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This Month

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.

June and December

Level 1 – Earth

“Yubi-kudaki” Rear collar grab “Pivot, peer, pull-away, pound away”
Principle: 3 steps – Recognize-and-respond immediately, break through the “freeze”, win fight tactically

  1. Turn in or out and visually verify that this is an aggressor
  2. Pull away to gain balance control and straighten his arm
  3. Swing back-knuckle punches straight up to ribs, shouting the order, “Stop it!”
  4. Knock grabbing hand away and escape with defense-ready positioning

Lesson 1
Lesson 2

“Ho-soku” Single lapel grab defense “Knee, neck, knock-away!”
Principle: “He who moves first lands first” – take the initiative when there is no escape

  1. Recognize aggressor’s up-close “in your face” right-hand intimidation grab of your jacket left lapel
  2. In a surprise motion, lift your right knee to his groin or thigh, shouting the order, “Stop it!”
  3. Lift your right forearm to shield your face and then hammer down or over to the right side of his head
  4. Knock his hand off your jacket, and stamp down on his toes, kick his shins, or knee his torso
  5. Push away and escape with defense-ready positioning – “Back off!” – Eyes on attacker!

Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3

Level 2 – Fire

Defense from the ground against kneeling attacker
Principle: Use the weight of gravity instead of muscle power to generate strength

  1. Aggressor kneels or crouches with you on the ground to grab, punch, or choke
  2. On your back, tuck your knees to your chest to shield your body
  3. Rotate in and wedge your knees or bottoms of your feet against his chest and kick/push him back and away
  4. Quickly roll to your feet to continue your defense

Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3

Rear takedown (osoto-gake)
Principle: Move forward with acceleration when pulled

  1. Assailant reaches or punches around toward your chest with his left hand
  2. Deflect his left arm outward with a right push on the inside of his right forearm
  3. Push his right shoulder back and pull his left shoulder/arm forward
  4. Step past him – your left side next to his – sweep with your left leg behind his left leg
  5. Step forward with your right foot to take him back and down to his seat

Lesson 1
Lesson 2

“Fire” interception of 2-handed lapel grab
Principle: Move forward with acceleration when pulled

  1. Recognize 2-handed jacket lapel pulling grab
  2. Slap both his ears at the same moment
  3. Pull his head in for a head butt to the face
  4. Swing lateral shin kick or knees to his thighs
  5. Turn to the rear to pull him to the ground with a twisting throw

Lesson 1
Lesson 2

Level 3 – Wind

Kick avoidance, counter kick, palm-down hand edge to neck

  1. Aggressor throws a kick at your leg; leap back and pull your leg back to clear the kick
  2. Aggressor continues forward as though to punch to your upper body or head
  3. Throw a leading leg kick to stop the attacker
  4. Step in with a lunging shuto hand-edge strike to the neck

Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3

Defense against waist-tackle grab; knee head, second knee, arm lever

  1. Aggressor rushes in with grab at your leg or waist.
  2. Leap back to the side and lift your front knee sharply to his head
  3. Lift your other knee with a sharp strike to the head
  4. Reach in front of either arm and pull his arm up with an oh-gyaku arm bar lift
  5. Step back to pull the attacker forward to the ground

Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3

Take-ori “Police come-along” wrist fold from cross-grab

  1. Grab the back of the aggressor’s right hand with your right palm
  2. Turn to align in the same direction as the adversary
  3. Reach up from beneath his right arm with your left
  4. Pull back and down to “hyper-fold” his wrist into a pain-control lock

Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3

Shodan to Nidan

Sword Vertical Cut

  • Practice cutting with the sword in a vertical action.
  • Do not cut below navel level.
  • Keep your knees flexed and back straight.
  • Extend with your arms while keeping your shoulders low and relaxed.

Sword Horizontal Cut

  • Practice cutting with the sword in a horizontal action.
  • Do not go beyond your shoulders.
  • Keep your knees flexed and back straight.
  • Extend with your arms while keeping your shoulders low and relaxed.

Nidan to Sandan

Do-Gaeshi “Body overthrow”

  1. From a kneeling position, attacker punches to your stomach.
    (You can also practice this from a standing position.)
  2. You slip outside his punch with a leading hand grab to his lapel.
  3. Force him back and down.
  4. You can then lift and swing him back across to face down on the floor.

Kasumi Dori “Catch the temple”

  1. From a kneeling position, attacker punches to your face.
    (You can also practice this from a standing position.)
  2. You slip inside his punch with a leading hand edge strike to the side of his head.
  3. Step on his right foot with your left and pull him forward into your rising right foot kick to his stomach.
  4. Back up and pull him forward, to position face down on the floor.

Do Gaeshi and Kasumi-Dori