Seize the Fray

Michael controls the opponent's weapon.

We warmed up with 一文字之構 ichimonji no kamae, 飛鳥之構 hichō no kamae, and 十文字之構 jūmonji no kamae.

I began class with 捕捉 hosoku. This means capture, and the opponent does seize your lapel before he strikes. But you then capture or seize that instant to retaliate.

The retaliation comes in the form of a 鬼角拳 kikaku ken. This is a demon horn fist, aka headbutt. But first you must break the structure of the attacker to provide the opening for your counter.

This kata explores some important details about how to do this. First there is the problem of the attacker’s grab. He will be holding you with some tension, so you pivot around this point. Then we drive a 母指 boshi into 声 koe.

I shared various methods to achieve this pivot. Some manipulate the elbow, others just bypass the tension with footwork. Then the headbutt may strike at an oblique angle.

Next I shared the results of using a hidden knife. One student was surprised at how quickly he was cut up. He never even saw the knife. Of course the results of driving the knife into 声 koe would be devastating.

If our opponent attacks with a knife, our cover hand can receive along the outside of his arm. I did this with the back of my own blade applying a 挟み捕り hasami dori. Then I reflect the opponent’s attack back on him. But I always maintain the choice of lethal or non lethal application. This choice is nothing and everything at once.

Of Note: the danger of youth