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
- Turn in or out and visually verify that this is an aggressor
- Pull away to gain balance control and straighten his arm
- Swing back-knuckle punches straight up to ribs, shouting the order, “Stop it!”
- Knock grabbing hand away and escape with defense-ready positioning
“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
- Recognize aggressor’s up-close “in your face” right-hand intimidation grab of your jacket left lapel
- In a surprise motion, lift your right knee to his groin or thigh, shouting the order, “Stop it!”
- Lift your right forearm to shield your face and then hammer down or over to the right side of his head
- Knock his hand off your jacket, and stamp down on his toes, kick his shins, or knee his torso
- Push away and escape with defense-ready positioning – “Back off!” – Eyes on attacker!
Level 2 – Fire
Defense from the ground against kneeling attacker
Principle: Use the weight of gravity instead of muscle power to generate strength
- Aggressor kneels or crouches with you on the ground to grab, punch, or choke
- On your back, tuck your knees to your chest to shield your body
- Rotate in and wedge your knees or bottoms of your feet against his chest and kick/push him back and away
- Quickly roll to your feet to continue your defense
Rear takedown (osoto-gake)
Principle: Move forward with acceleration when pulled
- Assailant reaches or punches around toward your chest with his left hand
- Deflect his left arm outward with a right push on the inside of his right forearm
- Push his right shoulder back and pull his left shoulder/arm forward
- Step past him – your left side next to his – sweep with your left leg behind his left leg
- Step forward with your right foot to take him back and down to his seat
“Fire” interception of 2-handed lapel grab
Principle: Move forward with acceleration when pulled
- Recognize 2-handed jacket lapel pulling grab
- Slap both his ears at the same moment
- Pull his head in for a head butt to the face
- Swing lateral shin kick or knees to his thighs
- Turn to the rear to pull him to the ground with a twisting throw
Level 3 – Wind
Kick avoidance, counter kick, palm-down hand edge to neck
- Aggressor throws a kick at your leg; leap back and pull your leg back to clear the kick
- Aggressor continues forward as though to punch to your upper body or head
- Throw a leading leg kick to stop the attacker
- Step in with a lunging shuto hand-edge strike to the neck
Defense against waist-tackle grab; knee head, second knee, arm lever
- Aggressor rushes in with grab at your leg or waist.
- Leap back to the side and lift your front knee sharply to his head
- Lift your other knee with a sharp strike to the head
- Reach in front of either arm and pull his arm up with an oh-gyaku arm bar lift
- Step back to pull the attacker forward to the ground
Take-ori “Police come-along” wrist fold from cross-grab
- Grab the back of the aggressor’s right hand with your right palm
- Turn to align in the same direction as the adversary
- Reach up from beneath his right arm with your left
- Pull back and down to “hyper-fold” his wrist into a pain-control lock
Shodan to Nidan
- 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.
- 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”
- From a kneeling position, attacker punches to your stomach.
(You can also practice this from a standing position.) - You slip outside his punch with a leading hand grab to his lapel.
- Force him back and down.
- You can then lift and swing him back across to face down on the floor.
Kasumi Dori “Catch the temple”
- From a kneeling position, attacker punches to your face.
(You can also practice this from a standing position.) - You slip inside his punch with a leading hand edge strike to the side of his head.
- Step on his right foot with your left and pull him forward into your rising right foot kick to his stomach.
- Back up and pull him forward, to position face down on the floor.
