Is this a Kodokan Gokyo no Waza approach to Yoko Wakare? It looks really smooth and efficient. I saw Robert Robert demonstrate Yoko Wakare on his channel and I am very intrigued by that version. I posted a Yoko Wakare on my channel but I am afraid that I don't know it well yet and maybe it's utterly useless...
While there are several adaptations to formal throwing techniques found in the Jukido Jujitsu curriculum that are quite distinct to the teaching of Shihan Arel -- the formal yoko wakare found in our jujitsu system and that of found in the Kodokan gokyo-no-waza are pretty much in close alignment. What can and does differ quite frequently are the applications of the throw in context. Of course, in Jukido Jujitsu all formal throws are always applied primarily to practical self-defense (in addition to randori). One of many examples is the variation you found on the excellent UA-cam page of Robert Sensei's dojo. I went onto your UA-cam page and saw the video you posted. The variation of yoko wakare you posted is sometimes referred to as ude-gaeshi. While not a "pure" yoko wakare (not pure doesn't mean inferior in anyway whatsoever), it is a fine application. Here is a video of me performing the ude-gaeshi variation of yoko wakare in randori with one of my senior students: ua-cam.com/video/uoFmTMpR-rU/v-deo.html Thanks for the support of our dojo, mission, and art. You are doing your own fine work for your students and the budo community.
Thanks for the reply and info! I like your Ude Gaeshi video and get into spots like that frequently, I'll try that version tonight 😁. And thanks for the kind words.
Hi Joe! Thank you for your words and question. To the extent that I can supply sufficient answer through a UA-cam reply, I will do my best. I hope it proves helpful. Throws practiced from the formal position (collar and sleeve grip) a kind of "default" position to learn most jujitsu / judo throwing techniques. So while there is broader utility, it is good to understand practicing in this way as a method of, as you described, learning and perfecting the mechanics of a throwing technique. However, in addition to formal practice, one needs to practice any throw in a variety of contexts and with varying degrees of movement/resistance to ensure that it is applicable in the "real world" so to speak. The method of control can vary considerably through grips, etc. With respect to it being dangerous to attempt: This is a more nuanced question. For brevity, I would say that Yoko Wakare is classified as a sutemi-waza. Sutemi are "sacrifice" throws. Sutemi style techniques have an implicit acknowledgement that there is something being lost (vertical position) for the sake of something greater (throwing the opponent)...and with that, some risk that if the throw fails, it is possible to end up in an inferior position. So, timing and proficiency determine a lot! The worse the timing and level of proficiency, the more likely things go wrong. Conversely, the reverse is true. I do view Yoko Wakare as a more specialized sutemi-waza than the more broadly applicable (and closely related technique) Uki Waza. If you care to see some applications of yoko wakare, please see the links below. You can also do a search for Yoko Wakare in Judo competition or "Lateral Spin" in freestyle wrestling to see it applied in live circumstances. Yoko Wakare Short: ua-cam.com/video/kEKBPx396Y8/v-deo.html Lateral Spin in Wrestling: ua-cam.com/video/nAhN-P7UebM/v-deo.html Yoko Wakare Compilation in Judo Competition: ua-cam.com/video/blsH2YhUK8Y/v-deo.html Ude Gaeshi (variation of Yoko Wakare): ua-cam.com/video/uoFmTMpR-rU/v-deo.html Yoko Wakare in Class Long Video (AROUND MINUTE: 21:30): ua-cam.com/video/zLs-VtXshnw/v-deo.html I hope this helps!
Hi Sensei, thanks so much for the excellent (and helpful) reply - I'll check out these links. I looked at your website and like your mission statement a lot. Also, Shihan Arel - wow, what a life and what a person to learn from! Not trying to start an ongoing dialogue :), but I am curious about your thoughts on "ki"... I personally don't believe in it - I believe in positioning, leverage, mechanics, and intent. I loved this stuff for a long time and studied Aikido "for a minute" and I'm curious what a real master thinks about ki.
