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JWT
JWT's picture
Nijushiho - Integrated Applications

This week I finally got round to shooting a series of videos on a range of different topics.

This video is an attempt to shoot the whole of Nijushiho in one take, showing how all the movements of the form can relate to a particular interpretation of the opening sequence. Sorry about the squeaky floor!

I had great fun shooting this with Dan White, I hope you enjoy watching it.

All the best

John Titchen

Marc
Marc's picture

Great work, John! Lots of new stuff to try next time Nijushiho is on schedule.

My take on Nijushiho is similar in that i see the opening sequence as being referred to throughout the kata. But instead of starting from the shoulder lock and then using the kata moves as options to continue from that lock, I saw many of the the kata moves as options which lead into the shoulder lock.

For example: We are attacked with a right hook. We use Kaki-Wake-Uke to shield our head from the attacker's arm, keep our left arm/hand in contact with the arm and with our right arm we slide along the arm up to his shoulders to strike the neck. Out knee raise helps in getting the message across. From this position we can go into the starting sequence and apply the shoulder lock.

It's nice to see that the same moves that lead into the lock can also be used to continue after the lock has been applied. That's killing two birds with one stone.

Here's another detail about the starting sequence that I thought is great craftsmanship be the creator of the kata:

When using the first move (back in Kokutsu-Dachi) to underhook his arm and trying to pull him into the shoulder lock, I sometimes have problems to insert my left arm accurately to make his right arm bend. So when his arm is still straight, I can hit him with the right punch (as you show in your video) to distract him and then use my "Empi" move to bend his arm. For this I reach around with my right hand over my left (as the kata does) close to my left elbow to grab the crook of his right arm and then draw it back across my chest to bend his arm while lifting my left elbow to apply the lock or increase the pressurce of the lock (as you show, too).

Thanks for your video.

Take care

Marc  

JWT
JWT's picture

Great points Marc Yes, every combination in the form can help you apply the control or can give you options in the case of resistance/needing to re-establish the control. All the sequences can stand alone and they can be used in any order. The kakewake Uke crash is a great example of this. In this instance I illustrated (gently because Dan is so flexible he moves and rolls away from pressure that I might use on tighter arms and shoulders) a Shuto as the gambit which led to the control, taking the shuto from elsewhere in the kata.   

All the best  

John

Th0mas
Th0mas's picture

Hi John

Great video sequence. I really like this method of kata interpretation and in fact try and apply a similar approach to all of my katas. 

What I particularly like with this type of rationale approach as it puts the tactics and principles at the heart of the bunkai interpretation. Which then feeds into creating the right mind set for the student to explore and experiment.

Good job, thank you for sharing.

Cheers

Tom

JWT
JWT's picture

Thanks Tom

Glad you enjoyed it. The opening movement doesn't necessarily have to be the 'key' but I think it is important that the tactics/techniques of the form loop together so that you can see how certain moves act as setups or redundancies for others. Drilled well the idea is that students should find that a failure, or failure cascade always leads them to a familiar strategy.

All the best

John