This week’s lesson is was based on ku no kata.
We did the original form (gedan uke, metsubushi, sokuyaku geri), and then added ura shuto. Why? Because we need to practice two things; first, linking up attacks instead of expecting that one single attack will always succeed, second, switching between high level and low level attacks. If you are ever keeping up the offensive on an opponent, occasionally changing your attack levels messes up your opponent’s psychological state a lot!
闕倒 Ketō – from Gyokko Ryu – against a high punch, we block, shakoken and kick with an upward movement. Very much ku no kata, except against a high punch this time.
擔撃 Tangeki – from Koto Ryu – against two punches, we block twice, happa ken, then geri. Quite similar to ku no kata in concept too.
指拍 Shihaku – also from Koto Ryu – against two punches, we block twice, fake the kick and then punch instead.
The two waza from Koto Ryu also teach us about distancing. If we are not at the right distance to hit the opponent with a kick, we can either let the opponent close the distance (Tangeki) or close the distance ourselves with a feint (Shihaku). The kick need not actually hit an opponent to be effective; it can either just distract him or protect us as we move in with another attack.