In the below video senior students from our dojo demonstrate a direct entry variation of the Aikido technique Yokomenuchi kokyu nage.
In this particular variation, the nage initially executes a direct entry hand sword cut up the uke’s centreline to take their balance. This initial taking of the uke’s balance sets up the remainder of the technique and is critical to its successful application.
Have great week
Ian Grant
Dojo Cho
Aikido Warrior Fudoshin Dojo
See below a quick demo at the end of Wednesday’s class covering most of the techniques that we practised. Big thanks to Jeremy for helping out with the impromtu run through and to Peter for filming it.
Have a great week
Ian Grant
Head Instructor
Aikido Warrior Dojo
In the below video Aikido Warrior Dojo seniors Matt Jesse and Jeremy Gehrke demonstrate and provide practice points on a variation of munetsuki kokyu nage. The video was recorded after class at our dojo on 24 July 2016.
Have a great week
Ian Grant
Dojo Cho
Aikido Warrior Dojo
In the below video Koretoshi Maruyama SEnsei, Founder of Aikido Yuishinkai, demonstrates and provides instruction on the Aikido technique, tanto tori yokomenuchi kokyu nage.
The technique is performed as a response to a yokomenuchi strike with a tanto (wooden knife) to the side of the neck. The tanto for this technique is held as if holding an ice pick. The blade is facing upwards at the commencement of the attack.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Yokomenuchi kokyu nage can be applied to any downward strike to the side of the head, regardless of whether the uke is armed with a tanto. In the below video Koretoshi Maruyama Sensei examines in detail the key aspects of this technique. The instruction given is equally applicable to circumstance where the uke is also armed with a tanto.
Yokomenuchi kokyu nage (irimi) has a long history in Aikido. The technique appears as technique number 42 in O’sensei‘s first technical manual “Budo Renshu” (1934). The notable difference in this early version is that the nage cuts down through the uke‘s neck and also cuts down and then hold’s the wrist of the uke’s attacking arm. (See O’sensei‘s drawings below).
However, the kokyu ho principles necessary to effectively apply the technique remain the same.
In O’sensei’s 2nd manual “Budo” (1938) the roles of nage and uke for the technique are described as follows:
“Uke: Deliver a yokomen strike with your right hand. “Tori (i.e. nage): Step forward on your left foot and use your left te gatana (i.e. hand sword) to neutralise your opponent’s attack, simultaneously striking his face (and down him).”
Kokyu ho exercises are something that we do a lot of at our dojo as a means of developing internal strength in our techniques. Kokyu ho exercises were the traditional method used by O’sensei to develop “ki power” in his Aikido.
In the below video, Morihei Saito Sensei demonstrates and explains the kokyu ho exercise relevant to yokomenuchi kokyu nage (irimi).
Have a great week
Ian Grant
Dojo Cho
Aikido Warrior Dojo, Brisbane
In the below video, Dojo senior Jeremy Gehrke demonstrates the Aikido technique – Munetsuki hiji kime. The technique is applied in the context of a traditional knife attack to the abdomen.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
In the below video clip, Mike Jones Sensei from NY Aiki kai demonstrates an alternate version of tanto tori munetsuki hiji kime. In this version the nage remains standing at the completion of the technique (similar to a traditional kokyu nage ending ). The principles being applied, however, are the same and equally applicable to the featured video demonstration (above).
Also included in the video are combined elbow and choke retraining techniques for addressing an attack with a tanto. These techniques are also practised at our dojo.
Have a great week
Ian Grant
Dojo Cho
Aikido Warrior Dojo
Aikido Warrior Dojo 
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