Shuto Mawashi Uke In Kokutsu Dachi
First of all make sure you know the difference between the knife-hand strike and the knife-hand block. It is certainly the
responsibility of the Sensei teaching karate today to make clear that the knife-hand block is a block with the knife hand,
and the the knife-hand strike is a strike with the knife-hand. Regarding these two as the same is a grave mistake. This block
is based on Chinese Kempo. This Is Karate 1973 page 196. First of all let me say this, Soshu Shigeru Oyama and Kancho Tadashi
Nakamura showed me how this block is done in Kokutsu Dachi decades ago 1973.
Begin in a right back leaning stance, I mean low, 70-30 weight, front foot on ball of the foot, body hanmi, center-line perfect,
sit back in the bucket as we say, butt sticks out. Spine is upright as weight sinks deeply. Front foot is three feet length
forward. Angle of back foot is same as fudo dachi. Again 70% of weight on back leg, outside edge of back foot is straight. This
is a tough stance and requires strength in the base, try this, while hands are in obi try picking front leg off of floor chamber
and do Mae ashi Geri, return without disruption of balance in Ko stance. Another thing tuck front leg behind back leg and
maintain stance as Soshu Shigeru Oyama and I use to do.
After you have correct posture, proceed while in right KO stance, place back of left hand inside of right palm of hand over the
groin, this is pure basic 1-4 movement start, 2 rotate left hand inside right palm and bring to the outside above ear in position
with finger tips pointing up now, (you started with fingers pointing down covering the groin). Three, bring rotation continuous
to forefront of head high position to facilitate downward block, three, left hand arm slice the air while right hand immediately
drops to cover solar plexus.
This is not easy to do, I seen Soshu Shigeru Oyama, Kancho Tadashi Nakamura do this doing Kanku and its a beautiful form. As we
have said for decades, the block, centered on a point and describing a circle, is one of karate's greatest distinctions and is a
great source of karate's interest. The two Shuto knife-hand blocks are fundamentally different and it is foolish to class them
together. The straight Shuto Knife-hand block is faster straighter, as we practice all six kaishu shuto we should know this
block intimately. My personal opinion I love doing Kanku with Shuto Mawashi Uke (circular) than straight Shuto Uke or Uchi.
I just think students are lazy as the Shuto Mawashi Uke Block is powerful and beautiful, takes technique, and reinforces
circle point theory to students.
Now my own personal feeling while doing this one form from Kokustsu Dachi Shuto Mawashi Uke, sink down, my front foot reaches out
for the three feet Mai, Ball of my front foot arches up, ankle dorsiflexion, ready to kick off of front foot with a powerful Mae
ashi Geri, keeping low center of gravity, my back legs quad and hamstring muscles support me with strength from decades of low
stances, muscles exerting lateral pressure which I feel, but does not bother me, my shoulders are relaxed, my body at 45 degree's,
I rotate the move as explained 1-4 moves with non-stop interruption, forming a big circle as my shoulders rotate with increased
speed and push my kime into my last move with speed, power, wham! End point, Front hand finger tips at lip level, back hand ever
so lightly touching my dogi at solar plexus level. Fingers tight, thumb tight, pinky tight, sink, kame=technique=kame.
Written by: Shihan John