Onsoku

Onsoku are the basic foot movements in Shodokan Aikido. Literally translated Onsoku means "speed of sound". Onsoku is a sequence of 3 sets which have 8 steps each. The first set is movement in frontal direction, the second lateral direction and the final set consists of diagonal movements.

Frontal Movements

Step	Description	Visualisation
1 (ichi)	Start from shizentai, then take a step forward with the left foot.
2 (ni)	Take a step back in tsugi-ashi, keeping the left foot forward.
3 (san)	Take another step back in tsugi-ashi, keeping the left foot forward.
4 (chi)	Take a step forward, ending in shizentai.
5 (go)	Take a step forward with your right foot.
6 (roku)	Take a step back into tsugi-ashi, keeping your right foot forward.
7 (shichi)	Take another step back in tsugi-ashi, keeping your right foot forward.
8 (hachi)	Take a step forward, ending in shizentai.

Lateral Movements

Step	Description	Visualisation
1 (ichi)	Start from shizentai, then take a step to the side with your left foot.
2 (ni)	Take a step with the right foot, returning to the center.
3 (san)	Take a step to the side with the right foot.
4 (chi)	Take a step to the side with the left foot, returning to the center.
5 (go)	Take a step with the right foot.
6 (roku)	Take a step with the left foot back to center.
7 (shichi)	Take a step with the left foot.
8 (hachi)	Take a step with the right foot, returning to the center.

Diagonal Movements

Step	Description	Visualisation
1 (ichi)	Start from shizentai, then take a step forward, diagonally to the left, looking to the right side.
2 (ni)	Return to the center.
3 (san)	Take a step forward, diagonally to the right, looking to the left side.
4 (chi)	Return to the center.
5 (go)	Take a step back diagonally to the left, looking to the right side.
6 (roku)	Return to the center.
7 (shichi)	Take a step back diagonally to the right, looking to the left side.
8 (hachi)	Go back to the center.