Extended Arm's Defense

Extended Arm's Defense

This motion entails the student/defender (Tori) extending the arm on the same side as the aggressor's (Uke's) arm that is attempting to strike the Tori. The Tori should raise the arm directly, using the shoulder to motion the hand (not the elbow). This is the most efficient (and fastest) way for the Tori's hand to achieve this positioning. (Initially) whether the Tori's hand is raised to be on the "inside" or "outside" of the aggressor's (Uke's) striking arm is irrelevant. In either event, the Tori will "rotate" to face the threating action (in this case the "striking arm").

If/When the Tori's arm is raised to be on the "outer" (radial) side of the aggressor's striking arm, the Tori will rotate their (entire) body to "face" the opposite side of the Uke (the Uke's other/non-striking arm). When doing so, the Tori will motion their extended arm in conjunction with that "body-rotation". This means that as the student rotates, their extended arm remains directly in front of it's shoulder-joint.

This will motion the Uke's striking arm to the middle (if not opposite-side) of their own body.

This motion is initially practiced using either side (Left/Right Arm's) in regards to the Uke's striking arm.

Once the motion is understood, the Tori's 2nd arm (initially) is motioned towards the opposite-side of the student's body (crossing in-front of and thereby protecting the groin area). Pivoting at the elbow, the forearm is rotated to a vertical position and is then extended forward (commonly in the manner of a strike). These 2 motions are practiced in unison to create a defensive action that can provide protection for the entire torso. Though initially practiced by either arm being extended (with the other arm remaining close to the student's body), the student will commonly find that one-side will become their preferred manor of performing the defensive motion. The motion can easily be utilized to protect the Tori from a strike delivered by either of the Uke's arms (regardless of which arm the Tori prefers to be the extended arm).

Once the basic motion is understood (when utilized in either a Left or Right manner), the student will practice defending against a strike delivered by the Uke. The student should initially only use one-side (manner) of motion to practice until the motions are understood. The student can then practice using the other-side (arm). This additionally refer's to the Uke's striking arm (practice against 1 side at a time until that motion/defense application is understood).

Oyata commonly taught the concept of "Hand's before Feet". This saying becomes relavent when practicing this application. This is a "natural" occurrence, not one to strive for. The Tori need only focus on performing the desired "Foot-Work" (the hands will more commonly move to their greatest speed on their own). The accuracy of those motions improve with repeated practice (a "common" theme). When the Uke begin's their strike, the Tori will perform a "switch-foot" and step to the desired side (remember that this direction, is to the side opposite to the performed "Heel-Lift"). This should be done in conjunction to the Tori performing the Arm-Motions (simultaneously), though it should be expected for the arm-motions to be completed prior to the completion of the foot/leg motions (as this is the more common result).

As the Tori positions their forward (extended) hand at the Uke's "shoulder-level", It's commonly apparent as to "which" side of the Uke's striking arm/hand that the Tori's hand/arm has ended-up on. We'll begin with the response made, when the Tori's hand is raised to be on the outer-side of the Uke's striking arm. Regardless of where the Tori's hand initially makes contact, the Tori will begin to rotate their body so as to orientate to the intercepted limb towards the middle of the Uke's body. This "rotation" (of the Tori) will orientate the Tori's entire body (shoulder's and hip's) to "face" the Uke's non-striking side. This will place the Tori's extended hand at (approx.) the centerline of the Uke's body. Simultaneously, the Tori will raise their other (non-extended) hand close to their own body (crossing in front of the groin as a "cover") and continuing upward (pivoting at the elbow) until that forearm is vertical (In line with the shoulder).

The extended Left hand/arm will continue it's "parry" of the aggressor's arm in a downward direction (with the Tori's arm ceasing it's progression when it reaches the waist level of the Uke). The (now vertical) opposite arm will extend forward and can be used to (either) stike the Uke's neck, defend against the Uke's other arm (should it be utilized to attempt an additional strike), or used to aid in the capture/manipulation of the (originally) diverted (Uke's) arm.

The Tori's "primary" (extended) hand/arm can optionally be used to then control the Uke's extended "striking" arm, or be utilized to engage in another manner of technique application.

This motion should be practiced until the Student is comfortable with it's execution. At a later time (and once the student is comfortable with the motion, and has determined which side they are likely to utilize most often) the student can begin including a "Straight" kick with the execution of this motion.

Should the Tori's hand be raised to engage the Uke's striking arm on the "Medial" side, the Tori need only rotate their body (more so) towards the striking arm. The Tori's extended arm then begins motioning (slightly) more towards the outer-side and then begins lowering the Uke's (striking) arm. As was done in the previous example, the Tori's other arm will perform the same (basic) motions that were described for that example (circling upward until becoming vertical, then extending if/when necessary). The Tori's extended arm will continue it's downward progression (motioning the Uke's striking arm with it) and rotating their body (carrying the Uke's striking arm with it) until the Tori is (again) facing the Uke's non-striking side.

It should be noted that within both of these examples, the Tori's body is orientated to align the front of the body with the Tori's performed actions. At no time should (either of) the Tori's arm's be extended into the region "outside" of the shoulder's width. Arm motion performed in this region is noticeably "weaker/less efficient" and should generally be avoided.

Within any performed motion/action the student should (minimally) strive to utilize both arm's. Although the leg's should additionally be included with those motions, one should not attempt to perform "single/lone" limb application of a technique. There are numerous reasons for following this rule, but the student need only understand that it will allow the student to motion "faster" (if/when they do).

The orientation of one's body (at any given time) should become a conscious awareness that is steadily maintained. The alignment of the shoulder's and the hip's are what is commonly utilized for establishing the body's orientation at any given time. When this alignment is "off", the subject is "twisted", and is then considered to be in an unstable (and therefor susceptible) position.