April 16th , 2017

This week's technique is submitted by from Sensei Steve Lott, Shorin-Ryu Karate USA


Technique of the Week - Chudan Uke – do not lead with the elbow.

Onegai-shimasu Hanshi, Kyoshi, Sensei, Sempai, and Deshi

This week’s Technique of the Week focuses on a common error made when executing Chudan Uke. The illustrations below demonstrate chest block technique in Naihanchi 1 and Naihanchi 2 but the basic concept is meant for every chest block in every kata.

Here is the chest block chamber at the start of the Naihanchi 1

The arm begins its travel to block the attack but notice how elbow is leading the travel.This is incorrect. The attacker’s punch can still be delivered under or over the arm.

 

Here is the correct method. The arm should be almost vertical as it travels. As you can see, with the arm in this vertical position, it “sweeps’ the entire area from which the punch is coming.

The same principle applies when performing Naihanchi 2. Here is the opening move.

The arm begins its travel to block the attack but notice how elbow is leading the travel. This is incorrect.

Here is the correct method. The arm should be almost vertical as it travels. Once again, when the arm is vertical it protects the entire area.

Keeping the arm vertical throughout its travel makes it more effective in deflecting attacks.
Have your training partner work with you in Bunkai and you will see quickly how much more effective the “vertical” travel is in stopping attacks.
When you work on your own always use the most valuable tool in the dojo – the mirror.

Lastly, in a few weeks, a sad date in the history of Shorin-Ryu - May 7, 2002. It will be 15 years since the passing of Master Ansei Ueshiro. We are forever indebted to Master Ueshiro for the extraordinary gift of Shorin-Ryu karate that he brought to us from his homeland of Okinawa. We will continue to express our love and respect for this gift through the Shorin-Ryu tradition of always moving forward.
Arigato,
Steve Lott