If I were to tell someone how I would differentiate between an ichi and a ni technique, I would not have a clear answer. I was wondering if somebody else can give me their insight. Why do we have this differentiation?
Stephanie Ando
Good question!
Ando Sensei has said he will talk about this a bit in his ZOOM class on Saturday the 5th if he can but he has two videos to get through so he might not have time.
My understanding is this:
In ichi techniques, if uke grabs us they are pulling and if it is a front strike technique then the strike comes from shite. This means that in ichi techniques we are learning how to deal with and redirect a flow of power when the flow of power is going away from us and towards uke. In a ni technique, if uke grabs us they are pushing and if it is a front strike technique then the strike comes from uke. It follows then that in ni techniques we are learning how to deal with and redirect a flow of power when the flow of power is coming towards us away from uke.
This holds true for techniques where uke grabs us and front strike techniques but then what about a side strike or shomen tsuki technique where the strike is coming from uke in both the ichi and ni versions? In these cases, I THINK the difference lies in which leg is the axis that our weight is on and if it is the same or different leg that uke also has their axis on, which is why in ichi techniques both shite and uke are in right side or left side kamae (ai hanmi kamae) whereas in ni techniques, shite and uke are in mirror stance (gyaku hanmi kamae).
I'm hoping Mitsuhashi Sensei will join this conversation! Perhaps he could also discuss it in his ZOOM class in November?
Hi,Stephanie sensei,
Thank you for inviting in your discussion!
You are explaining about the difference between ichi and ni with leg axis work.
I would like to talk about the difference and the similarity next week in my Zoom class.
I try to explain it with tanden(koshi,hara) work (the center of the body) of Tenchinage（1）
I want some videos from Zoom students like Ando sensei.
Please assist me.
Akira Mitsuhashi
Stephanie Ando
Mitsuhashi Sensei,
Thank you for your reply and offering to address this question in your next ZOOM class! I'm sure many students have this question.
Since Ando Sensei took a look at tenchinage in his class last week, Mitsuhashi Sensei will use katate mochi sokumen iriminage (1) to talk about the differences in ichi and ni techniques with leg axis.
If anyone would like to send Mitsuhashi Sensei a video with them doing this technique he can also provide some feedback on your technique. You can send the videos to [email protected] or [email protected] or to any of Mitsuhashi Sensei's social media. Please send the videos by Thursday the 17th of November in order to give him some time to review the video before the class.
Thanks for the response. It makes a lot of sense as I was wondering why is shiite initiating the attack in ichi technique where shomenuchi is involved.
Stephanie Ando