Catalog of Patterns: Structural Patterns / Foot Motion

Walking forward (deru)

As the foot slides forward, the toes and heel stay in contact with the floor until the end of the step, at which point the front of the foot raises slightly.

The spacio-temporal concept of Jo-ha-kyū forms an important aesthetic in Japanese art. The three sections can be translated as introduction/slow, development/acceleration, and conclusion/fast. The slow start and gradual acceleration that characterize the walking rhythm of Noh is an undeniable influence of Jo-ha-kyū. Although subtle in the feminine mode, its effect on the walking rhythm in martial mode is clear.