KNIFE, parry -- INSIDE ARMTWIST
Description
This technique begins with uke attempting a straight thrust at tori. Tori accomplishes a cross-parry with his left hand, while pivoting 90 degrees, just enough to make sure that the knife will miss. The cross-parry is to ensure that uke does not correct his aim. As the thrust is completed, tori grabs the top (thumb) side of uke's hand with his right hand, then slides his left (parrying) hand down to grab the bottom (pinky) side of uke's thrusting hand.
Tori must now move quickly and smoothly. Keeping uke's arm at it's full extension, tori must lift the arm and at the same time step under with his left foot, rotating his body forward so that tori and uke are facing in the same direction. The period of time during which uke's arm is held straight in front of tori and to the left of and above tori's head is the period where tori is most vulnerable to a potential uke counterattack, so this movement must be smooth and quick. Tori should follow his left-stepping foot with his right, so that as the hand is finally brought down to tori's right hip (careful not to cut yourself with the knife) uke's knife hand has been turned a full 180 degrees (uke's palm should be up). This final downward motion with uke's palm up and elbow down should twist the arm at the elbow and cause so much pain that uke must roll to the floor, or sutemi if he is more dynamic, to prevent damage to the elbow. Once uke has been taken to the floor, tori may continue to apply twisting pressure to the wrist the acquire the knife, or may apply a follow-up technique to remove it from uke's grasp.
Steps
- Uke attacks with straightforward right-handed knife thrust attack.
- Tori cross-parries with his left hand while pivoting 90 degrees on his left foot to avoid the path of the knife.
- Tori wraps his right hand around the top of uke's hand, then rotates his left (parrying) hand around the bottom and grasps firmly.
- Tori "steps through" by lifting uke's oustretched arm up, and stepping through (low) with his left foot, rotating slightly to stand directly in front of uke. Left elbow should be held high to avoid a counter here.
- Tori continues the motion by bringing uke's arm all the way over his head to tori's right, and bringing his right foot to join his left.
- Tori completes the technique by pulling uke's arm straight down to tori's right side. Uke should fall or sutemi to the mat.
Variations
This move can be made much more abrupt and effective by the simple expedient of tori stepping across and back, rather than simply across. In this variation, tori should stand beside and to the left of uke before finally lowering uke's arm, rather than standing in front and to the left of uke.
See Also
KNIFE AND PISTOL DEFENSES
