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Wastelander
Wastelander's picture
Yama-Tsuki with Broken Timing

Hello, everyone!

This week's Waza Wednesday takes a look at yama-tsuki (mountain thrust/punch), which shows up most notably in Passai/Bassai kata. Specifically, we look at how the two punches can be used with broken timing, instead of simultaneously. There are many other ways this can be used, as well, of course. This is just one way to look at the movement.

Mark B
Mark B's picture

I taught a very similar set of options at a seminar I taught last year. I begin on the relevant sequence at around 3:50 Regards

Wastelander
Wastelander's picture

Yes, it's the very same concept, really--one hand sticking (muchimi) and the other hand striking. In this example I wanted to point out the combined offensive/defensive capability of the single movements, so I went on the inside track. We do the same thing on the outside, the way you show, as well, it just doesn't have the components I wanted to highlight, in this case. I also use it when grabbing legs, which I may show at a later point. Thanks for sharing yours!

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

I like that. My preference for this motion is to avoid any notion of “double punches”. That said, Funakoshi shows the motion being used as such against a hair grab in the Women’s Self-Defence section of the original Karate-Do Kyohan. The Bubishi always has a similar technique, but in that case it is a grip to the throat and groin as opposed to two strikes.

For me, I prefer to see it as a check / cover and strike where one hand is clearing a path and the other is striking. We can go straight in with the top hand, or we can drop it a little like an overhand right. We can also reverse that so the lower hand is doing a straight shot to the floating rips (as you show in the video), or a shovel hook.

The simultaneous cover / strike is a nice concept too and is one of the few things I liked about the Wado-Ryu one-steps I was taught (Jodan No. 2).

Below are a few videos I’ve done on this motion in case anyone feels the are of interest.

All the best,

Iain

Yama-zuki with lower arm gripped

Yama-zuki as check and overhand right

Yama-zuki within a drill for the end of the kata

Chatan1979
Chatan1979's picture

Nicely done. My interpretation was a bit different.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Chatan1979 wrote:
My interpretation was a bit different.

Nice one Sal! Lots of good info in this thread! Thank you!

Here is another that Andi Kidd posted this week:

calaveraz
calaveraz's picture

All very good defensive applications of this technique. Just want to add that imho the Yama-Zuki is also an extremly dangerous and effective attacking technique. Here you can see the thing in action by an MMA fighter:

The video explains very detailed the different stages. I tried this myself in training free fights, and noticed that it is nearly impossible to block this technique. In fact my training partners adopted that as well, so I also know it from the other side ;). The point why this is so hard to spot and to defend is that the backhand strike has its starting phase right behind your body. If you use your forehand to captured the opponents forehand just like Mariusz here, the enemy is completely distracted and focused on this. That means he will see your backhand just if its coming down like an iron-hammer from the sky. I am wondering if this could be the real meaning of "mountain" punch? The stike accelerates and goes up nearly invisible ("behind the mountain") and then it comes down with full force and speed with a very short time to react. 

Les Bubka
Les Bubka's picture

All great application

we use it as a chin whip :)

Kind regards

Les

Tau
Tau's picture

I thought we'd had this conversation some time ago so I searched. And here it is:

https://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/content/yama-zuki-and-kempo-connection

AllyWhytock
AllyWhytock's picture

Hi,

As yet another option here is Patrick McCarthy. My partner, Karen, really enjoyed the biting.

Here is our syllabus bunkai for this part of Bassai Dai. 

https://youtu.be/wNwAYXNACGU?t=29s

(jumped past the music & entry :))

Kindest Regards,

Ally

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

calaveraz wrote:
All very good defensive applications of this technique. Just want to add that imho the Yama-Zuki is also an extremly dangerous and effective attacking technique. Here you can see the thing in action by an MMA fighter:

I like that and it’s what I show in the “Yama-zuki as check and overhand right” video above.

calaveraz wrote:
I am wondering if this could be the real meaning of "mountain" punch? The stike accelerates and goes up nearly invisible ("behind the mountain") and then it comes down with full force and speed with a very short time to react.

It’s certainly my favoured application. It’s a strike used a lot in Boxing and MMA … and for good reason. It’s deceptive and can land with a hell of a lot of force. Use the bottom hand to clear the path too (as is done in the kata … and the video you showed) and even if the enemy sees it coming, it’s very hard to get the free hand up and across to block it.

All the best,

Iain