All in all there are 13 directions:
1) face forward (san shin / ashi sabaki – mae)
2) turn right (san shin / ashi sabaki – migi)
3) turn left (san shin / ashi sabaki – hidari)
4) forward (mae / zenpo)
5) backward (koho / oshiru)
6) side right (yoko – migi)
7) side left (yoko – hidari)
8) up (agyi)
9) down (otoshi)
10) diagonal forward right (sayo migi)
11) diagonal forward left (sayo hidari)
12) diagonal backward right (naname migi)
13) diagonal backward left (naname hidari)
We start off with sui (water) gyu (element) in which diagonal taihenjutsu is ideal. Why water first? It is the most ideally defensive element because it is more adaptive, and because it is easiest element in the Path.