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Old 10-30-2003, 12:02 PM   #13
Leslie Parks
Dojo: Tenshinkan Dojo
Location: Chicago
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 41
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Dear John,

I'm also an AAA member at Tenshinkan and can affirm that Jun, Si, & Furuya Sensei's definitions are closest...from "our" perspective. The video footage is, in very general terms, how it is interpreted in AAA and may help you understand the side of the head, side entering aspect.

Please note, however, that Toyoda Shihan, typically did not do this technique turning the body in the direction of the throw (as it shows in the photos), but instead, maintaining more of a perpendicular position relative to uke, with the power generating from the total body movement of stepping through after uke has been unbalanced.

As to the perpendicular angle, when Toyoda Sensei was throwing you in a teaching context, he'd get you bent backwards, body barely clinging to balance, both feet on the mat (barely), THEN throw you, moving through (hence side entry) your body. Of course, when he was throwing for full demonstration, you very much wanted to "harmonize with his energy" so you'd be getting your head out of the way and moving your body, which would necessitate a change in balance and then he'd pretty much launch you.

It was awesome to experience...

...oh, and uke does yoko ukemi (side break fall) 'cause if he decided to throw straight down, that's all you had time for.

Hope this helps,

Leslie Parks-Casey
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