Taikyoku sokugi sono yon
Name
Romaji: Taikyoku sokugi sono yon
Japanese: 太極足技その四
Sokugi means foot or leg technique: the Taikyoku embusen trains kicks, support, retraction, foot placement and completion. Sono yon means the fourth form. This form places additional emphasis on rotation and balance.
Introduction
The fourth Sokugi form develops the preceding forms through hip rotation, backward rotation and recovery after turning kicks. Side lines use Jōdan yoko geri, short advances use Jōdan mawashi geri, and main lines use Jōdan ushiro mawashi geri. It is the most technically demanding Sokugi form in this reference. Preserve the kata structure through rotation, rather than pursuing maximum height. The family overview identifies this as a modern lineage/syllabus variant; do not imply an established early Oyama-book origin.
Place in the system
Group: Foundational kicking kata. Level: Basic to intermediate. Practise after understanding the structure of the preceding Sokugi forms. 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 mawashi geri, Jōdan ushiro mawashi geri. Movement: Taikyoku embusen with 90°, 180° and 270° turns. Kiai: 8 and 16. The focus is rotating kicks, hip control, support, recovery and stable landing.
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.
Take the ready position after yoi according to the selected dojo standard.
Principal techniques
Jōdan yoko geri develops the side line, support, hips and recovery. Jōdan mawashi geri develops a circular path, hip rotation and controlled landing. Jōdan ushiro mawashi geri develops gaze, backward rotation, support and recovery. In application these are high sideward, circular and rotating attacks respectively; gaze and rotation are essential to control. Distinguish yoko geri from yoko keage. Avoid opening/collapsing the hip, loose mawashi swings or uncontrolled ushiro spins. Complete the rotation under control before continuing.
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.
Start and finish
Begin in Fudō-dachi, facing shinden. Announce Taikyoku sokugi sono yon. 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, return to the final ready position according to dojo standard.
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 | Turn anticlockwise and kick left towards jōdan level. Then set Hidari zenkutsu-dachi under control. |
| 2 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan mawashi geri | Perform mawashi geri at jōdan level, then set Migi zenkutsu-dachi. |
| 3 | Turn 180° right | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan yoko geri | Turn clockwise to the opposite direction, kick with the right leg and set Migi zenkutsu-dachi. |
| 4 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan mawashi geri | Perform mawashi geri at jōdan level and advance into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi. |
| 5 | Turn 90° left onto the main line | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri | Turn anticlockwise onto the main line; avoid extra corrective steps after the kick. |
| 6 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan ushiro mawashi geri | Perform ushiro mawashi geri at jōdan level and set the stance, retaining direction. |
| 7 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan ushiro mawashi geri | Continue along the main line. Keep the upper body stable and recover under control after the rotation. |
| 8 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan ushiro mawashi geri, kiai | Finish the first main line with clear kime and kiai. |
| 9 | Turn 270° left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri | Turn 270° anticlockwise. Retain balance and control of the supporting leg. |
| 10 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan mawashi geri | Perform mawashi geri at jōdan level and set Migi zenkutsu-dachi without falling forwards. |
| 11 | Turn 180° right | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan yoko geri | Turn clockwise to the opposite direction, kick under control and set the stance. |
| 12 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan mawashi geri | Perform mawashi geri at jōdan level and recover under control before setting the stance. |
| 13 | Turn 90° left onto the main line | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri | Turn anticlockwise onto the main line. Coordinate gaze, hips, kick and stance. |
| 14 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan ushiro mawashi geri | Perform ushiro mawashi geri at jōdan level and set a stable stance. |
| 15 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan ushiro mawashi geri | Continue along the main line at the same height and technical direction. |
| 16 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan ushiro mawashi geri, kiai | Finish the second main line with clear kime and kiai. |
| 17 | Turn 270° left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri | Turn 270° anticlockwise. Avoid falling sideways during the kick. |
| 18 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan mawashi geri | Perform mawashi geri at jōdan level and advance without losing balance or direction. |
| 19 | Turn 180° right | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan yoko geri | Turn clockwise to the opposite direction, kick with the right leg and set Migi zenkutsu-dachi. |
| 20 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan mawashi 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.
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.
Confusing Jōdan yoko geri with Yoko keage, opening or collapsing the hip in Yoko geri, loose Mawashi geri and uncontrolled Ushiro mawashi geri rotation.
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 the side line, support, hips and recovery. Jōdan mawashi geri develops a circular path, hip rotation and controlled landing. Jōdan ushiro mawashi geri develops gaze, backward rotation, support and recovery. In application these are high sideward, circular and rotating attacks respectively; gaze and rotation are essential to control. Distinguish yoko geri from yoko keage. Avoid opening/collapsing the hip, loose mawashi swings or uncontrolled ushiro spins. Complete the rotation under control before continuing.
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.
Training method
- Review the embusen of Taikyoku sono ichi.
- Review the structure of Sokugi ichi, ni and san.
- Practise Jōdan yoko geri separately.
- Practise Jōdan mawashi geri separately.
- Practise Jōdan ushiro mawashi geri separately.
- Check gaze and rotation in Ushiro mawashi geri.
- Check the supporting leg and retraction.
- Add the turns slowly.
- Set Zenkutsu-dachi after every kick.
- Check that no corrective steps are added.
- Add breathing, rhythm, kime and kiai.
- Practise without counting, retaining zanshin from start to finish.
- Try simple partner bunkai, then return to the form.