09/04/2026
Teaching Alister and Douglass points on using a Thumb lock to make it difficult for someone to resist the Seoinage throw, then explaining some points on Ganseki Nage and Temakura and some Henka (Variations) of these.
These kind of throws when done with speed and power are very effective in self defence.
It is often misunderstood that a finger or thumb break will by itself win a fight. Their point is to use pain to break an enemy's focus and ability to attack, briefly, and to weaken their ability to grab with the same strength. This will reduce their holding and manipulating power immediately. I think of it, if done by itself as a grappling version of a fast jab. A jab rarely wins a fight in boxing but it sets up the sequence that leads to the other boxer's defeat. As such a jab is major strategic weapon in boxing, and in Tai Jutsu as well even if done differently. So are thumb and finger locks when done well very fast and set up the sequence to throw and takedown a strong and powerful enemy. Like the jab they are rarely, if an enemy has a strong spirit, alone the winning technique, but in boxing a strong jab tot he nose if it hits is often the beginning of the end.
As no pugilist should not master the jab, so it goes for Finger Locks and Toe Locks in grappling. This concept applies also to Wrist breaking methods. Thing of then as the front hand hook or front hand punch vs front hand jab of the boxing analogy. Many times sufficient, but sometimes requiring backup support from strikes and throws.
Elbow , ankle, shoulder, knee and neck breaks along with, especially when combined with Nage (throws) are the bowers right hook to the point of the jaw. Powerful, winning but often against a skilled enemy requiring setups like jabs and front hand hooks. Against the unskilled they can be used immediately and effectively, just as a skilled boxer can immediately used a right cross or right hook to gain victory on a lesser skilled enemy.
But Kobudo is not a sport and so these basics (kihon of Kyu level - i.e. before black belt) separate striking, evading and grappling methods into simple methods with clear distinct mechanics and goals. After black belt when one trains in the Ryu Ha kata (short sequences practised with a resisting live partner - not anything similar to Karate Kata or Kung Fu forms, kata means a set in Japanese so even counting 1 - 10 on your fingers is a kata. The kata teach strategy and secret points) these are a seamless whole. The concept of Kata as long sequences of movements in the air as in Karate is not anything like Kobudo Kata, in Kobudo training is on a person, eventually a resisting fighting person, and rarely in the air, striking is on targets, objects, people, only occasional done solo in the air, similar to in how one develops striking skill in boxing.
To train beginners in these Ryu Ha kata is too complex, overwhelming and not beneficial for them.
These example techniques form below black belt (named Kyu Waza - kihon, it is best to think of them as say in an engine, the parts. The parts of a machine when seen by themselves are difficult for anyone except a good mechanic to understand how they make the machine that works and flows. The Ryu Ha Kata in this analogy are a running engine, too difficult to train an apprentice mechanic on, they need break down the machine into simple parts to understand.
