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dhogsette
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Two Basic Drills for Working Shuto Uke at the Angles

Hello,

Pinan Shodan/Heian Nidan presents strategies for using the shuto uke in straight line attacks or working the angles. In this video, we explore two basic drills for working the shuto uke at the angles. The first drill works a basic flinch response and counter, and the second drill works a defense against an attempted arm-bar. Both drills emphasize getting off at the angle, as in the kata, to reduce the risk of being hit by the enemy’s other hand.

Best,

David

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Nice video David! Thanks for sharing. The drills are solid examples of three key principles:

Kata Principle 1: The angles in the kata represent the angle we should take relative to the enemy (not the angle the enemy is attacking us from).

Combative Principle 1: Always keep the enemy in front of you, but do not be in front of the enemy.

Combative Principle 2: Move towards what you know, and away from what you don’t know.

The kata principle exists to record the combative principles; so, they are inextricably intertwined. All are of vital importance though and all that is shown in your video is in accordance with them. Good stuff!

All the best,

Iain

dhogsette
dhogsette's picture

Thanks, Iain! I really like your concise summaries of principles. I think I'm gonna make a handout for my students. As I remember, your book Bunkai Jutsu lists many of these kata and combative principles, yes? Also, Kane and Wilder's The Way of Kata has some nice lists of principles as well.

Best,

David

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

dhogsette wrote:
I really like your concise summaries of principles.

Thank you :-)

dhogsette wrote:
As I remember, your book Bunkai Jutsu lists many of these kata and combative principles, yes?

It does. Not all of them, but the key ones.

I think it is the internalisation of these principles that should be the key goal of kata / bunkai training. We need to get to the point where these principles are combative habits that ensure fluid and effective action in the ever-changeable world of combat.  The way we develop any habit – combative or otherwise – is through the repetition of a given thought or action. Kata and bunkai give us that repetition. As I say at semainrs, we don’t fight with kata. We don’t fight with bunkai. We fight with the habits the kata and bunkai give us.

dhogsette wrote:
Also, Kane and Wilder's The Way of Kata has some nice lists of principles as well.

Excellent book. The principles expressed related to all styles too.

All the best,

Iain

Marc
Marc's picture

Hi David,

there's quite a bit of information in this video, capturing many important principles. Thank you for sharing.

Iain Abernethy wrote:

Combative Principle 1: Always keep the enemy in front of you, but do not be in front of the enemy.

Turning yourself to face the enemy is something I have to remind students of frequently. I tell them that their "belly-cam" should always film the attack. (It's like a police officer's body cam for evidence, or like a GoPro mounted on your belly button for later posting the event on youtube.) This way they are reminded to not just look at the enemy but to reposition their entire body. In front of our chest/stomach is where we are strongest and where we have the most options.

All the best,

Marc

Marc
Marc's picture

dhogsette wrote:

I think I'm gonna make a handout for my students.

Regarding bunkai I would also recommend "Five Years One Kata" by Bill Burgar. It includes a chapter on "measurement of oyo effectiveness" where he lists several criteria for assessing the usefulness/plausibility of kata applications. Of course they apply to self-defence techniques in general.

Also, I have a collection of bunkai principles, including a list of tactical principles:  http://www.kata-karate.de/index.php/bunkai-regeln/en

And, on this forum there's a thread that collects golden rules: https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/what-are-your-golden-rules

Maybe there's something useful in there for your handout.

Take care,

Marc

dhogsette
dhogsette's picture

Awesome Marc! Thanks for the links!!

David