controlled balance and retraction. |
| 8 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan mae geri, kiai | Finish the first main line with jōdan mae geri, kime and kiai. |
| 9 | Turn 270° left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri / kake wake uke | Turn 270° anticlockwise, perform jōdan yoko geri and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 10 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan mae geri | Perform jōdan mae geri and advance. |
| 11 | Turn 180° right | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan yoko geri / kake wake uke | Turn clockwise to the opposite direction, perform jōdan yoko geri and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 12 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan mae geri | Perform jōdan mae geri and advance. |
| 13 | Turn 90° left onto the main line | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri / kake wake uke | Turn anticlockwise onto the main line, perform jōdan yoko geri and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 14 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan mae geri | Perform jōdan mae geri and advance. |
| 15 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan mae geri | Continue along the main line, retaining height and direction. |
| 16 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan mae geri, kiai | Finish the second main line with jōdan mae geri, kime and kiai. |
| 17 | Turn 270° left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri / kake wake uke | Turn 270° anticlockwise, perform jōdan yoko geri and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 18 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan mae geri | Perform jōdan mae geri and advance. |
| 19 | Turn 180° right | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan yoko geri / kake wake uke | Turn clockwise to the opposite direction, perform jōdan yoko geri and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 20 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan mae geri | Finish the final technical movement with controlled posture, direction and zanshin. |
Breathing, rhythm and kiai
Distinguish the turning kick, forward kicks, retraction, foot placement and technical finish, especially through the longer 270° turns at 9 and 17. Kiai is at 8 and 16. Connect kick, recovery, landing and final technique as one action. Balance, controlled retraction and a stable finish take priority over uncontrolled height or speed; coordinate breath, kime and kiai with completion.
Technical key points
Lead turns and kicks with the gaze; pivot clearly before the side kick; keep the supporting leg stable; distinguish each kick path and contact surface; retract before setting down; set Zenkutsu-dachi without extra steps; retain an upright, centred upper body without leaning backwards; coordinate gaze, hips, kick, retraction and stance; keep height subordinate to control; and maintain zanshin between techniques. Check the 270° turns at 9 and 17 carefully.
Complete Kake wake uke with the stance, as part of the same technique.
Common errors
Uncontrolled leg swings, high kicks that lose balance, missing retraction, backward-leaning posture, unstable pivoting, unclear 270° turns, late gaze, setting the foot in the wrong direction, short/high/unbalanced Zenkutsu-dachi, extra corrective steps and breath, kiai or kime disconnected from the finish.
Forgetting Kake wake uke or adding it afterwards without stance connection and kime. Missing the clear knee lift and retraction of Jōdan mae geri.
Bunkai and application
Keep applications simple and within the technical level. Explore kick, direction, distance and stance together. Pivoting changes direction towards a new attack; the supporting leg and hips provide balance, direction and power; Zenkutsu-dachi gives stability after the kick; and zanshin preserves readiness through retraction and foot placement. Practise with a partner under control, without exceeding what the form warrants.
Jōdan yoko geri develops a clear high side line, hip control, support and retraction; its application is an upper-level side attack or control from a new angle. Jōdan mae geri develops a high forward line with clear knee lift, path, balance and recovery. Avoid turning either into a loose swing or sacrificing knee lift and retraction for height.
Zenkutsu-dachi after the kick supplies stability, direction and control. Retraction is as important as the kick: losing it undermines balance, direction and the next technique.
Kake wake uke follows Jōdan yoko geri as the foot lands in Zenkutsu-dachi; it completes the movement. In application it can open, deflect or separate after a kick.
Training method
- Review the embusen of Taikyoku sono ichi.
- Review the structure of Sokugi ichi.
- Practise Jōdan yoko geri separately.
- Practise Kake wake uke separately.
- Practise Jōdan yoko geri, foot placement and Kake wake uke together.
- Practise Jōdan mae geri separately.
- Check the supporting leg and retraction.
- Add the turns slowly.
- Check 90°, 180° and 270° turns.
- Set Zenkutsu-dachi after every kick.
- Add breathing, rhythm, kime and kiai.
- Practise without counting, retaining zanshin from start to finish.
- Try simple partner bunkai, then return to the form.