Steven Webster is a member of the Ao Denkou Kai and
instructor of the prestigious Edinburgh Shukokai club

This particular flow drill utilises the deep scooping uchi uke that occurs at the end of bassai dai kata, in conjunction with the yama tsuki (double hand punch) found just prior to the uchi uke. The drill flows continuously from alternate punches, and features a simple changeover that allows uke to become tori, and vice versa. The student should pay particular attention to the foot movement; correct ashi-sabaki promotes the necessary tai-sabaki to generate power from the strikes. Without the appopriate ashi-sabaki, the student quickly adopts a 'hollowed back' posture leading to inefficient delivery of power with the hands, whilst also placing themselves in a position of disadvantage.

The drill specifically targets vital points, with each sequence of the drill demonstrating a setup technique for the following vital point techniques. These setup techniques principally utilise Sensei Clark's concept of "targets of available opportunity" in determining the next target available.

Tori The attacker feeds straight punches to the face. For purposes of this description, tori is assumed to attack first with the right hand, then alternately attacking with the left hand in a similar manner.

Uke

From shizentai dachi (natural stance) with feet shoulder width and facing towards 12 o'clock, the opponent strikes with a straight right-hand jab towards the face. Parry using negashi uke (slipping block) with the lead (left hand) accompanied with an ashi sabaki that takes the left foot out towards 9 o'clock.

As the punch is brushed past with the left hand, use koken of the right hand (the back of the wrist) to glance through on the vital point known as Lv14, at the tip of the floating rib, on the near side (right side) of your opponents body. (Note that the elbow of the striking arm should be turned to the top in performing this koken, and not turned towards the floor). Continuing the hand underneath your opponent's punching arm, perform the scooping/circular motion of the uchi-uke, dropping koken once more on top of the point LI10, an inch from the elbow on the thumb side of the attacking arm.

Note also, that in performing the nagashi uke, if we maintain contact with the parrying hand as we strike to Lv14 with the right hand, we can use the parrying hand to locate LI10 on our opponents arm. It is then trivial to locate LI10 with the following technique, by striking towards your own hand.

At this stage of the combination, uke's foot position should be as in the kata, with the final position resembling the deep uchi-uke performed in bassai dai. The result of dropping koken on LI10 should be to lower tori's centre of gravity, bringing the head forward, and turning it to present the side of the face.

Pivot 45 degrees to the right, turning to face towards 1 o'clock. Leaving the right hand placed on LI10, punch over with the left hand to a suitable target on the side of the face - St5 is suggested, as it can be attacked from the rear, at a downwards and inwards angle as suggested by the yama tsuki in the kata.

At this stage of the combination, uke's foot position should be as in the kata, with the hands also positioned for yama tsuki, as shown by the kata. It is at this stage that the drill swaps from right-sided defence, to left-sided defence.

Flowing from Migi to Hidari

Tori now proceeds to attack with a straight punch to the face with their left hand. Use the hand currently laying on LI10 (the first time through, this will be your right hand) to reach under and perform nagashi uke as before. Nagashi uki is always performed by wiping across your own centreline. As nagashi uke is performed, the right foot will step out slightly towards 3 o'clock. Use the left hand to strike to Lv14, sweep it under and drop the left hand onto LI10, pivot towards 11 o'clock and use the top hand of the yama tsuki (in this pass, the right hand) to target to the face (St5 once more).

From this position, tori now attacks once more with the right hand, and the drill continues to flow, with a parry with the left hand.

Flowing from Uke to Tori

At any point in the drill, after completing the yama tsuki with one hand, uke can then turn and attack with a straight punch with the other hand (which should be lying on LI10). Tori, who has just attacked with one hand to the face, has the other hand free to perform nagashi uke. At this point, the roles have reversed, and the drill may continue.

Summary of Kyusho (vital points) used

Lv14

Liver 14 lies at the tip of the floating rib, and should be struck inwards and at a 45 degree angle.

Best effect is generally obtained striking in towards the spine, which induces a turning of the body, away from the strike, with weight sinking towards the back leg.

This drill glances through the point, striking inwards, but away from the spine. The body reaction obtained is slightly different in this instance; a good transfer will cause the weight to load onto the front leg, the back to curve with the head dropping forwards, and the body turning towards you.

Li10

Large Intestine 10 is located an inch up from the humerus, on the thumb side of the arm, underneath the radiobrachiallis muscle. Rich in neuroreceptors, optimum transfer is obtained by dropping a "heavy hand" straight in at a 45 degree angle towards the opposite quadrant of the lower arm.

St5

Stomach 5 is located in the mandibular foramen, located as a small groove in the lower jaw bone, approximately located by drawing a line vertically down from the corner of the mouth. This point has a very high probability of knockout, and is best attacked at a 45-degree angle, either upwards or downwards, or from the front or the back, and with a small weapon. In this particular drill, the second knuckle indicates that it may drive through the point downwards, from the back to the front. This point should not be targetted, even lightly, during practice.