August 3rd, 2014

From Emiliano Mazlen Yon-dan Shihan,

Boston Chinatown Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate Club

Upper Body Techniques of Yakusoku 2

Onegai-shimasu Hanshi, Kyoshi, Sensei, Shihan and Fellow Deshi,

In Yakusoku 2, the upper body techniques of the defender's final move begin with a palm-heel (shotei) block to the side followed seamlessly by a quick but (in real application) bone-crushing grab and pull and then a double-punch. Common errors include
(1) hitting with a part of the hand other than the palm heel, such as the thumb or fingers (when those other parts would likely be ineffective in application in breaking a real attacker's arm, compared to the palm heel),
(2) striking the block under the attacker's arm driving it up, dangerously, towards the defender's face, rather than away from the defender,
(3) hitting the partner's wrist or elbow (while these are the likely targets in real application, they should be avoided on the deck as they risk injury - we prepare for real application by choosing and striking a precise, dime-sized target, which we can focus on the forearm on the deck and the elbow in real application),
(4) grabbing without blocking first (or similarly, blocking with the hand in a grab position - that is, with the thumb separated from the fist).

Let us define each technique precisely as we keep training . . .

Domo arigato gozaimasu to all,
Emiliano Mazlen
Yon-dan
Shihan, Boston Chinatown Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate Club