Animated Techniques

Randori no Kata (Junanahon) 1-17

(Performed by Nariyama Shihan, 8th Dan)

HIJI WAZA (Elbow Techniques 6-10)

    OSHI TAOSHI - "The Pushing Topple." In this technique, Tori slides back and to the left, avoiding the blow. As he does so, he pulls back on the attacker's arm. As the attacker pulls back to regain his balance, Tori slides forward, keeping the attacker's elbow in his own center and pushing towards the attacker's ear. This forces all of the attacker's weight onto his back, left foot. At that point, it is an easy matter to push a little more and knock the attacker over. A gentle elbow lock is used as a hold down for this demonstration. This is known as ikkyo in Aikikai and ikkajo in Yoshinkan. This is also, of course, a basic technique in Daitoryu.

    UDE GAESHI -  "The Arm Folding Technique." In this technique, Tori slides to the left to avoid the stab. As he does so, he grabs the attacker's arm and gives it a little tug. This causes the attacker to be slightly unbalanced. As the attacker pulls back with his arm in an attempt to regain his balance, Tori slides forward, bends the attacker's arm at the elbow, and pulls the attacker backward by folding the arm over, behind the shoulder. The attacker is thrown onto his back. This is essentially the same as kote gaeshi and similar techniques. In kata, uke falls backwards but it is possible to turn and throw to the side. This is based on the principles of 'mizu guruma' the 4th technique of Kodokan Judo's 'koshiki no kata'.

    HIKI TAOSHI - "The Pulling Topple." In this technique, Tori slides back and to his left to avoid the strike. As he does so, he blocks at the attacker's wrist with his right hand, and grabs the attacker's wrist underneath with his left. In doing so, his left hand is palm side upward. He then pulls back with that left hand while simultaneously turning the hand over, so that it is now palm-side downward. Doing so locks the attacker's elbow. The unbalanced attacker is now brought down by pulling and applying gentle pressure at the elbow with the right hand. This is based on the principles of 'mizu nagare' the 5th technique of Kodokan Judo's 'koshiki no kata'. Both hands and turned as in 'maki otoshi' in kendo. Uke moves his foot forward to regain his posture so it is important to practice moving backwards to succeed.

    UDE HINERI - "The Arm Twist." This technique is a counter to the previous one. One first attempts Hiki Taoshi: one grabs the wrist the same and tries to break the attacker's balance. If however, the attacker's balance is not fully broken, and he is pulling back, you go with it. As you can see Tori demonstrate, one steps to the outside, locks the attacker's arm under one's own, and then throws the attacker forward by twisting one's upper torso. Be sure not to lift upwards on the attacker's arm, as doing so will rip the shoulder out. Simply twisting while keeping the attacker's arm level will throw the attacker quite well. People who only practise kata may find this technique unfamiliar. However, it is always practised in suwari waza (kneeling techniques) as a finish to a technique.

    WAKI GATAME - "The Side Pin." The Japanese name for the technique refers to an arm bar applied while the defender is standing to the attacker's side. Tori first avoids the stab by sliding to the side. He simultaneously raises the attacker's arm using a hand blade. He grabs the attacker's arm and initially pulls him upward, breaking his balance. The attacker's arm is then brought down and snugly placed in the crook of the right elbow for the pin. Key to the technique is grabbing and rotating the attacker's forearm so as to lock out the elbow joint. Watch Nariyama's left hand accomplish this trick. In Tenjinshinyoryu jujitsu this technique is done in generally the same way as it is in aikido and judo. The arm is pinned to your side and your body weight is directly over the opponent's elbow. The dangers of applying it in this way have been identified in judo. Of course, it is comparatively safe in kata practice because uke does not resist strongly. However, the risk of causing an injury unintentionally is high. Tomiki Sensei showed how this can be applied safely during intense randori. Practice is required to understand the way that this can be applied without causing pain to uke.

TEKUBI WAZA