Lapel Grab

Kata Tori is one hand grab to lapel. Ryokata Tori is both lapels or shoulders grabbed. Ryokata Tori is treated the same as Kata Tori so they are combined here. These can take several forms:

Fig. 1 Kata Tori		Fig. 2 Ryokata Tori		Fig. 3 Lapel and Shoulder Grabbed.

1. Fig 1 shows a basic Kata Tori. Once Nage knows the basic move Uke should try to throw or strike Nage when Uke grabs.

2. Fig 2 shows the basic Ryokata Tori with both lapels grasped. As in basic Kata Tori Uke should try to throw Nage once Nage knows the basic defense.

3. Fig 3 shows the lapel and shoulder grasped. This is essentially the basic Judo hold. It can be defended like Kata Tori. Uke should try to throw Nage.

   Fig. 4 Cross Strangle		Fig. 5 Thrust Choke

4. Fig 4 shows the Judo choke Nami Juji Jime. It Uke's palms are up rather than down this is called Gyaku Juji Jime. After Nage has practiced a few trials Uke should try to choke Nage to submission. It is not the same thing getting out of a pretend choke as a real choke. Being choked also teaches Nage how to take a choke making Nage much safer. This is a potentially dangerous choke for Uke in a real fight because Uke's face and neck are easy for Nage to attack. Practice attacking the face first and then throwing for real fights. Also practice just throwing for Judo. Uke can also throw Nage while choking.

5. Fig. 5 shows the Judo choke Tsukkomi Jime. The comments for Fig. 4 apply here. There are many other chokes one can practice. For example Uke's hands can just grab Nage's throat.

   Fig. 6 Head Butt		Fig. 7 Kick		Fig. 8 Push

6. Fig. 6 shows a head butt. This is a very dangerous attack that can seriously injure Nage and end the confrontation. For this reason Nage must never allow Uke to come into Nage's face.

7. Fig. 7 shows a grab with a kick. Another reason to move before grabbed.

8. Fig. 8 shows Uke pushing Nage back. This can be with or without a lapel grab. This is a very common way of knocking Nage off balance to set up a follow up attack.

Uke stands in Gyaku Hammi so that Uke's groin is not so exposed. Uke cannot assume that Nage can be forced to let go once Nage grabs. With practice one's grasp can be quite tenacious.

The defense shown here is done when Uke has succeeded in grabbing Nage. Up to that point this attack is treated as a strike. Understand that both Uke's hands are coming close to Nage's face. In a real situation Nage does not know what Uke is about to do so it is foolish to just stand there. In a real situation other than training Nage should treat this as a strike.

A lapel grab or push is the second most common attack so this attack has great practical value. It also can be very dangerous. A grab with head butt is very fast and very devastating. Nage does not want to just stand there and let this happen.

A lapel grab as in Judo competition is a good way to do Randori without strikes. In this case the hand on the lapel acts as the striking hand by pushing on Uke but it does not really strike. This gives a kind of pure grappling that can give very useful training.