Double Forearm Strike/Shoulder Lock

  This is the first motion (that is initially taught) as being side dependent (ie. It's implementation will depend upon whether the uke strikes with the Right, or the Left hand). The description is identical, except the applied technique will require/consider which of the tori's hands will be considered either the forward, or rear hand (during technique application). 

     

  For this explanation, the tori's Right hand, will be considered to be their strong (dominant) side, with the Left being the weak (non-dominant) side.

     

  Practice of the motion Begins with the tori and the uke standing “face to face”, at an arm's length distance from each other (confirmed, by the tori placing his hand on the shoulder of the uke to establish proper practice “distance”).

      

  Practice is began with both parties having their hands at their sides. When the uke begins their (Right hand, in this example) strike motion, the tori should motion their weak-side hand straight up (bending at the elbow, until the hand is (essentially) vertical, and continues in an arcing motion across and downward ( parrying the uke's strike with it's motion), to the opposite side, moving it (the striking hand) to waist level. The Strong(dominant) forward hand, should cross the body low (by crossing the tori's body then raising closer to the uke).

   

  As it raises, it will strike the inside/back of the uke's (striking) arm, slightly above the elbow (causing it to bend). The tori's weak(non-dominant) hand, will motion towards the uke (thereby moving the uke's previously parried hand towards themselves) which aids in bending the uke's arm (using the tori's forward (strong) hand as a fulcrum to do so).

       

 The tori's rear (weak) hand will continue with it's motion by releasing it's contact with the parried forearm, then raising, until that hand can wrap behind, and on top of the uke's (originally) punching arm's elbow (enacting an elbow-lock on the punching arm). As this is accomplished, the tori will withdraw their Right arm (which can be utilized for various optional (applications).

     

 As the tori's forward (strong) hand is withdrawn from the uke's punching elbow(and replaced by their Left hand), it will circle the uke's elbow (upward, and being done on the tori's side of the captured uke's arm) and tori has the option of either following up with assisting the elbow-lock (which should now be in place to do so), or with executing a Neck-strike to the Right-side of the now exposed uke's neck.

    

  Note should be made of the uke's responses (body-motion, knee-buckle etc.) in reaction to the application of the technique.

    

  If the tori placed their hand (instead of above the elbow, has located it closer to the uke's shoulder, the tori should utilize their free hand, and drag the hand down closer to the uke's elbow. Doing so, does several things. First, it correctly positions the hand, second, the dragging motion activates nerves that assist in relaxing, and bending the uke's elbow.

   

  If the uke's arm motion is reversed (and were mistakenly assumed to be the uke's use of the Right arm, and they instead utilized their Left arm to perform the strike), the tori's defensive application is (initially) executed slightly different.

      

  The tori's arm motions begin the same as before, but (having realized the mistake made) the tori's Left hand (now) motion's towards the uke's mid-section, performing a downward (shuto-like/side-slap?) scooping strike to the the uke's solar plexus region.

    

 The tori's Right hand, motions up and outward (thereby) creating an outside parry (to only slightly deflect the uke's now striking Left hand). The tori's Right hand should then circle the uke's Left (striking) hand/arm (which will motion that arm downward, and across the tori's body) to the tori's Left (lower) side.

    

 The tori, and both of the tori's arms/hands should now be on/to the uke's Left (outer) side. The tori's Left hand should have (during this transition) grabbed the uke's Left wrist, while their Right hand motioned (circled?) to a vertical attitude (as it was when first beginning the parry), which should have placed the back of that hand's arm, against the uke's lower triceps muscle's tendon (into a standard arm-bar application).

    

  Once both parties are confident with the actions being learned, then the tori will include a straight kick in combination with the beginning motions, or prior to a take-down attempt.. Doing so, will (often) amplify the effects of the uke's body motion, and/or the applied technique (depending upon the timing of the kick's application).

       

  There are multiple follow-ups available, and student's should be encouraged to experiment with discovering “what” would work best for them (be it Tuite, arm-locks or strikes) for use in varying circumstances.

     

  Practice (as always) should begin at a slow speed, until the tori is confident with the required actions, and the uke is made aware of the tori's planned actions (to assist in preventing accidental injury) Practice speed can be increased, so long as both parties are comfortable with doing so. 

     

  It should be remembered, that the primary goal (of any defensive action) is to first, prevent the user (tori) from being struck (anything beyond that goal, is gravy, LOL). We have student's practice these techniques to familiarize them with the various (options available for) possible responses and that may be applicable to them. None, are necessarily any better, than another. Individual circumstance, and comfort of execution should determine a student's preference.