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dhogsette
dhogsette's picture
Practical applications for jodan uke

I'm working on teaching kihon and applications together to make the kihon practice more practical. What are some practical applications you all think are key for jodan uke? I'm teaching neck strike in response to lapel grab and striking the elbow joint in response to a high wrist grab (eg, your wrist is grabbed after you try to choke or gouge the attacker's eyes). I'm curious what applications others of you teach. Thanks in advance! 

Best,

David 

Andy_R
Andy_R's picture

Hi David, I sometimes teach this as a straight wrist grab release too, thus can be seen at around 2:30 on this video.

also ive used this motion as a choke to an opponent if a solid object is behind them eg a wall, you can put your forearm into their neck and push forwards and up to restrict the airway. I dont have a video of this unfortunately. Hope that is of some help? Andy

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

dhogsette wrote:
What are some practical applications you all think are key for jodan uke?

This drill can be one people find useful and enjoyable as a way to introduce basic applications to the common “blocks”:

This one from Join is more combative and shows how punches can be added on:

To mix things up a bit, here is a fun throw that uses age-uke as an entry:

If you want something a little more unusual, this standing choke as the look and feel of age-uke (but I personally don’t think this was ever the intent of the motion):

Finally, you can also do the motion as a strike and throw (for the turning age-uke) as we find toward the end of this drill for Jitte (1:45):

I hope that helps?

All the best,

Iain

PS Great video Andrew!

dhogsette
dhogsette's picture

Hello all, these are great and thanks so much. I have a short video from last Thursday night's class that I'll post later. I got hit with the flu over the weekend and am flat on my back sick. If any of you have some good anti-flu bunkai, please let me know!! Lol. Thanks again. Best, David 

dhogsette
dhogsette's picture

I just remembered another application I worked with some black belts at the college club I ran last year. Alas, they have graduated and have moved away. Now I'm developing drills and applications for beginners, which is a really fun challenge. Anyway, this application of the high block is a defense against a front kick or knee strike in close range fighting. Scoop the kicking/kneeing leg (hikite), and strike the throat with the forearm as you step through and inner reap the leg. Works sometimes....

This kinda shows what I'm talking about:

http://shorinryukarate.club/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Flex-slider-image-bunkai-1024x350.jpg

Best,

David 

Marc
Marc's picture

Hi David,

I see Jodan-Uke or Age-uke as consisting of three elements working together (description for right side):

1. Left arm shoots up with open hand as a "preparation movement" and is then pulled back to the hip (hikite).

2. Right arm is first pulled to the hip (hikite) and then shoots up and forward while being twisted to reach the final position.

3. Step forward with right foot (usually into forward stance, zenkutsu-dachi).

So here are three ideas for this move we have worked with recently:

A) Opponent attacks with a big right hook. Your left hand shoots up to intercept, then immediately pulls the attacking arm (and thus the entire opponent) down and in to control it while your whole body shifts forward with your right forearm smashing into the opponent's throat. - This is a very straight forward application which beginners can easily grasp and execute with a partner. You can also use focus mitts with the attacking arm to practice a powerful interception (an actual block). You can also practice your powerful counter attack on a kicking shield or heavy bag.

B) Basically the application that Iain shows in his Jion video above: Attacker grabs your lapel with his right hand. Your right hand pulls his elbow joint to your right hip (thus breaking his posture) while your left open hand slaps onto his right ear. You the continue to control his right arm with your left hand and move forward into him while slamming your right forearm into his head.

C) Attacker grabs both your lapels. To make sure you don't get head-butted you slap his face with your left open hand while controlling his arms with your right arm (just put it on top of them). Then you rapidly and repeatedly exchange your arms (one on his arms and one in his face) while driving forward. You can also change from open hand to hammer fist, and when he increases the distance you change from age-uke to straight punches. If he releases you to further increase the distance you follow up with a front kick. Then you run. :) - This can also nicely be trained with focus mitts or kick shields.

Take care

Marc  

warrencalvert
warrencalvert's picture

Hi all

These are all good applications most of which I'm familiar with and practise myself.

One thing that I've never found a satisfactory explanation for is that the way this move is practised in shotokan, the arms cross in front of the face (i.e. when the left hand shoots up, before it comes down to the hip the right fist crosses it).  All the shotokan instructors I know absolutely insist on this.  The only explanation I've found is that it can be used as a choke, which is true it can but this doesnt fit the movement of jodan uke as practised in basics and kata.

I would be very interested to hear other people's thoughts and if this crossing of the arms is also practiced in other styles.

Warren.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi Warren,

warrencalvert wrote:
One thing that I've never found a satisfactory explanation for is that the way this move is practised in shotokan, the arms cross in front of the face (i.e. when the left hand shoots up, before it comes down to the hip the right fist crosses it …

I would be very interested to hear other people's thoughts and if this crossing of the arms is also practiced in other styles.

That’s the version I covered in the Jion video above: https://youtu.be/iZx9RJyX9f4

The open hand can be used to block potential head-butts, locate the head for strikes, and to torque the neck to limit the enemy’s striking options. The video is a short clip from a much longer session. We did discuss and practise the variations on the way the motion is performed in various styles, and then ran with the Shotokan version in the clip.

I hope that’s of some help.

All the best,

Iain

dhogsette
dhogsette's picture

Marc,

Great explanations. I teach option A as an application for our second basic kata, Fukyugata Ni, which starts off with a "high block" to the left. I also like your option C and will work that into my teaching and training.

Thanks!

Best,

David