RYOTEDORI – KIHON

At first glance ryotedori is an inane attack. Two hands on two hands: Who does that?[1] Contextually I have presented it as an means of controlling an opponent’s un-drawn sword. Uke approaches the pin nage’s hands to his hips to prevent deployment. Nage learns weapon-retention and countering. This post is a focused exploration but review the broaderContinue reading “RYOTEDORI – KIHON”

CLOSING SKILLS

The following is a re-post from the Art of Manliness: Oliver Wendell Holmes once wrote that a people “that shortens its weapons lengthens its boundaries.” By this he meant that men who were capable of fighting fiercely at close quarters also possessed the essential courage, the thumos, that ultimately won battles, turned the tide of war — protectedContinue reading “CLOSING SKILLS”

CONCEPT TRAINING: IRIMI and NIKKYO

Another small Saturday morning. I love the focused training afforded by limited attendance. Fellow members, what did you miss? Two keys that I have presented before. Irimi nage direct as concept and nikkyo as concept. And while I taught them as techniques, the true value resides in the movements that they represent as concepts. First irimi-nage-direct, aka HubudContinue reading “CONCEPT TRAINING: IRIMI and NIKKYO”