Einstein plus Musashi = the One Thing = Good Throws 

    Einstein's theory of general relativity and Musashi's wisdom in The Book of Five Rings -The Ground Book have something universally in common. Einstein provided us with the an understanding of  what we use to make GPS work, why gold is yellow, and what's going on with the cathode ray tube that was the first television. Other uses of atomic energy go on and on. 

    Musashi would have told us to look at the giant boards of equations that made up Einstein's formula and then see them all in one simple truth. That truth, "as a straight line in the dirt", explains all things on that line. 

Here is Einstein's One Thing. 

E=MC2

A Small Part of Einstein's big formula

    This is true in judo throwing. Like Musashi's simple advice and Einstein's "simple" theory, a judo throw works because it is simple. Einstein also quipped, "Make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler." Although this seems to be a humorous comment, it could also mean that any further simplification would also mean elimination of something that is crucial, hence making the thing useless. 

    In judo nage waza, Uki Goshi, the floating hip throw, gives us a very simple and complete example of the implementation of a throw, all its essentials. It is as simple as possible. 

     Here is the throwing formula.

    Let's look at Uki Goshi. 

 

 Here is the throw as kuzushi is about to become tsukuri and the action moves on to kake. 

• Pink Triangle shows kuzushi has occurred, due to an initial, gentle  downward then upward motion of the sleeve hand (tsurite).
• Middle pink arrows show the connection of the fulcrum point, a rendezvous, below uke's center of mass, as well as the tori's body angle that complements directional application.
• Lower orange arrows: As the left foot comes down and the leg then applies upward pressure, it then combines with the rendezvous to then go to the upper orange arrows.
• Upper orange arrows: These blend with the other actions to continue the throw to completion. 
• Missing: An arrow at the tsurite elbow is need to show the ongoing pull of the kake, which is often not performed and the tsurite fails as it comes to rest at the current point. 
• The right foot position is only a step in for positioning and the left foot and leg will bring the physical power to the throw. 

Let's make it simple and not anywhere near as complicated as Einstein's blackboard or my throwing formula. Here's the "E=MC2" of judo.      

∈ - means combined

pK ∈ K ∈ Ts ∈ K = T

    Pre kuzushi combined with kuzushi combined with tsukuri combined with kake equals any and all judo throws. Combined is the operative word. It can also be emphasized that any throws not containing this full formula are not judo throws. They are only "throws", or "tosses" or "flips" and so on. The formula represents the physical equivalent of maximum efficiency via optimum use of energy. 

 Combined

          “Combined” is the secret beneath the otherwise familiar triad of what a judo throw is. This applies very much to how you practice a throw. Although we are considering all upright front throws, the principle applies. That principle is, “Don’t stop.”  “Combined” does not mean “in addition to…”. Think of it as “blended”, “integrated, “incorporated”, “unified”, “cohesive”, “amalgamated”, and such.

          In learning a throw, it is normal to step in and check to see if everything is in the right place. Often, this is the result of having been instructed to do a certain corrective thing; put the collar hand here, get your hip across more, get lower, etc. We step in and check to see if we’ve done it, or we step in to check how it “feels”. To do this, we stop. Then, we try to continue the throw. At this point, it has ceased to be a judo throw. I see this over and over again, and the students who do it have a difficult time not doing it; or, if you will, undoing the tendency. It then carries over to randori. That is because practice makes permanent.

Of course, at first one needs to check the parts, with the rare exception of those who can just watch and then do immediately. There comes a time, though, when the practice must be of the combined actions. You might be thinking, “Sure. That’s when we do nage komi, the throwing practice. Sadly, the tendency can carry over into this, too.

          Done correctly - If the kuzushi is correctly applied, the moment of blending in the tsukuri will create enough of a throw so that you will apply the kake in an almost “catch up” manner.

     This is the "one thing" of which Musashi spoke.

    Neither philosophies nor cosmic theories are of any value unless they are usefully applied.  It is easy to say, "I get it." It is not easy to say "I do it." Well then, what is it we must do? 

1.     Understand each part as it applies to the throw. 

2.     Include every part of the throw.

3.      Combine each part correctly.

`Thereby, if you put the methodology and genius of Einstein together with the super warrior wisdom of Musashi’s one simple truth, it will make your judo better.