In the below video Master Koretoshi Maruyama, Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai demonstrates and provides instruction on how to perform ushirodori kokyu nage.
In this particular application of kokyu nage (or breath throw), the nage’s arms are strongly pinned just above the elbow in a rear bear hug hold (ushiro dori). The attack is also performed from a static position making it more challenging to escape from, particularly if the uke has a strength or size advantage.
The challenging nature of the attack makes ushirodori kokyu nage an excellent learning vehicle to study how fundamental aikido principles can be used to take the balance of a uke who is not only centered but in a tactically superior position.
Nikyo techniques involve the application of a painful pronating or adductive wristlock to subdue or pin an attacker. They are a common feature in the syllabus of most Aikido schools.
Nikyo techniques can be used to address a wide variety of attacks. They are particularly effective in circumstances where the uke attempts to grab the clothing or wrist of a nage (as a prelude to follow up strike).
In the below video Morihiro Saito Sensei (9th Dan) explains the fundamental principles that underpin the application of katatedori nikyo. This form of nikyo is applied in response to an attack in the form of a same side grab.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Katatedori nikyo – Fundamentals
See below a photo demonstration (including description) by Morihiro Saito Sensei (9th Dan) of the fundamental elements of katatedori nikyo as practised by O’sensei in the immediate post war period of his training life.
Katatedori nikyo – Alternate application (1)
See below a photo demonstration (including description) by Morihiro Saito Sensei (9th Dan) of an alternate form of katatedori nikyo which was also practised by O’sensei in the immediate post war period of his training life.
Katatedori nikyo – Alternate application (2)
Avoiding the potential to be kicked in the kneecap
The method of application in the below video overcomes a common problem sometimes seen with nikyo in that the uke can readily kick the nage in the knee cap to escape. Also included are some suggested exercises to assist in the learning process.
Morihiro Saito Sensei’s practice of Aikido spanned 56 years and he is one of the most important teachers in Aikido history. Saito Sensei was a live-in student of O’sensei for more than 20 years at his home dojo in Iwama, Japan.
Saito Sensei spent his teaching life dedicated to preserving the technical style of Aikido as practised and shown to him by O’sensei in the post-war period. Without his commitment to preserving the Aikido of the Founder and extensive efforts to record and document his teachings, much of the Aikido of O’sensei would have no doubt been lost. The Aikido world owes him a great debt.
While by no means the most commonly practised “drop” technique, seoi otoshi has nonetheless been part of Aikido since its early days. A question often asked whenever seio otoshi is practised in the dojo is what is the difference between a seoi otoshi (shoulder drop) and a seoi nage (shoulder throw)?
Given the fact that both techniques involve the loading of the uke onto the back of the nagi (which is what “seoi”means), the confusion between the techniques is understandable. Its is also a technically trite (albeit correct) response to merely state that seoi nage is something more associated with Judo than Aikido.
From a technical perspective, the distinguishing feature of a seio otoshi is that the nage drops to one or both knees and stays there until the completion of the technique. By comparison, in seoi nage the nage completes the technique from a standing position. Further, a technique is still a seoi nage notwithstanding that the nage may have dropped to one or both knees and then returned to a standing position to complete it.
The below video includes demonstrations of both seio otoshi and seio nage by seniors at our dojo. The video is a compilation from various sources, including gradings and taninzugake (free form) practice.
We have a number of 5th Kyu (yellow belt) gradings to look forward to in the next few weeks. With this in mind, I thought it might be helpful to put up some video training notes on one of the sometimes more challenging techniques in the 5th Kyu Aikido Yuishinkai syllabus – katadori ikkyo (ura).
The technique is performed in the context of a grabbing attack to the shoulder (katadori). While it is possible to end the technique with a projection, it is generally finished with a pin.
In the below video Master Koretoshi Maruyama, Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai, provides instruction on the basic levels (kotai and juntai) of katadori ikkyo (ura). These are the levels which are tested in a 5th Kyu grading in our school.
The video was recorded at a seminar in 2008 held at Aikido School of Excellence, Tasmania.
Although part of the broader Aikido syllabus, one of our favourite techniques to practice at the dojo is koshi nage(hip throw). In fact, there would rarely be a class where this technique does not appear in some form.
Like many Aikido techniques, the origins of koshi nage trace back to the battlefield. With this in mind, we recently resolved to study the technique in the context of paired weapons practice, specifically bokken (wooden sword) vs bokken and jo (staff) vs bokken. Below is a video recording of our first efforts in this regard.
The informally recorded demonstrations are intentionally experimental and involve subtle differences in terms of hand placement on the weapon, form of ukemi, method of moving off-line, atemi, feet position and balance breaking. All in all a very useful and informative learning exercise.
As a qualifier when viewing the video, please note that our dojo is not a sword or jo school and we are not about learning to “fight” with these weapons. For us, the purpose of paired weapons practice is to magnify errors in our Aikido technique and to give us the opportunity to apply Aikido principles in different situations.
In the below video Master Koretoshi Maruyama, Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai demonstrates and provides instruction on how to perform ushirodori kokyu nage.
Aikido Warrior Dojo 
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