Three sails for rough seas January 2008

Shortcuts to better energy, awareness, and footwork

MASTERY

Will Reeds Agili

Extra energy from Namba walking

were a Samurai drawing a sword, a farmer the mind is the planting rice, a craftsman working with Call it resonance, call it awareness, but the tools, a Kabuki actor on stage, or a meressence of life Samurai knew how to walk with a sense chant handling goods. Aristotle of presence. They could run too, though not large in stature, their armor typically The fleet foot delivery runners (hikyaku, weighed about 30 kilograms (65 pounds). or flying legs) ran relay services on foot to deliver packages between Edo and Kyoto, Though this is sometimes portrayed as approximately 500 km (310 miles). While a swagger in the movies, actually it was ordinary service took 30 days, express more compact and efficient than just services could be run in 10 days, and throwing their weight about. It was not super express in just 6 days, over 83 km even exclusive to the Samurai class. With or 50 miles a day, and carrying a load! No RESONATE some variations it was shared by peo- wonder Sagawa Kyubin used the hikyaku (hibiku) ple in all walks of life in Edo Era Japan image for their logo. cast catch echo (1603~1868). match mirror Nanba came naturally to Japanese absorb take after This style of movement, in which body Note how the runners arms and legs are resound ripple movements are compact, centered, and extended together on the same side, not with high upper and lower body integra- opposing left and right. This is one chartion, is known as Nanba Walking. acteristic of Nanba movement, and it runs all through the Japanese martial arts, KaThe word Nanba is thought to have buki and Noh drama, use of craftsmens originally been written with the Chinese tools, and of course Samurai walking. characters , meaning difficult place, suggesting that Nanba movement was It is also the style of walking featured Fleet foot Hikyaku designed to get you out of trouble, or do for virtually all people in the Edo Period Nanba runner as the a physical task more easily. woodblock prints by Hiroshige and other logo for Sagawa Kyubin artists. Many people today have lost the It naturally evolved into variations to knack for moving in this way, and when make life and work easier, whether you
The energy of

The Way You Walk

Walk like a SamuraiRun like a Cat

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Comments and suggestions e-mail: willreed@agili.jp

Will Reeds Agili MASTERY they attempt it, they move like a robot to know if your stiffly lurching from side to side.
If you want brain is flabby, At the end of the Edo Period Nanba walkfeel your legs ing was almost eliminated from daily life,

Jan 2008 forward when executing a step, leaning into rather than away from the movement.

Nanba movement is taught at Toho in Japans frantic attempt to catch up Gakuen, one of Japans leading music Bruce Barton with the West. The new Meiji government colleges, to help students play their inused Western military marching as the struments more effectively and to premodel to instruct elementary school chil- vent injuries from repetitive practice. dren in how to walk, swinging the arms Walk and run to clear your mind and legs in large opposing movements. Many cultures have recognized walking Nanba Walking and running as essential to mental and Hiroshige woodblock print Although some people contrast Nanba physical health. Make it part of your daiwalking with what they call Western style ly routine. Make it natural, and make it walking, in fact not Western style but Nanba. military marching, seen most extremely in the artificial Goosestep marching style. RESOURCES Nanba in sports and martial arts Some athletes have a natural Nanba style, such as Michael Jordan in basketball, or Ichiro in baseball. Rhythmical, fast, and natural. High on energy. Resonant. Check my blog Nanba Note for daily articles, resources, and inspiration:
http://nanbanote.blogspot.com/

Nike and Apple have formed a remarkable collaboration, Nike + iPod. You can Professional athletes in Japan have plan and share running courses anywhere achieved world class results by deliber- in the world, track your running progress ately applying Nanba style movements in online, and download playlists which motheir running, being coached by martial tivate you to keep running, visit the site at: arts teachers to gain an extra edge. Mara- http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/ thon runner Takahashi Naoko used NanWhy do soldiers break step in marching ba training and won a Gold Medal at the over a bridge? Find out the answer at: Syndey Olympics in the year 2000. h t t p : / / w w w. a n s w e r b a g . c o m / q _ Nanba movement in music & dance view/175566 William Reed Something similar to the Nanba style of If you are in Japan, join me for monthly Business Artist movement can be seen on the walls of 2008, William Reed the Egyptian Pyramids, popularized by training in Nanba walking and running: E-mail: willreed@agili.jp http://web.mac.com/reedwill/ReedCasts/ URL: http://www.agili.jp the group Bangles in the 1980s song and Nanba_Event.html Reed Research disco dance, Walk Like an Egyptian. Tamura Bldg. 6F To subscribe to this free monthly 4-23-17 Higashi Ikebukuro Rythm Tap dancers move in a Nanba newsletter visit: http://www.agili.jp Toshima-ku, Tokyo style, putting the same side arm and leg
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