Kishinkai Aikido Amsterdam

Kokyu nage ue highlights how important timing is in kokyu nage. You really are trying to match ukes rythm.

So what else is going on and isn't clearly visible to the eye?
👉 Firstly, the main focus is creating imbalance (kuzushi) by meeting ukes cut with a shomen. This atemi is intended to break ukes structure: notice ukes spine (bent backwards) and knees (pointing forward).
👉 At the same time, ukes cut is not disturbed when I catch it, rather it's guided downwards. Notice how my both hands meet up in front of my obi.
👉 As soon as ukes cut is at its lowest point my shomen hand takes it over and guides ukes cut sideways.
👉 This frees up my outside hand to go for another atemi (shomen) to ukes head, this maintaining kuzushi. Cut all the way down. You can also (very very gently) poke ukes eyes and bend your fingers downwards.

✅✅ Do's:
- Focus on ukes centerline
- enter ukes spaces with a cut to create kuzushi
- left hand connects with ukes cut, keep left elbow low, and guides the cut downwards
- right hand destroys ukes structures
- meet both hands in front of obi
- now right hand guides cut sideways
- left hand goes for another atemi
- shoot your finger tips forward and let the body and steep follow

❌❌ Don'ts:
- opposite of all of the above 😅
- block and/or pull ukes cut
- stepping before you shoot your hand forward, this goes for both your two atemis

❗❗Key point:
Balance breaking and mainting kuzushi is key here. Many students do too much with ukes cut, ie grabbing it, pulling out blocking it. This distracts from the kuzushi is. Go for ukes centerline. Go for the head and enter ukes space. Ukes cut becomes secondary and as such it's easier to find it gently downwards.

🤔 Practicing these actions separately will give you understanding, but doing them all simultaneously will make your kokyu nage ue smooth as butter.

❓Want to learn more aikido?

🤝 Come join us at Kishinkai Aikido Amsterdam on Mondays and Thursdays.

👌 DM for more info.

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Join us the 7th, 8th and 9th 🥋💪

https://www.facebook.com/events/3551050118480186/