9 traditional karate throws

9 Traditional Okinawan Karate Throws

Fred Lecut - Jan 2013

Koma Nage by Dr Tsuyoshi Chitose

9 Traditional Okinawan Karate Throws

he 9 moves of this booklet are described in the book Karate-Do Kyohan by Gichin Funakoshi. Variations of them – and other moves - are described in “Kempo Karate Do” of Dr Tsuyoshi Chitose. Master Funakoshi was very instrumental in introducing

Karate to Japan. In Okinawa, he was teaching school during the day, and Karate at night. Among his students was Tsuyoshi Chitose Sensei who founded Chito Ryu Karate, and was himself the instructor of Mamoru Yamamoto, founder of our Yoshukai Karate.

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All these moves are traditional Okinawan Karate moves. Although some of them resemble some Judo, Ju Jitsu and Aikido waza, they are also different from them. The way Tori puts Uke off balance to be able to throw him more efficiently is called Kuzushi. In Judo, this is generally done by pulling or pushing the opponent. Here, in most case, Kuzushi is achieved by a strike.

Try to work timing, distance and Kuzuchi, so you can perform these waza with little strength. Later, you can use your strength of course, but remember – you won't always have it, so you might as well try to do without it.

1. Byobu Daoshi (Toppling a folding screen)

2. Koma Nage (Spinning top Throw)

3. Kubi Wa (Encircling the neck)

4. Katawa guruma (Half wheel)

5. Tsubamegaeshi (Returning swallow)

6. Yaridama (Spearing through)

7. Taniotoshi (Pushing off a cliff)

8. Udewa (Encircling with the arm)

9. Sakasutchi (Hammering upside down)

I have described all the waza with Uke attacking with a right punch. They also could be practiced with a left attack, although it is my experience that very often, the same waza can be applied in the same manner on either a right and a left attack... Actually, if you move your body in the same way, no matter how Uke attacks, one move becomes another move... You should research that !

Most of these throws can be practiced from Seisan or Bassai Kata...

Have fun !

9 traditional Okinawan Karate Throws – Frederic Lecut - Jan 2013

#1. Byobu Daoshi: ‘ Toppling a folding screen’

Uke attacks with a Right Jodan Tsuki

Slide back with your Right foot and block with your Left hand (Shuto Uke or Uchi Uke)

Grab Uke's Right wrist with your left hand, pivot your hips to attack his throat with your Right hand (Punch or grab)

Right step forward and sweep Uke's Right leg with your Right leg. Depending upon the distance, you will sweep with your thigh or your calf.

Notes :

• There are many variations of this move : Judo and Ju Jutsu's O-soto-gari , Yoshukai Ippon Kumite # 3... It is important to put Uke off balance in order to be able to sweep him – here, in the traditional Karate version, this is achieved by a strong attack to the throat.

• Move # 3: Kubiwa, is almost the same move, only that one moves outside of the attack.

• Practice from Seisan kata


#2. Koma Nage: ‘Spinning Top Throw’

Uke attacks with Right Chudan Tsuki

Tori moves outside, backward

Tori Left step back, Right Block with Palm up (as in Yoshukai Seisan after the 1st turn)

Grab Uke's wrist with your Right Hand and pull it toward your Right hip – while your left foot steps behind Uke's Right foot.

Grab his elbow (or back of his shoulder) with your Left hand and pivot clockwise, spinning him down to the ground

Note : It is important to use Uke's forward momentum – try to practice the whole throw in one continuous smooth move.

Tsuyoshi Chitose Sensei demonstrating Koma Nage with Mamoru Yamamoto Sensei in 1967


#3. Kubi Wa: ‘Encircling the Neck’

Uke attacks Right Jodan Tsuki

Tori moves outside, backward.

Tori slides backward outside with Left foot, blocking with Right Shuto Uke. Shuffle forward and strike Uke's chin with Shotei or Nukite to stop him and put him off balance.

Quickly step forward, wrap your Right arm around his neck to push him down, strike his Right kidney with your left hand and throw him down backward

Notes :

• The attack to the chin first puts Uke off balance, then you need to put him more off balance. There are several ways, one is to squeeze the neck, with your Right arm – this would restrict the blood flow to the brain; this is good if you have strong arms. Another is to raise Uke's chin with your Right shoulder to tilt his head backward - this is easier.

