For no particular reason, I woke up at 3 this morning , and found myself thinking of the opening moves in kata empi. I have looked into some bunkai for other bits of empi (and have the pics to prove it...), but it occurred to me, I have absolutely no idea what the beginning could be for. Just the first two moves by the GKR-count - up to (but not including) the first gedan barai to the right.
Anyone know any variations in performance that might suggest what is happening? Or any useful applications or theories?

One application is against a rear single-arm choke.


Mick

The second move is a knee level strike/sweep to take your opponent down. You then block any retalitory move and take them out with the hook punch.

The second move is actually much further out from your body than is taught by most instructors.

Regards Gordon

Thanks Gordon Though it does beg the question what's to stop them smacking you about the head while you're in such a vulnerable position.

Who taught you such an application?


Mick

Thanks, Gordon. I have heard the standard GKR theory on it, but it never made any sense to me. Seemed rather foolish to drop down for a knee level strike, leaving head and back unguarded, to do what would have been as easy and much safer to do with a foot, you know?
And the rest of the suggestion just doesn't fit - if you have swept them, or struck their knee (which would have very little effect unless they weren't facing you anyway), then they surely won't be standing around waiting for you to get back up, attacking you (from your right?!) and then not trying to move while you do a body level hooking punch...

As for your rear arm choke Mick... I'm still working on that one... should I worry if the children start turning blue?

Hi

The "salutation" in Enpi has the right fist nested into the left open hand... Why? Well one interpretation is that the start of the kata has an application in itself. Imagine that you have control of the opponents arm, and as you turn you drop your arm across their elbow - effectively using your body weight to drop them down to the floor with an arm bar. You maintain your centreline whilst compromising the opponent's.

Maybe it actually is a salutation, like that done by many clubs/styles.

If you have a look at the UK GKR forum you’ll see the opening moves of Empi have been discussed there in the past.

As for kneeling down with a downward sweep, I think AngelaG’s suggestion about an armbar is fair enough.

I can also buy kneeling down to sweep the attacker’s leg away but if you’re going to do this you must already have a) broken the attacker’s balance and B) created an appropriate opportunity. Otherwise the attacker is just going to smack you one while you’re farting about bending down.

My favourite application for this movement (although it’s a kata I don’t personally practice) is one taught by Vince Morris. This involves grabbing the attacker’s wrist with one hand (can be from a variety of attacks) and striking down with a downward sweep through the brachioradialis muscle on the grabbed forearm. Dropping your bodyweight as you strike (ie. kneeling down) will throw the attacker. I also like, as Vince teaches, using the kneeling stance to apply an armbar to a prone assailant. Done correctly you can hold the person in a pin without using your hands, its also quite easy to break the arm from here if necessary.

Mike

Maybe... but I find a lot of the salutations have some nasty applications that lead nicely into the "first" move. I know a lot of people hate the idea that the salutation as an alternative meaning, but I really buy into it. I admit it's reverse engineering, but I have applications for all the "yoi" moves, including the standard one.

I have to agree with you Angela. I don't see how any of the classic 'ready' positions make one ready for anything, except a good drubbing. I suppose a potential attacker might laugh themselves to death as the skilled karateka goes into his 'ready' stance. My view is that the 'ready' or yoi movements all have practical applications.

Mike

Maybe we should all walk around with our hands up in guard when we go out?

I put my hands up into some sort of appropriate guard as the need occurs. To let someone you don't trust into your tactile zone without bringing your hands up is a recipe for disaster.

Mike