Samurai (Namba) Walk?

 

It’s been freezing since yesterday, and I could feel my body stiffening up. I figured I definitely needed a good warm-up.

So today, I headed to the Iccho-Tameike promenade for the first time in a while to try out something I saw on YouTube: the "Samurai Walk" (also known as Namba-aruki).



In school, we're taught to swing our arms opposite to our legs. But originally, Japanese people—like Samurais and messengers—didn't really swing their arms. Instead, they’d shift their weight onto the leg they were stepping with, moving the same-side shoulder along with the leg.

When I actually tried it, it made sense! If someone suddenly attacked you with a sword while you were walking this way, you could draw your own sword and fight back instantly without losing your balance.

They also say it helps reduce fatigue and builds stamina for long distances or climbing stairs. Since I didn't want people staring at me like I was some weirdo, I kept my hands in my pockets and just moved my shoulders in sync with my legs instead of swinging my arms. Even that was enough to feel the difference in my center of gravity!

Despite the cold, I saw a few people around my age out there. Under the gloomy sky, the greenery looked a bit dull, so finding splashes of red really made my day.

I spotted the bright vermillion of Japanese snake gourds, and the deep, rich red of Sanekazura (Kadsura berries). I even found some Japanese anemones still blooming this late in the season! And back at the parking lot, Narcissus flowers were already starting to pop up on the slopes.

Even though I walked at a faster pace than usual, I wasn't out of breath at all—it felt totally normal. 

Just changing the way I move my arms made the whole experience so much more fun.

After two laps around the 2km trail (the second lap at a brisk pace), I finally started to feel nice and toasty.