ryoute freestyle karate, ryoute, double hand grappling, kata bunkai, kata applications, kusanku, naihanchi, naifuanchi, tekki, sanchin, rokushu, tensho, passai, bassai, cross hand grappling

Disclaimer: Many of these articles express views that have been superseded and we no longer hold to be true. They are left on the website as a historical record of the development of Ryoute. Please read the FAQ for a more up-to-date version of our opinions. If there is anything not covered there please feel free to email us at info@ryoute.com

In the last article we looked at some of the basic postures and techniques found in kata. We also looked at how the Double Hand Grappling formula can be applied without deviating from the essential shape of the kata movements. In this article we will look at so called 'kicking' techniques. We believe that ballistic kicking movements were originally non-ballistic leg movements used in double hand grappling. Most kicking techniques in karate are modern. The trend is to kick high these days, the higher the better, but high kicks do not appear in any antique kata. Over a few generations humble leg raises have been changed to huge head kicks. High kicks are a modern concept and serve no purpose in relation to double hand grappling and are most likely a result of progressive exaggeration (see note 1).

It is impossible to fully explain Double Hand Grappling in a series of articles. Volumes can be written on this unique form of grappling. It is impossible to understand the Double Hand Grappling formula from a few photos. The reader may pass it off as looking silly or stupid because they are seeing it from a combative point of view. It is hard to grasp the benefits of what this formula offers if you judge it in words and pictures, it has to be experienced.

KICKING NOT TO HURT

The Double Hand Grappling formula is non aggressive and is not practical for combat. You may think that it would still be possible to include ballistics within this formula. However our research has shown that the inclusion of ballistics in Double Hand Grappling randori prevents the execution of a vast number of kata techniques thereby defeating the purpose of the formula. We found that one kata technique can flow into another as long as you 'play right'. We will tackle this concept of playing right at a later date, for now we look at the common kicking techniques found in kata.

Most antique kata contain no kicking techniques past knee height. If you look at many old photos of masters you will see that kicks are kept at knee height or are just leg raises. This is how kicks were passed onto them. The usual explanation for this is that anything past knee or waist height is impractical for self defence. This is true, however we find it unusual that kata contain such good self-defence leg techniques but such bad self-defence hand techniques. The Double Hand Grappling formula includes both hand and leg techniques. The leg techniques are used to upset the balance of the other player. The amount the players balance is upset depends on their skill. It can range from dropping the player to ground to simply forcing the player to move their stance. Because the aim of the game is grappling the legs are commonly used to unbalance your training partner giving you the opportunity to apply another hand technique. Usually the leg technique alone is not enough to drop the other player to the ground.

The most common of the kicking techniques is the front leg press, known in karate as mae geri. The leg press is just an extension of the knee raise which acts as a counter balance. The double kicks found in some kata are different, we will look at them at a later date. The front leg press can not function on its own, it must be coupled with a hand technique, this we call a 'set up'.

Figure 1,2 and 3 show a typical mae geri with a familiar set-up hand position.

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 4,5 and 6 show the application of movements from Figure 1,2 and 3 in the Double Hand Grappling format. In figure 4 player A uses the hand position to turn player B's stance so that his inside knee is exposed. In figure 5 player A raises his leg to balance himself before the leg press. In figure 6 player A presses player B's inside knee causing player B's foot to curl over.

Figure 7

A close up in figure 7 shows the mechanics behind the technique.

CONCLUSION

The Double Hand Grappling formula includes 'kicking' techniques from kata. These techniques when used in combination with hand techniques in the Double Hand Grappling format are very useful for upsetting your opponents balance. Although these techniques can be used for striking when viewed in combination with karate's unusual hand techniques they make more sense as leg presses to be used in double hand grappling.

Notes:
1) Progressive exaggeration is when a kata movement is exaggerated more by each generation of teacher. Examples include overly wide stances, high kicks, and many head height hand positions which were originally only shoulder height.

KEYWORDS

Back...