Update 2010.09.11 – We worked more on this today, and the taisabaki between omote and ura was clarified. The ura version is fine, but the omote version has a different sabaki and footwork that it’s ura brother. The omote version we did today in class was not the same as the omote version that Tissier does, nor the one we practice at MK. Tissier uses the same sabaki for omote and ura (irimi kuzushi), but for omote he gets a little behind Uke and sends him forward – his footing is also Aikikai style so it is natural that is different from the one we practiced.

That one that we practiced did not have a full irimi entry, but had an irimi to 45 degrees outside with a leg exchange. I had abandoned this sabaki from katatedori techniques already as Hombu does not do them, but this sabaki is needed to ensure the form of the ikkyo omote matches the shomenuchi ikkyo omote form of North America (generally).

Original entry

The first variation Tissier calls “very basic”, and even though the other two versions he shows are more elegant, this first version has some principles embedded in it that I have been developing in other techniques with a lot of promise. That is why I appreciate this version. He gets right beside Uke before he begins his omote motion, and he keeps his center tight with Uke‘s.

I’m unsure if these principles are emphasized enough, by I am trying to stress them when I practice. Ikkyo omote from yokomenuchi should no longer be guesswork with slipping hands and apologies to patient Uke.

Guess what else? When I kept these principles in mind it made the suwariwaza version of yokomenuchi ikkyo pleasant – a technique I had never tried before.