[10.4.0] Section-10 Kaishaku: Counter Reach for a Double Lapel Grab

[Source:] [AOKK Isshin-ryu Black Belt]

Rating: AOKK Preferred Bunkai

Warning: Never practice this bunkai without a trained AOKK instructor present.

Part-1 Attacker: Reaches for your lapels

Part-2 Defender: Double Forearm Strike

• Drive your forearm sunder the attacker’s arms and push the attacker’s arms upward.
• Simultaneously, twist into a crane-stance to cover centerline targets and create distance.

Part-3 Attacker: Tries to Reagan Control

• Again he/she tries to grasp your clothing.

Theory: This is an effort to control your movement or throw you to the ground.

Part-4 Defender: Forearm Strikes

• Strike down on the attacker’s other arm, so they cannot counterattack, and grasp their obi (belt). (Low Block)
• Drive your forearm under the attacker’s chin (Best) or strike to the face (Okay). (High Block)
• Next wrap your arm around their neck while grasping their chin or hair if they have long hair. (High Block)

Note: Pull uke close to your chest.

Opinion: This happens in one fluid motion, or it will not work. You must grasp the obi as quickly as possible to prevent the attacker from getting out of your range of personal combat to complete this technique.

Note: In the low block portion of this technique your forearm must make contact with both the attacker’s arms, so it will slightly lead the high block. It only needs to be long enough to distract his/her thought process, so you can drive your forearm under their chin. This forearm strike is a common use of what we term the High Block. The ultimate goal of the “Low Block” is to grasp the attacker’s obi.

Original Meaning: In the time this was a practical technique men wore long hair or even a top knot. Grasping the hair was a common practice. Today we reach around the attacker’s head and grasp the back of the attacker’s head by the chin, hair, or you can also fishhook their mouth.

Note: If the attacker has no hair, reach around behind his/her head and grasp the chin or fishhook the side of their mouth. Trends change, and when this was created it was common for men to wear long hair. In the sixties long hair was popular, so this technique again became viable.

• Pull their head around as you spin 360˚.

Warning: You must release the neck lock and grasp uke’s collar before making this throw during practice or randori. This is a very dangerous technique and should only be applied in a life preservation situation.

• Spin pulling the attacker’s hair or chin twisting the neck while lifting on the obi and throw him/her with (Obi-otoshi)(Tai-otoshi). It can also be over your hip (O-goshi) or you can use (tai-otoshi) and throw him/her over your leg.

Information: Why use Obi-otoshi (belt drop)?  Most males wear a belt of some sorts to hold up their trousers or close their robe. This was true centuries ago and it is true today. Grasping the belt is a means of controlling your adversary. A quick yank forwards can injure the opponent. Pushing backwards and pulling up on the obi can break an attacker’s balance the the rear. The belt can be utilized to sling the attacker to the ground or to pull them over your extended leg. It is important to get your fingers under the belt and close your fist to be the most effective in controlling the opponent’s movement with the obi.

Akachan Bunkai: Akachan=(Child) This is the explanation that an instructor would give young students, so they do not injure their peers. There are multiple interpretations for any piece of kata. This is one of the simplest. 

Warning: Teach children to grasp the hair or back of the collar and not to place the opponent in a neck lock. Teaching them to grasp the obi (belt) is optional. If you pull too hard on the obi, you can injure the training partners lower back.

[End Series]