You have your choice of ushiro tekubitori kotegaeshi now. The version I have known for years is a sidestep to the outside of Uke‘s front leg. Another version is not quite a step to Uke‘s back leg, but more of a step forward with a turn (Doshu style, if I had to give it a name). There is another version that I have only seen Donvan Waite do, but I will write about that one later.

Aside: All are just fine. There is no reason to prefer one over another. Maybe there is a wall beside you on one side or another, or another attacker is on the side you normally escape to. Lately there has been a shift of techniques from one style to another which is exciting. Techniques that were written in stone are now written in stone on a different stone. :)

I am excited that we are learning variations on old techniques and calling these new variations the basic versions. This tells me that try as one might to restrict the pattern of a certain technique, variations will always creep in by way of new students, new seminars, new leaders, and by visiting other dojos. If these variations adhere to the principles and desired outcome of a particular technique (are they recognizable and can be called that technique) then I feel they should be embraced with open arms to keep our minds (my mind) flexible.

Back to ushiro tekubitori kotegaeshi. This is the kotegaeshi that Ben Sensei wants us to do from now on for a test as we found out when R demonstrated for our class on Friday. Enjoy.

Tori raises Uke's center

Tori starts a kaiten toward Uke's front leg

Tori finds Uke's outside arm and reaches for it

His outside wrist captured and outside attack range

About to tenkan again, if needed

My hope about knowing, practicing and demonstrating the variations of several shihans is that when I am eventually out there no one will say, “Oh, he’s a Yamada guy”, or “He’s a Tissier guy”. I hope they will say that I am just open-minded and have many influences in my own style.