In the below video Morihiro Saito Sensei (1928-2002) demonstrates the Aikido exercise/technique – Sodedori kokyu ho/kokyu nage. 

Kokyu ho exercises are used in Aikido to assist in developing internal power.  They can also be techniques in themselves (kokyu nage) or form key aspects of other techniques.  At higher levels of practice kokyu ho principles form part of every technique.

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• Technical details (1) – Morihiro Saito Sensei

 

• Alternate application (1) – London Aikido Club

 

• Alternate application (2) Judo style grab

In this video Saito Sensei demonstrates how kokyu nage is applied if the sleeve is grabbed below the elbow.

 

• Brief Biography – Morihiro Saito Sensei (1928-2002)

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 from the post war period may have been lost.