• You will make the move more efficient if you strike the kidney with your Left hand

• You don't need to sweep the leg as in Judo's Osotogari or Byobu Daoshi


#4. Katawa Guruma: ‘Half Wheel’

Uke attacks Right Chudan Tsuki

Tori moves Outside, backwards

Tori Left step back, Right Block with Palm up (as in Seisan after the 1st turn), and push Uke's arm down.

Right step between Uke's legs Grab his neck or on top of his Left shoulder with your Right hand , when you step, you need to bump Uke backward.

If Uke resists your push, then suddenly pull his neck down with your Right hand, grab his Right leg from inside with your left hand, lift it and pivot clockwise.

Notes :

• There is no need for great strength, if you have to use lots of strength, you are doing it wrong. It's probably because you did not bump Uke backward for him to react.

• This will work much better if Uke resists your push, because then you will use his momentum. If he does not it will be difficult to throw him, unless you are very strong. But then you are in a perfect position to use Kubi Wa...

• Actually, you could use this move if you try to use Kubiwa and it does not work...

• This move somehow looks like Judo's Kataguruma, but in Kataguruma one moves inside the attack, here one steps outside.


#5. Tsubame Gaeshi: ‘Returning Swallow’

Uke attacks Jodan Tsuki

Tori moves backward

Left step back, double block (Juji Uke) Right hand on top.

Grab Uke's Right wrist with your Left hand and Right Back fist (uraken) his chin or face.

R Grab Uke's Elbow, Pivot counterclockwise 180 degrees around your Right foot and land with your Left knee on the ground, pulling his arm down with you.

Notes :

• It is important to create a big hole in front of Uke to pull him into it.

• This move may also be performed by accelerating Uke's momentum : moving inside forward, L Shuto, grabbing the arm and pivoting.

• Interestingly, “Tsubamegaeshi” is the name of several waza in different martial arts !


#6. Yari Dama: ‘Spearing Through’


Tori moves Inside & forward

R step forward while Left Shuto Uke and Right hand reaches under his groin (Spear)

Shuffle more toward Uke, in a deep stance, and pull his arm forward with your Left hand while lifting his Left leg with your Right hand.

The main principle is very similar to the katawa guruma (#4), or Judo's kata guruma.

Here again, what puts Uke off balance is the strike between his legs.


#7. Tani Otoshi: ‘Pushing off a Cliff’


Steps back inside, simultaneously blocks with Left Shuto Uke and strike Uke's solar plexus with Right Tsuki.

Grab his lower Right arm with your Left hand, step across Uke's Right leg with your Right foot and grab his Upper arm from underneath with your Right arm.

Extend Uke's arm with palm upward as in Tembim Nage – both your hands grabbing his wrist or forearm. Uke's arm should be in complete extension

Pivot counterclockwise to throw.

Notes :

• The grabbing of Uke's arm is very different from the grabbing on Judo's Ippon Seoie Nage. If you let Uke bend his elbow, the throw will request much more strength on your part. It is important that Uke's arm be in extension. It is much more a Tembim Nage sort of throw than a Seoi Nage.

• When teaching this, make sure the students understand that it is a potentially dangerous throw, they should just slightly lift their partner from the ground and not risk to dislocate his elbow by trying to actually throw him.


#8. Ude Wa: ‘Encircling with the Arms’

Uke attacks with both hands to grab or push – chest or head level.

Tori moves backwards

Left step back, double Jodan Juji Uke (double rising block)

Right Shuffle Step - Double hammerfist (Tetsui) to the ribs

Slide even closer – lean down to hug Uke's legs; hit and push on his hips with your Right shoulder and pull his legs up in front of you .

Notes :

• The beginning of this move is included in Yoshukai Bassai.

• It is important to hit and then push Uke's hips with the shoulders, then grab his legs from behind his knees.

• The beginning of this waza is in Yoshukai Bassai.


#9. Saka Tsuchi: ‘Hammering upside down’


Left Step Back and Right Jodan Uke.

Right Shuffle forward, lower your stance, slide your right shoulder under Uke's armpit and grab his left leg from behind with your Left hand.

Lift and overturn Uke, and drop him on his head.

Notes : • When teaching this waza, make sure to instruct the student to not actually drop

their partner on their head.• Once you have blocked, slide your forearm against Uke's arm and put him off

balance backward to make it easier to flip him.• This is a move Yamamoto Soke – founder of Yoshukai Karate – enjoyed a lot...


9 traditional karate throws

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