Single Reaction Defenses #1

 Students will often become apprehensive when (first) asked to demonstrate examples of basic technique application (of their own choice). This is what all of our instruction should be leading the student to do, right? Student's can often become drone-like in their practice if not required to present some self-initiative.

    

 To begin them on that endeavor, we provide examples for student's to practice. Those examples will be practiced in response to commonly encountered aggressive acts (punches to the head, stomach, a “roundhouse” punch etc.). These are the most commonly encountered “opening motions” used during an assault. 
         

 These are designed to be learned in a sequence that will allow the student to respond to the various (possible) results from performing those attempts. None of these “combinations” are absolute, nor set in stone (as to their application). Each could be separately modified to fit the individual's personal and/or physical requirements. They are intended to expose the student to the utilization of previously learned technique's and motions
      

 As with previously shown/learned two-person exercises, the Uke will perform the striking motions at a slow rate of speed. But unlike those exercises, the Tori will perform at (near) full-speed rates of application. “Full-speed” does not equate to “Full-power”, technique's will still be required to be applied in a controlled/safe manor. 
       

 To begin these exercises,Tori and Uke will stand arm's length apart, with Uke performing a Right (straight) Punch towards the Tori's head.

      

 The Tori's Left hand is raised forward and upward to approximately (the Uke's) shoulder height (Tori's palm towards Uke's center), The Back of Tori's Right hand is extended forward towards the Uke's “center” (towards the Groin area, palm down) striking¹ the uke with the back of the Right hand.

      

 The Tori will rotate to their Left, while modifying their “stance” to a Right Back stance (Left foot motioning slightly forward when doing so). The Tori's Left hand will contact the inner (medial)-side of the Uke's striking (Right) arm (along the inner Bicep commonly).

      

 As the Tori Rotates slightly to “face” more towards their Left side (only turning sufficiently to assist in the deflection of the Uke's strike), The hand which is already in contact with the inner side of that arm, will motion towards the uke's striking hand (stopping approx. at the “wrist” area). Tori's Right hand will withdrawal (back towards the tori, leaving that elbow forward) and “wind” back towards the Tori (clockwise) and upward (pivoting at the elbow) until contacting the inner-side of the Uke's striking arm.
      

 As the Tori's Left hand motions down the uke's arm, it will lower that (Uke's) arm to the tori's waist level. The Tori's Right hand will join the Left's position (at the Uke's wrist) as the Tori motions the Uke's deflected hand in front of and across their own body (moving it to the Tori's Right-Side). 
        

 When this motion is performed, the Tori's Left arm (slightly above their own Left elbow) contacts the uke's (striking) arm (slightly above the Uke's elbow) as it is transitioned to the Tori's Right-Side. 
 

 The Tori's Left arm will then contact that elbow against the Uke's side (ribs), then will motion their own wrist/forearm up the Uke's arm until it is against the back-side of the Uke's upper-arm. The Tori's Right hand will push the Uke's (held) wrist forward, and towards their (own) side, and will then lift the Uke's grasped hand (using the Tori's Left hand/arm's placement against the Uke's upper arm as a fulcrum for that motion). This motion will hyper-extend the Uke's elbow forcing the Uke towards the ground (Very basic “Arm-bar” application).
       

 Prior to the application of pressure upon the Uke's arm (to apply the “Arm-Bar”), the Tori also has the option of knee-spearing (the closer thigh) or of kicking the opposite leg of the Uke. Either of these kick's can assist in the rotation of the uke (thus additionally preventing the attempted use of their free/opposite arm to strike at the tori).

 As mentioned (elsewhere) previously, the 2^nd priority of the Tori (within these techniques), is to practice the implementation of their own Speed of technique application. For that reason, these techniques are not (commonly) taught to lower kyu rank student's.

       

 This is not done to exclude and/or segregate beginning students. It is being done for student Safety purposes. Each of the shown technique's could be taught to the lower kyu rank student's also, only not with the speed factor being utilized. 
      

 This application is to allow the student to practice defending against an aggressor's Right Hand “Face” Punch. There are 3 introductory versions of this technique that are taught to students. 
   
The next practice version, is for reacting to the uke's retraction of that punching hand/arm, and then will be transitioned to defending against the Left arm's striking attempts (All of which, use the same opening motions by the Tori).

    

(¹ This could be performed with a simple “flick” as well, the object being to distract (more than to cause serious injury).