May 7, 2011 One Point Lesson Vol 1 Part 2

Today's One Point Lesson is on Mawashigeri or Roundhouse Kick. Everyone's favorite to see on all the action movies, perhaps second to the Ushiro Mawashi Geri and Kakato Otoshi. This drill is to help you develop or balance, muscle control and accuracy with the ball of the foot. Now, you can also do this drill with the top of the foot as well. There is some debate as to which part of the foot is more destructive. Of course that is if you want around barefoot or in flip flops all day, you may want to think about it. But personally it becomes a moot point when you have shoes on. Ladies may be careful when wearing high heels! (^^)
***Note: You may notice the bottoms of our feet are pretty black! That is some the fine soil that manages to get into the hall. The hall is swept and mopped but the feet still gets "dirty". One day We will have mats to practice on! But if my memory is correct, folks used to practice out on the yard back in the old days! Feet can always be washed! (^^)

Mawashigeri Drill #1

Application of theYama Uke as seen in Seiunchin Kata

Today we look at the Yama Uke and its application. My interpretation is that it can be used as a redirect into a shoulder joint control. In this case we defend against a punch. By shifting our position forward as in the Kata we avoid the punch and we redirect the attacker's punch with the arm placement and end up with a shoulder control lock. Part one is done in so-called traditional stance, albeit Yachi attacks  from a Kyokushin style Kumite stance while Take attacks from the traditional Zenkutsu stance.

Yama Uke Application Part1



Part 2 takes a look at a drill from a more natural stance. The uke (receiver) takes a Negotiator stance (NS) with one hand covering the head and the rear hand covering the heart area. Naturally the NS is meant to deescalate confrontation, therefore open palms. If you would notice that a major minor adjustment of the hands cam turn it into a Yama Uke while shifting the position forward and diagonal the the attack. This drill is gear to work on your reaction time and body placement.

**IMPORTANT NOTE** Mastery of Kata and any Drill rests with repetition, constant repetition. As you can see both Take and Yachi have not done this drill. As a matter of fact it their first time. Their timing is off initially and both tend to use their arms to "force" the attacking punch away. There is no need for it. If your arms as properly placed in the Yama Uke position, then the punch will be redirected and you can smoothly turn it into the shoulder joint lock. One of the difficult things we have to train ourselves to do is to move forward against an attack and also push something away from us, as it more natural to step away from an attack and to "ward off" an attack. Only repetitious drilling will make us comfortable with moving in and controlling an attacking limb close to your body.

Yama Uke Application Part 2



        Well, I hope to see some other applications from Yokohama and New York! (^^) For fun with a bit of seriousness, try this with a blade thrust. As in this presentation start from a traditional stance to get a feel for the Kata, then gradually move it into a more natural stance. Once you feel comfortable with the kihon then it is time to explore with varying angles;position of the body and hands; usage of the hands, i.e. one hand strikes as one hand defects; usage of the legs, i.e. Taiotoshi. The variations are endless! (^^) But to master any it's 一に稽古、二に稽古、三に稽古！Practice! Practice! Practice!

Mahalo to Take and Yachi for providing the action without any rehearsal. But then in real life nothing is rehearsed!