Atemi training, or striking training, is a very dynamic way of cultivating the more subtle aspects of the art.  In particular, atemi training more guarantees that one’s practice environments remain vibrant and productive in terms of their capacity to hone within us the necessary skills sets relevant to maturity in the art.  Atemi training is also a prime way of cultivating the more refined attributes of tai-sabaki (body work), ashi-sabaki (footwork), te-sabaki (handwork), and kokyu (breath).  Thus, atemi training allows us to closely monitor the very intimate relationship that exists between centered movement, a ground path, proper breathing, hip movement, elbow power, and relaxation.  In such training, the establishing of these relationships is more important than simply “hitting the pad as hard as one can.”  For this reason, in atemi training, practitioners are asked to make themselves increasingly sensitive to these relationships no matter how static, embryonic, or dynamic the various striking drills may be.  (3 minutes, 53 seconds)