2024-02-24

Subbing for ISKF Tempe at the Tempe Family YMCA.

Much of our time today was spent improving the “look and feel” of the signature flowing-block-into-face-strike combination from the Tekki kata, specifically Tekki Shodan. This is a great example of how the same technique can be described by different “authoritative” sources. For example, for the first occurrence in Tekki Shodan:

• Best Karate describes this as “haiwan jodan nagashi-uke” and then “_jodan ura-zuki.”
• The JKA’s “Karate-Do Kata” vol 1 calls it “haiwan jodan uchi nagashi-uke” and then “urakken jodan uchi.”
• Sugiyama’s “25 Shotokan kata says it’s “jodan outward nagashi-uke” then “ura-zuki … to his chin.”
• Hassell’s “Karate Training Guide” vol says “upper-level wrist sweeping block” then “upper-level close punch.”
• Kanazawa’s “Complete Kata” descrbies it as an upper-level sweeping block then upper-level back-fist strike.

To summarize:

• Everyone describes the block as some kind of upper-level sweeping block and both JKA resources specify that the block is with the back of the forearm (as opposed to the radial or ulnar side).
• Roughly half describe the subsequent attack as a backfist while the other half call it a close punch.
• Though not mentioned above, roughly half describe the activity of other arm as a downward block, while Kanazawa describes it as a “blocking punch.”

So how do I teach it?

• The right hand comes across with its own open-handed jodan nagashi-uke, if only to tap the incoming attack towards the left side a bit.
• At that point, the left hand picks up the attack with a closed-handed jodan nagashi-uke, catching the attack on the radial side of the wrist. Contact transitions to the back of the forearm (haiwan) as the arm is pulled back beside the head, but at no point is the ulnar edge of the arm oriented upward as it would be with age-uke.
• As the left hand’s nagashi-uke is happening, the right hand, drops to execute either tetsui uchi or a straight punch to the attacker’s abdomen. Then, importantly, it grabs ahold of the attacker’s clothing, preventing his escape before the next bit.
• The left hand, having finished its block, circles back around and attacks the face, generally with ura-zuki, but possibly with urakken-uchi if the attacker is shorter.
• As all of this is happening, the hips rotate clockwise during the block and abdomen strike, then counterclockwise for the strike to the face.