Yoko Geri Slow Drilling • Distance & Timing • Jujutsu Atemi (Striking)

Atemi waza or striking techniques are a vital part of the Japanese art of jujutsu, including kicking techniques. Although it is fair to say that strikes in jujutsu most frequently serve the role of breaking balance and/or weakening (softening up) our attacker for other branches of close quarter techniques (throws, locks, chokes, etc.) -- that isn't always the case. Keri-waza (kicking techniques), are often used to powerfully maintain or enforce distance/range (maai). This short video shows a few aspects to a larger set of drills for the development of Yoko Geri (or the side kick). Here the focus was NOT on speed or power. Rather, the drill was to develop "foot/leg & eye coordination" as it relates to developing a "felt" sense of the ideal range for executing the technique -- not too far and not too close. Step one of the drill is to have the uke advance toward tori. When Tori feels the uke is at ideal range they are to CLOSE their previously open hands and the Uke stops. Step 2, Tori checks the distance and assess the judgement they made. Uke will sometimes swing the punches to ensure kicking distance is enforced with the yoko geri. Eventually, step one is eliminated altogether. In the one of the final iterations of this basic yoko geri drill - multiple students of various lengths/sizes approach at varying speeds. This forces the development of sensitivity to fighting range/distance management (maai) generally and as it relates to kicking techniques moe specifically.