Passai/Bassai Dai

nielmag wrote:

 I was wondering if the mountain punch could also be a type of osoto gaeri?  Ive seen a few clips of judoka teaching osoto gaeri by pulling one arm down with one hand, and other hand simultaneously driving forward with and violently stepping forward. 

I can’t quite see that myself. I get what you mean about the arm motion, but that does not really fit with the rest of movement. The differences in leg motion (between the kata and a good reaping throw) and the surrounding kata techniques don’t make that a viable option I feel. (The following motion fits Tai-Otoshi very nicely though!)

There is the hair grab one (which is also shown in the women’s self-defence section of early editions of Karate-Do Kyohan) / “holding something in place to keep it from moving” (also in The Bubishi) and the “overhand right” followed by an arm-bar and knee. They are the ones I prefer because they are pragmatic and fit the kata very nicely (and there is also the written evidence to suggest such methods were a part of “old karate”).

So that’s my preference, but always good to explore alternatives.

All the best,

Iain

I do see a Osoto Geri type take down myself, and I also see what Iain references as viabile Bunkai.

Heres Funakoshi showing one of the things he did:

I believe this is the movement in question. The clue is in pulling the leg back to reap. The preperation 'stack' can be an exit from a wrist grab or a deflection of a punch, or an arm extension and turn to set up - then switch to the take down.

Our system uses a rising punch, head block formation as opposed to the U punch formation - it works well.

Something else to play with

Try it as an escape from a headlock. your head is in the position, one hand tries to grab the family jewels, the other the eyes/face, step back twisting your hands so they end the other way up (as they do in the hikite position - which can also show the position for the headlock and a striking fist as well).