Tenkan Off Balance

Fig. 1 Entry Step With Strike	Fig. 2 Tenkan step 2

Tenkan starts with the Entry Strike shown if Fig. 1. Nage then pivots on the lead foot so that the other foot comes as close as possible to the line of attack behind Uke, Fig. 2. With this stepping movement Nage turns so that Nage's back is to Uke. While making the turn between Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 Nage shifts to Uke's rear and squats down.

Example 1.

Movie of Example 1.

Fig. 3 Start of Ikkyo Tenkan		Fig. 4 Entry Strike		Fig. 5 1st Step of Tenkan

Fig. 6 2nd Step of Tenkan		Fig. 7 Wrap and submit.

This Example is Ikkyo. Ikkyo is the basic arm movement where Uke's elbow is pointed up during the Off Balance. Critical points are:

1. In Fig. 3 Uke and Nage are well separated so that their weapons do not touch.

2. Fig. 4 shows the Entry Strike with Nage's lead hand. This strike must be toward Uke's head or body. Do not reach for the arm. If Uke does not protect Uke's face Nage cannot do Ikkyo as shown. It will be too dangerous.

3. In Fig. 5 Nage has stepped in beside or behind Uke's lead foot.

4. In Fig. 6 the Off Balance is finished. The picture gives the illusion that Nage is pushing down. Uke's arm is resting on Nage's thigh to break Uke's fall and prevent injury. Nage is pulling Uke in so that Uke and Nage are close together.

5. In Fig. 6 Uke has stepped around to try to maintain balance. Because Nage is squatting down it is very difficult for Uke to step and Uke falls.

6. Some schools of Aikido like for Nage to stay in Uke's way so that pressure can be applied to Uke's elbow. This is dangerous to practice and the emphasis is on injuring Uke rather than taking Uke's balance.

7. In Fig. 6 Nage has stepped far enough behind Uke that no part of Nage Pushes on Uke while Uke falls. If Uke can lean on Nage Uke can resist Nage. Uke must fall into a hole behind Uke's line of balance.

8. In Fig. 7 Nage continues to wrap Uke around Nage and drops into an arm pin.

Example 2

Fig. 8 Start of Waki Gatame Tenkan		Fig. 9 Entry Strike		Fig. 10 First step of Tenkan.

Fig. 11 2nd Step of Tenkan		Fig. 12 Higi Kime Finish

Example 2 is Waki Gatame Tenkan. Waki Gatame is the basic arm movement where the elbow is pointed down. Here is a movie of Example 2. The critical points are as follows.

1. In Fig. 8 Nage and Uke are far enough that their weapons do not touch. Uke's movement within this range is the attack!

2. In Fig. 9 Nage moves in response to Uke's attack with the Entry Strike. The partners hands meet moving up so that there is no conflict. This is Aiki with no conflict.

3. In Fig 10 Nage has stepped beside Uke to start the tenkan. Nage's body position is critical. The essence of Off Balance is that Nage is standing so that Uke cannot step to maintain balance and Nage's body does not push against Uke holding Uke up.

4. Notice that in Fig. 10 Nage is reaching over Uke's arm taking Uke down as Nage squats and pivots.

5. Figure 11 Shows Nage from behind in Waki Gatame. Nage has protected Uke by catching Uke's arm on Nage's thigh. Properly applied Waki Gatame is am arm pin. In this Example Waki Gatame is treated as a basic movement leading to the next frame.

6. Figure 12 shows Higi Kime for the finish. This could be almost any technique including most Aikido techniques.

   < Previous AikiKuta.com

   Contents Email: aiki@win.net

   Next > Last Update 2/27/2008