danielajames

 

Ikkyo is an idea about getting off the line of attack (some say you stay on the line of attack but thats another story) and cutting ukes centre. The usual vehicle for doing this is through ukes arm, but if uke is very strong just leave it alone and finish the movement as an shomen atemi or an omote side irimi nage (the footwork and arm movement is nearly identical to the ikkyo kata).
I really like the idea from Saito's school (can i say that?) that nage initiates ikkyo by striking uke - this idea rather neatly takes use's centre (and hence their power) right at the beginning