UKEME – HIGHLINE STRIKES

These posts – and most of my classes – as I stated in my Introduction, are pedagogical experiments: My attempt to understand, explain, explicate and communicate the why and how of each technique to derive universal principles. My last several classes have explored shomen-uchi kokyu nage direct. I have presented it as a three-beat response:Continue reading “UKEME – HIGHLINE STRIKES”

LOGIC CHAINS – Ikkyo to Kotegaeshi

The flow of any given technique can be broken into constituent elements that are linked in logic chain: an if-then series based on the openings and opportunities. Another way to understand the logic of a technique is to ask – what if this doesn’t work? What is the backup plan? As an example – hereContinue reading “LOGIC CHAINS – Ikkyo to Kotegaeshi”

IKKYO IS MAKIOTOSHI

This morning we started with bokken. Standard shomen cut suburi to free the shoulders, then slide-cut to incorporate footwork (ashi-sabaki). From solo suburi to shomen uchi as a paired exercise. Shidachi gives gedan no kamai to invite uchidachi to strike.[1] Uchidachi strikes at the available opening: shomen. Shidachi receives with a cross block with a slight forward advanceContinue reading “IKKYO IS MAKIOTOSHI”