Catalog of Patterns: Structural Patterns / Foot and Arm Combinations: Zigzags

Large Zigzag (ōzayu)

Like the two Large circling movements: Large Circling to the Left (hidari ōmowari) and Large Circling to the Right (migi ōmowari), the Large zigzag (ōzayu) is a pattern that covers a fair amount of stage space but does so in an angular fashion. Its overall motion from the back to the front of the stage gives it a raising-tension quality.

The Large zigzag (ōzayu) combines lifting both arms with a step to the right and a turn to the left, accompanied by a lowering of the right arm. After five steps, a turn to the right accompanies a raised right arm and a lowered left one, followed by about seven steps.

There are two other zigzag patterns that each cover a more limited stage space: Medium zigzag (chūzayu) and the Small zigzag (kozayu).