Joey, my pleasure! Yes, Shihan Arel truly was an amazing human being and a top shelf martial artist and sensei. One of the great honors and pride of my life is to say that I'm a student of Shihan Paul Arel. Ki is an interesting topic. The truth is, my belief on Ki depends on precisely how one defines the term. Shihan Arel, as Jigoro Kano before him, deemphasized any notions of special powers or magical properties that sometimes some martial artists flirt with talking about Ki. That doesn't mean that some martial artists aren't capable amazing things that might seem magical to the uninitiated...but they aren't magic. As you highlighted, it is just simply technique executed at a very high level based on quite scientific principles. For Shihan Arel, he always emphasized the word Ki to simply mean "energy" or "power." Nothing more and nothing less. No "force chokes" like Darth Vader or flinging people around without even touching them based on some mysterious invisible force. So, with all that for background, I 100% completely believe in Ki if we mean it, as Shihan Arel did, to refer to natural energy/power. I do NOT believe in Ki if we mean it to suggest something that is beyond and quasi-superhuman, etc. One point you mentioned in addition to positioning, mechanics, and leverage (which I agree with) was "intent." I think, if anything, the unification of our will or strong intent with the physical actions of our body is the highest expression of Ki. Like the word "Ai-ki" or "ki-ai." The unification of our intention/mental energy with our physical energy. Anything beyond this is, as Shihan Arel would say, "hogwash." :-) You might find it interesting to note that although Shihan Arel included the Japanese kanji for energy/power (ki) in the name of his style (Jukido) - he almost NEVER talked about Ki by itself. He almost always used the word "energy"/"power" instead -- I think in an effort to NOT be associated with some of the (unfortunate) groups that use the term "Ki" with magical thinking. All the best to you! Thanks again for your support and interest.
Hi Sensei, I didn't intend to give another response, but after such a thorough answer, I had to say thank you very much for your time - your students are fortunate to have you as a teacher. If I ever visit my sister in Lakeland, I would make the drive over to check you guys out. Best to you as well!
Good judo
Is this a Kodokan Gokyo no Waza approach to Yoko Wakare? It looks really smooth and efficient.
I saw Robert Robert demonstrate Yoko Wakare on his channel and I am very intrigued by that version.
I posted a Yoko Wakare on my channel but I am afraid that I don't know it well yet and maybe it's utterly useless...
While there are several adaptations to formal throwing techniques found in the Jukido Jujitsu curriculum that are quite distinct to the teaching of Shihan Arel -- the formal yoko wakare found in our jujitsu system and that of found in the Kodokan gokyo-no-waza are pretty much in close alignment. What can and does differ quite frequently are the applications of the throw in context. Of course, in Jukido Jujitsu all formal throws are always applied primarily to practical self-defense (in addition to randori). One of many examples is the variation you found on the excellent UA-cam page of Robert Sensei's dojo.
I went onto your UA-cam page and saw the video you posted. The variation of yoko wakare you posted is sometimes referred to as ude-gaeshi. While not a "pure" yoko wakare (not pure doesn't mean inferior in anyway whatsoever), it is a fine application. Here is a video of me performing the ude-gaeshi variation of yoko wakare in randori with one of my senior students: ua-cam.com/video/uoFmTMpR-rU/v-deo.html
Thanks for the support of our dojo, mission, and art. You are doing your own fine work for your students and the budo community.
Thanks for the reply and info! I like your Ude Gaeshi video and get into spots like that frequently, I'll try that version tonight 😁. And thanks for the kind words.
Looks fantastic, but is this more of an exercise in mechanics? Seems a little dangerous to attempt in competition and certainly self defense. Thanks.
Hi Joe! Thank you for your words and question. To the extent that I can supply sufficient answer through a UA-cam reply, I will do my best. I hope it proves helpful.
Throws practiced from the formal position (collar and sleeve grip) a kind of "default" position to learn most jujitsu / judo throwing techniques. So while there is broader utility, it is good to understand practicing in this way as a method of, as you described, learning and perfecting the mechanics of a throwing technique. However, in addition to formal practice, one needs to practice any throw in a variety of contexts and with varying degrees of movement/resistance to ensure that it is applicable in the "real world" so to speak. The method of control can vary considerably through grips, etc.
