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Uke-waza is the skill of protecting yourself against being struck by an opponent and it also represents an integral part of the overall curriculum of old-school karate-jutsu. For those of us who study and teach old-school karate, the Uke-waza practice is commonly referred to as, "The Quadrant Drill." This is because of the geometrical way with which we look at such a unique set of practices. Punching, kicking, and striking represent the principal kinds of blunt-force-trauma attack scenarios, most frequently experienced in one-on-one empty-handed encounters of physical violence. Because we understand which anatomical targets are most frequently attacked, and what kinds of attacks are most commonly used, this unique practice better prepares us to recognize the angle of entry and protect ourselves accordingly.

The quadrant drill methodically recreates seventeen of the most vicious attacks, where the fists, feet, elbows, knees and head are used as the principal tools of impact, in one-against-one self-defence scenarios. Using about a dozen different ways to protect the seven most vulnerable parts of the body there are a total of twenty-nine strikes in the overall drill.

Once a time-honoured practice in history of this art, the habitual acts of physical violence represented the original contextual premise against which all fundamental fighting skills were tested and established. By methodically recreating those violent attack scenarios, which most threaten our safety, we too are better able to discover, understand and employ the application templates handed down through kata. Ironic as it may seem, however, this catalyst-like component has been largely forgotten in the modern interpretation of karate - and yet, it is this one obvious and indispensable mechanism that makes it all work.

Gyaku-waza #16

Gyaku-waza is the art of protecting oneself against unprovoked acts of physical violence. The term, Gyaku-waza, literally means reversal-techniques, and describes a group of close-quarter self-defense practices originally developed to be used against being violently seized and controlled by an aggressive opponent. Dating back to a time before the development and propagation of modern styles, these old-school self-defense practices are based entirely upon those original empty-handed and one-against-one domestic acts of physical violence, which habitually plagued the 19th century southern Chinese culture, from where this art evolved.

Gyaku-waza represents the pathway between physical engagement, responding appropriately and controlling or submitting an opponent, without the use of lethal force. Once cloaked in an iron-clad ritual of secrecy these time-honoured, and highly functional prescribed application practices, employ an impressive collection of fighting tactics ranging from percussive impact, joint manipulation, limb entanglement, nerve pressure and cavity seizing, to blood and air deprivation, balance displacement, and controlling an opponent in both a standing clinch and or on the ground. The attack scenarios range from the classical wrist, hair and garment grabs, being seized from various standing positions, the dangerous clinch, headlock, full nelson, and various kinds of bear hugs, to different kinds of chokes, joint-locks and limb manipulations, single/double leg takedown, and defending oneself on the ground, including escaping the mount, passing the guard and dealing with back control, along with being punched and kicked in the face by the attacker while down. From a defensive point of view, Gyaku-waza is a complete method in and of itself without the need for additional measures.

Gyaku-waza is presented at learning speed using passive resistance and from several angles in order to make it easy to identify and master each lesson.