Miyamoto Sensei has a different, but amazing initial ikkyo omote sabaki. It has the efficiency to knock a man over without any other effort. With my past experience taking ukemi from him years ago I thought his initial sabaki was an aberration, or a teaching method but not the actual waza. However, after taking more uekmi from him, and with recent kengeiko explanations from Yokota Sensei, and past explanations from Yamada Sensei, I feel his method is the most powerful ikkyo initial sabaki. However, not everyone can do it as a newcomer because there is a natural human fear associated with this sabaki which must first be overcome, I found.

My key theory about ikkyo omote is that Tori does not receive Uke at his elbow, but at his triceps. This is a critical observation. Miyamoto Sensei usually receives Uke with both his hands at Uke‘s armpit or upper triceps. This has the ability to over-center Uke right at his 身軸.

This is important to me because one flaw in most people’s implementation of ikkyo omote is that there is a temporary window in which Uke can strike Tori with his other arm. Maybe people do not notice or do not mind, but it is worth looking into. The more Tori receives Uke close to his elbow, the more shoulder articulation is available to Uke to mount a counterattack.

There are several styles of ikkyo omote, and many of them are applicable to different situations, and all can be called ikkyo. Endo Sensei has his own efficient redirection method, and Miyamoto Sensei sends the energy directly back at Uke. There could be people around, or a wall, or a crowded dojo so all most valid.