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Nagasu

What is Nagasu?

  • Nagasu (流す) = “to let flow” or “to allow something to stream away.”
    In martial arts, it describes the idea of blending with and redirecting an opponent’s attack instead of blocking it rigidly.

How it works

Instead of meeting force with force, you accept the energy and guide it past you—like water flowing around a rock.

  • The attack is deflected, not stopped.
  • Your body shifts with Tai Sabaki (body movement) while your arms or hands redirect.
  • It creates an opening for a smooth counterattack.

Examples

  • In Wado-Ryu Karate: sliding aside from a punch while parrying it outward, then countering immediately.
  • In Aikido: blending with a strike and turning it into a flowing throw.
  • In Kenjutsu: redirecting the sword’s line instead of clashing blades directly.

The essence

Nagasu is about softness overcoming hardness—you conserve energy, protect yourself, and use the attacker’s momentum against them. It embodies the “way of harmony” (Wa) that Wado-Ryu is known for.

Related Article: Wado-Ryu Karate: The Way of Peace and Harmony - A Complete Guide to Japan's Unique Martial Art

The good man wins a victory and then stops; he will not resort to acts of violent conquest. He does not boast, nor does he seek to triumph or show arrogance. He wins because he has no other choice. After his victory, he will not be overbearing.
Bruce Lee

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