Here’s what the Hombu is teaching this month.
It’s important to remember that the lessons linked to below are only a starting point, and that there is so much more great learning content to explore from all of our instructors.
January and July
Level 1
Attack with an Off-the-Shoulder Cross Punch
Aggressor punches or grabs you around the neck with his rear hand.
Defense Against an Off-the-Shoulder Cross Punch
When aggressor punches or grabs you around the neck with his rear hand…
- Crouch and slam your arm into his swinging arm
- Hit his chin or the side of his head
- Knee him in the groin
- Smack his ear with your palm.
Defense Against an Off-the-Shoulder Cross Punch Details
Take a look at the details of how to make this response to a rear hand punch attack work.
Attack with a 2-Handed Power Choke
Aggressor smacks your hands down and grabs you by the neck with his hands.
Defense Against a 2-Handed Power Choke
When aggressor grabs you by your throat with 2 hands…
- Turn your shoulder to the side and hook your fingers from the outside of his arms as you sink and pull away, or
- Turn your shoulder to the side and smack your palms from the inside of his arms as you sink and pull away
- Turn your shoulder to the side, reach over his forearms, pound back with elbow strikes to the head, and hammer fist the side of his head…
…as you sink and pull away.
Defense Against a 2-Handed Power Choke
Take a look at the details of how to make this defense against a 2-hand crushing choke attack work.
Level 2
Defense Against Off-the-Shoulder Cross Punch
When aggressor punches or grabs you around the neck with his rear hand…
- Pull back at a 45 degree angle inside and slam your arm into his swinging arm
- Rock forward and hit the side of his neck or head with an open hand strike
- Step forward with a shuto open hand edge strike
- Kick him in the leg.
Defense Against an Off-the-Shoulder Cross Punch Details
Take a look at the details of how to make this response to a cross punch attack work.
Defense Against a Grounded Choke or Punch Barrage
When aggressor throws you to the ground and begins an assault, “shrimp” out with your hips, wedge your lower knee into his chest, straighten your body to his and kick to his face or midsection, knocking him away.
Defense Against a Grounded Choke or Punch Barrage Details
Take a look at the details of how to make this response to a grounded attack work.
Sideways Headlock Escape
When aggressor grabs you to wrestle, pull down on one arm, jam up on the opposite shoulder, step out behind his heel, and step forward with your back leg and dump him backwards on the ground.
Sideways Headlock Escape Details
Take a look at the details of how to make this escape from a sideways headlock work.
Level 3
Wind Inside a Looping Cross Punch
When aggressor punches or grabs you around the neck with his rear hand…
- Shift with the motion inside his arm and smack his ear
- Throw your rear leg up with a knee strike to his abdomen
- Continue forward while scooping under his arm to lift it up
- Throw him forward to the ground.
Details for Wind Inside a Looping Cross Punch
Take a look at the details of how to evade his punch while fitting in to trap and throw him.
Mu-So Dori Elbow Lock Shoulder Twist
When aggressor grabs you by the arms or sleeves of your jacket, 1. Throw a shuto open hand strike to his neck, 2. Push forward and hug his arm, straightening out his elbow, 3. Turn back into him, pulling and straightening his arm to take him down.
Details for Mu-So Dori Kata
Take a look at the details of how to lock him up by straightening his arm.
Oni-Kudaki Elbow-lock Against Downward-swing club attack
- Omote Oni-Kudaki Over-elbow pull-forward shoulder lock
Reach over his elbow and pull down from above, push up from beneath his wrist, and pull him down - Ura Oni-Kudaki Under-elbow pull-forward shoulder lock
Reach under his elbow and pull down from below, push up from beneath his wrist, and pull him down
Details for Oni-Kudaki Kata
Take a look at the details of how to lock him up by bending his arm.
Level 4
Ko-Yoku Kata
When aggressor punches or grabs you around the neck with his rear hand…
- Angle back inside his arm with a stopping hit
- Strike or punch his face or collarbone…
- If he pitches forward to grapple with you, turn into him with a shuto open hand strike, undertook his arm, and throw him forward with a ganseki-nage…
- If he falls back while holding onto you, follow him back with an osoto-gake…
- If he drops down to tackle you, sweep his arm past you from the outside and throw him backwards to the ground
Explanation of Ko-Yoku Kata
Take a look at the details of Ko-yoku decision making kata.
Nidan to Sandan
MOGURI DORI “Submerge and catch”
To defeat a speed or power puncher, duck below the strikes and close in on the aggressor
When the attacker attempts a throw, drop your hips, with your back straight, strike his face and grab his hair and pull him backward to the ground
When the attacker attempts a throw, drop your hips, with your back straight, slam the base of his spine with your palm heel, drop down with a fist to his sternum, and pull him backward to the ground
U-GARI “Capturing the cormorant”
When his throw takes you off balance, go with it and drop your hips in front of or behind his feet, fitting in tightly, then pull him off balance to the ground
- Start your throw counter anticipating and matching his throw.
- Next, practice responding to his throw as he attempts to get you off balance.
- Thirdly, practice the technique as a response to actually losing your balance from his throw