kokyu nage

~~ Okay, so there are roughly three billion techniques that seem to fall under the heading of 'kokyu nage'. Kokyu, I've been told, represents breath and the movement of ki. So, then, isn't every technique...kokyu? Does Aikido have techniques without breath and ki movement?
So what's the final definition? How can I differentiate between hiji nage and the ubiquitous kokyu nage? It's like, even a tenkan begins as an irimi motion..(?) Is this in that 'don't try to understand it just train' catagory I keep bumping up against?
All input welcome

Think less, train more.

You'll figure it out for yourself.

I'll give this one a shot...

Kokyu, as you have pointed, is inherint in every aikido technique. What then is kokyu nage, and how does it differ than other techniques? Good Question!

Answer

The answer is more obvious then you would think. Kokyu nage techniques are just that, techniques that are based upon "Kokyu" only - rather than Kansetsu (joint locking) waza, Osei waza, Kaeshi (reversal) waza, ...etc. In simpler terms, you would execute the technique using only Kokyu (with irimi, tenkan, irimi-tenkan, or tenkan irimi...).

I hope this clears it up (a bit).

Most Aikido techniques consist of distinct phases. Zanshin, Ma'ai, getting off the line, taking the balance and then the actual "technique".

Many kokyu techniques I've found are kihon (basic) techniques, but where the timing and blending are emphasised to the point where the balance taking phase becomes the technique in and of itself - i.e. it projects uke far enough that the following up technique is not required.

Example - irimi nage. We cut uke down and when they recover and rise we blend with that upward motion to complete the throw. However if our intial cutting down of uke is powerful enough that he hits the deck like a sack of spuds and doesn't recover, that's a kokyu.

My 2c

This is a bit wierd, but my sensei once said that kokyu is that feeling of your chest expanding upwards and outwards, so while doing a kokyu-nage you focus on that feeling. This should make you better at using that intent and posture, so it can be added to everything else you do. In af strange way that explanation really helped me at the time

I wanted to resist writing this answer, but the pressure is just too much!

Eat more Garlic and Onions before class, then without touching your partner breath on them.

Kokyu nage.

As silly as this sounds, the essence of breath throw is indeed to sweep aside your opponent with the movement of your body and breath, with out manipulation, strikes, or other variations other than the movement of your body overwhelming the energy of the opponent like a wave.

Paula Lydon wrote: ...So, then, isn't every technique...kokyu?...

Right!

If a technique is done correctly, it is a kokyu nage. This includes Ikkyo, Nikyo, Sankyo etc.

This is taking a grand view of all things as one. In actuality, "a rose by any other name..."

If people call a technique ikkyo irimi, then they can talk about it. If they call the technique Bob's Twist and Shout, then they can talk about it also.

Bruce,

your reply hit it on the head for me...

LOL..

jermaine..