Article: What's in a Name? by Michael J. Hacker

Discuss the article, "What's in a Name?" by Michael J. Hacker here.

Article URL: http://www.aikiweb.com/columns/mhacker/2005_09.html

I generally translate kokyû nage as "I don't quite know what to call this technique."

This may be the most brilliant statement on the subject of kokyu nage I've ever seen. I find myself giving various forms unofficial subtitles, like:

• "basic" kokyu nage
• "no retreat" kokyu nage
• "almost shiho" kokyu nage
• "underarm" kokyu nage

All of which are descriptive, sort of.

Michael Hacker wrote: ..Although Ki Society tends to use Aikikai-type naming conventions in many cases...

Actually, it is the other way around. After Koichi Tohei left, Aikikai continued to use the same naming conventions. Of course, the longer the two organizations remain separated, the bigger difference there will be in the naming of techniques.

Michael Hacker wrote: ..you may be surprised to hear "kote oroshi" (forearm drop) instead of kote gaeshi (forearm return).

The original name for the technique was kote-gaeshi (wrist turn). This was change by the Ki Society because it was felt to be an inaccurate description of how to do the technique correctly. The technique was renamed kote-oroshi (wrist drop).