I think I’m finally starting to get what Osawa Sensei keeps saying over and over again. In his beginner class he really goes slow and step by step. I mean very slow so brand-new beginners can see what is going on.

His unique point is to take Uke right to the mat on the initial movement. We all try to do that, but results vary. In his class I try to be exactly like him, even when he sometimes stands on one leg. For ikkyo, the arm to contacts the hiji or triceps is straight and takes Uke right down low. Tori can then nudge Uke‘s bent elbow forward for more kuzushi if needed. This is the same for Ura.

I noticed that if Tori takes Uke low from his elbow, like ridiculously low, it changes the feeling of the technique. It ends faster and cleaner.