With respect to it being dangerous to attempt: This is a more nuanced question. For brevity, I would say that Yoko Wakare is classified as a sutemi-waza. Sutemi are "sacrifice" throws. Sutemi style techniques have an implicit acknowledgement that there is something being lost (vertical position) for the sake of something greater (throwing the opponent)...and with that, some risk that if the throw fails, it is possible to end up in an inferior position. So, timing and proficiency determine a lot! The worse the timing and level of proficiency, the more likely things go wrong. Conversely, the reverse is true.
I do view Yoko Wakare as a more specialized sutemi-waza than the more broadly applicable (and closely related technique) Uki Waza.
If you care to see some applications of yoko wakare, please see the links below. You can also do a search for Yoko Wakare in Judo competition or "Lateral Spin" in freestyle wrestling to see it applied in live circumstances.
Yoko Wakare Short: ua-cam.com/video/kEKBPx396Y8/v-deo.html
Lateral Spin in Wrestling: ua-cam.com/video/nAhN-P7UebM/v-deo.html
Yoko Wakare Compilation in Judo Competition: ua-cam.com/video/blsH2YhUK8Y/v-deo.html
Ude Gaeshi (variation of Yoko Wakare): ua-cam.com/video/uoFmTMpR-rU/v-deo.html
Yoko Wakare in Class Long Video (AROUND MINUTE: 21:30): ua-cam.com/video/zLs-VtXshnw/v-deo.html
I hope this helps!
Hi Sensei, thanks so much for the excellent (and helpful) reply - I'll check out these links. I looked at your website and like your mission statement a lot. Also, Shihan Arel - wow, what a life and what a person to learn from! Not trying to start an ongoing dialogue :), but I am curious about your thoughts on "ki"... I personally don't believe in it - I believe in positioning, leverage, mechanics, and intent. I loved this stuff for a long time and studied Aikido "for a minute" and I'm curious what a real master thinks about ki.
Joey, my pleasure! Yes, Shihan Arel truly was an amazing human being and a top shelf martial artist and sensei. One of the great honors and pride of my life is to say that I'm a student of Shihan Paul Arel.
Ki is an interesting topic. The truth is, my belief on Ki depends on precisely how one defines the term. Shihan Arel, as Jigoro Kano before him, deemphasized any notions of special powers or magical properties that sometimes some martial artists flirt with talking about Ki. That doesn't mean that some martial artists aren't capable amazing things that might seem magical to the uninitiated...but they aren't magic. As you highlighted, it is just simply technique executed at a very high level based on quite scientific principles.
For Shihan Arel, he always emphasized the word Ki to simply mean "energy" or "power." Nothing more and nothing less. No "force chokes" like Darth Vader or flinging people around without even touching them based on some mysterious invisible force. So, with all that for background, I 100% completely believe in Ki if we mean it, as Shihan Arel did, to refer to natural energy/power. I do NOT believe in Ki if we mean it to suggest something that is beyond and quasi-superhuman, etc.
One point you mentioned in addition to positioning, mechanics, and leverage (which I agree with) was "intent." I think, if anything, the unification of our will or strong intent with the physical actions of our body is the highest expression of Ki. Like the word "Ai-ki" or "ki-ai." The unification of our intention/mental energy with our physical energy. Anything beyond this is, as Shihan Arel would say, "hogwash." :-)
You might find it interesting to note that although Shihan Arel included the Japanese kanji for energy/power (ki) in the name of his style (Jukido) - he almost NEVER talked about Ki by itself. He almost always used the word "energy"/"power" instead -- I think in an effort to NOT be associated with some of the (unfortunate) groups that use the term "Ki" with magical thinking.
All the best to you! Thanks again for your support and interest.
Hi Sensei, I didn't intend to give another response, but after such a thorough answer, I had to say thank you very much for your time - your students are fortunate to have you as a teacher. If I ever visit my sister in Lakeland, I would make the drive over to check you guys out. Best to you as well!