Ikkyo

Ikkyo simply means One or first movement. Ikkyo is not really a technique. It is far more than that. It is the basic movement for elbow up. It is the basis for many if not all elbow techniques. For that reason many techniques will refer back to this section. Footwork and hip movement is the most important thing in Aikido. The next most important thing is basic arm movements.

Example 1. Ikkyo Irimi

Movie of Example 1

Fig. 1 Start of Ikkyo Irimi		Fig. 2 End of Enter Strike Arm Movement 1		Fig. 3 Arm Movement 2

1. Fig. 1 shows the start position. From here as Uke strikes Nage does the Entry Strike.

2. Fig. 2 shows the end of the Entry Strike and the beginning of the arm movement that we are interested in.

3. Nage's lead (left) hand engaged Uke's arm in Fig. 2 because Uke's arm was between Uke's face and Nage's strike. The arm was the target of opportunity. Had Uke's arm been off to the side Nage would have to strike Uke's face. It is too dangerous to reach over to the side with the lead hand because Nage is left open to other attacks.

4. In Fig. 2 Nage's right hand is just above Uke's elbow. Neither hand grabs. Remember that Uke is going to try to counter Nage's technique. That is much easier if Nage grabs.

5. From Fig. 2 to Fig. 3 it looks like Nage is pushing Uke's elbow into Uke's face as Nage continues to move forward. Some instructors teach Ikkyo that way but that is not what is happening. Notice in the two figures that the angles of Nage's arms are constant.

6. Fig. 3 shows Nage's arms in the Furi Kaburu position. They are coming up drawing Uke in rather than pushing Uke away.

7. From Fig. 2 Nage is turning Uke around so that Uke faces the same direction as Uke. To finish the technique Nage needs to be very close to Uke so Nage is pushing Uke's elbow toward Uke's hand moving Uke and Nage together.

8. Fig. 3 shows the continuation of turning Uke around so that Uke's can not continue attacking. Nage is also moving Uke and Nage together. Both Uke and Nage are moving. In these pictures Uke is much larger that Nage. Nage cannot just push someone that big around.

9. Fig. 3 to Fig. 4 shows something else important that is happening. Uke's shoulder is rolling over. This is a critical factor in Uke falling.

   Fig. 4 Arm Movement 3		Fig. 5 Arm Movement 4		Fig. 6 End of Arm Movement

10. Fig. 4 continues the same action by Nage. It is important to understand that Nage does not pull or push on Uke. Neither hand is holding. Nage's right hand is obviously open. Nage's left hand is draped over Uke's wrist but it is not gripping the wrist. There is a natural movement here that rolls Uke's shoulder over. Done properly this is not something that Uke tends to resist because it feels very natural and relaxed.

11. Fig. 5 is also very deceptive. Uke's shoulder has rolled over and it looks like Nage is driving Uke's elbow into the ground. That is not what is happening! The natural roll of the shoulder is bringing Uke down. Nage's right hand is pushing along Uke's arm, not down. This is what is called "Extending Ki."

12. Notice if Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 that Nage has stepped in front of Uke gently brushing Uke's legs. This is so gentle that unless Uke pays attention Uke will not notice. It is a secret technique that is devastating to Uke's balance.

13. Fig. 6 shows the end of the movement with Uke's arm against Nage's thigh. This stops Uke's fall preventing straining Uke's right shoulder and it makes the transition to other techniques easy.

    Fig. 7 Flatten Uke on Mat		Fig. 8 Knee in Arm Pit		Fig. 9 Formal Finish for Test

14. In Fig. 7 Nage's left leg takes a large step forward to stretch Uke out on the mat.

15. In Fig. 8 Nage's right knee comes to the floor in Uke's arm pit. This is the way it is usually done in formal practice and for belt tests. I do not know why it is done this way. In this case Nage is showing the hand position used to bring Uke down and not doing a technique. The knee on the shoulder would make this less clear. In many cases the demonstration problem does not exist.

16. One principle of Aikido is to do minimum harm. If Nage tries do an arm pin on a grappler the grappler is likely to vigorously fight back. The force required would probably break an average persons arm. Nage might not know ahead of time what Uke is like. A Knee on the shoulder gives better control so that the weak opponent does not have to be broken and the strong opponent can be controlled. More control is more in the spirit of Aikika protecting our partners.

17. Fig. 9 shows the formal belt test finish. Part of the idea here is to keep the hands in the same position they have enjoyed throughout the movement. Nage is showing an understanding of the mechanics of the movement. In this pin both hands are still extending out Uke's fingers much more than they are pushing down extending Uke's Ki as it were.

18. The other aspect of Ikkyo done this way is that Nage does not try to straighten Uke's arm. Uke should keep the arm bent to prevent elbow damage. For the Aikido way of doing this it does not matter if Uke's arm is bent. The military and many martial arts use the Ikkyo movement but they end it with a straight arm break. We assume the Uke is too skilled to let us get a straight arm so we want out technique to work with a bent arm.

		Fig. 10 shows the applied finish. In this case Nage's right knee is on Uke's shoulder giving better control. Uke's wrist is trapped against Nage's thigh. Nage's right arm is applying pressure on the triceps above Uke's elbow. Nage is still in a standing position to deal with other attackers.
Fig. 10 Applied Finish

Example 2. Ikkyo Tenkan

Movie of Example 2.

Fig. 11 Start of Ikkyo Tenkan		Fig. 12 End of Entry Strike		Fig. 13 1st Step of Tenkan Movement 1

1. Fig. 11 shows our formal start position with the weapons where they will not reach. This is the same as Tenkan Off Balance Example 1. Here the emphasis is on the arm movement.

2. Fig. 12 shows the end of the Entry Strike. As always the strike is at Uke's head or body, not Uke's arm. Uke's arm must be in the way to do the move this way.

3. In Fig. 12 Nage's lead foot has stepped forward as the lead hand strikes. The author was taught to not take that step but it seems to work well.

4. In Fig. 12 Nage's right hand does not grab Uke's wrist. Nage's left hand is approaching Uke's elbow. Ideally this happens before Uke's hand starts coming down.

5. In Fig. 13 Nage has taken the first step of the tenkan movement and started stretching Uke's arm out and around Nage.

6. In Fig. 13 Uke's elbow has gone up so it looks like Nage is pushing up but that is an illusion. Nage's hand above Uke's is fixed with respect to Nage's body and the spin of Nage's body is pulling Uke in.

7. In Fig. 13 a very common way of doing the movement is to start by pushing Uke's elbow away from Nage to the front of Uke's face. A little of this might get Uke to react to the push but if Uke is actually pushed away it is difficult to get Uke to wrap around Nage. This problem is the point of showing this example.

   Fig. 14 Movement 2		Fig. 15 2nd Step of Tenkan Movement 3		Fig. 16 Wrap Uke Around Nage

8. Fig. 14 shows how Nage's arms naturally drop as the spin of Nage's body starts wrapping Uke around Nage. Nage's shoulders are relaxed and the arms are maintaining their position in front of Nage.

9. In Fig. 15 Nage has taken the 2nd step of the tenkan movement and continues to wrap Uke.

10. At this point in Fig. 15 it is about time for Nage to grab Uke's wrist.

11. In Fig. 16 Nage's body continues to spin and wrap Uke.

    Fig. 17 Stretch Uke On Floor		Fig. 18 Applied Arm Bar

12. In Fig. 17 Nage's spin has stretched Uke out on the floor.

13. Fig. 18 shows the applied armbar but Nage could have done the formal test demonstration of hand position as in Example 1 above.

14. Very little changes as Nage changes from movement to movement and from technique to technique.