On Monday I was tested for my 3rd kyu and I was given a couple bonus techniques; one of which was an ushiro ryokatadori kokyunage. I gave it a good try, but today in class Ben Sensei taught several variations of this such as

• ushiro ryokatadori kokyunage (with one step forward)
• ushiro ryokatadori aikiotoshi (step behind the uke and lift him up and back)
• ushiro ryokatadori kokyuho (step behind the uke and do a breath throw)

Plus we did more variations on these.

One important thing Andy, Rudy sempai and I were working on was trying to move at 45-degree angles to keep the uke off balance throughout. We discovered that just going back and forward then back again for an ushiro ryokatadori ikkyo was less effective than moving diagonally because the uke can’t bend his arm. i.e. it is extended.