In part I of Your Feeling On The Single Lapel Grab Defense (Read & Watch Part I), I explored different Martial Art systems and their basic approach in Self-Defense to counter when a person grabs your lapel. The styles that were presented were: Brazilian (Gracie) Jiu Jitsu, Aikido, Kenpo Karate, Judo, and Shorinji Kempo. What was a strong takeaway for studying this self-defense technique was when a person grabs you, as mentioned, there are many types of things that can happen next which can include being punched, pushed, or pulled. Therefore, as basic as this technique is, the single-lapel or shoulder grab (kata dori) needs to be taken seriously in all Martial Arts. The objective of this article in part II is what types of strategies can you do before the attacker grabs hold of your lapel? Remember for the person to grab your shirt or jacket, he needs to open his hand. If the hand does not open, it must be a punch and that is a different article. Nonetheless, if you are being grabbed at your lapel, some techniques and strategies can be used.
To continue this study of the single-lapel grab, we need to explore finger locks. In Japan, these types of Jujutsu, Judo, and Aikido techniques where you control the fingers are called either yubi dori (finger locks) or te waza (hand techniques). In the arresting arts system that I endorse Gunji Taiho Jutsu, in the Gunji University curriculum, there are several lessons in finger locks and their use. Gunji Taiho Jutsu (GTJ) can loosely translate in Japanese to Military Body Control/Arresting Technique. Modern Taiho-jutsu (Arresting Technique) was introduced to the U.S. when the Strategic Air Command began sending combative measures instructors to the Kodokan in Japan for eight-week training programs. The course was a Japanese-designed mix of jujutsu, judo, karate, aikido, and taiho-jutsu. In a way, GTJ is the new era for taiho jutsu techniques (arresting technique) as it is a progressive way to teach Military or Law Enforcement personnel many of the traditional and contemporary jujutsu techniques of control and arrest while at the same time keeping mindful of secondary weapon systems during training and complementing all of the current and evolving Military Combatives programs in place for the different branches of the Military.
Gunji Taiho Jutsu – Above is a look at te waza hand techniques and finger lock techniques. Hopefully, you will be able to study the 45-minute video to pick out important details about distance, control of the attacker’s body through finger locks (yubi dori), and making your hands sticky to grab the person. As you improve your understanding of distance and movement with the use of finger locking techniques, you will begin to under Aikido’s use of wrist grabs techniques or how this art specifically looks at the shoulder grab (kata dori)/lapel grab in different ways. To someone serious about the practice of Aikido, he is countering the single-lapel grab before being grabbed.
Aikido training often brings with techniques to learn that start from the attacker controlling the wrist. A lot of people believe this is unrealistic training or do not yet understand the purpose of this type of beginning stage of the learning curve. Indeed, attackers do not often grab your wrist first. When someone is angry at you, he will launch at your lapel to grab or even grab you at the throat first. In both situations, however, the attacker is leading with his hands open. So far, we have looked at finger lock techniques and I want to look at this in more detail through the lens of Aikido. However, in using this example of the angry person launching at your lapel to grab and punch or his launch to your neck to choke, have you ever thought to bring your arm and hand up in front of this launching attack? If you simply bring your wrist up, an angry person will grab your wrist. At this moment in Aikido and from this distance, many techniques can be used. Again, this is before the attacker grabs your single-lapel. Please keep this in mind the next time you see an Aikido demonstration of basic wrist grab technique starting points.
Now I am want to further explore finger locks and the understanding of countering the single lapel grab/shoulder grab (kata dori) before it happens. In Aikido, there is a dojo in Osaka, Japan called the Tenshin Dojo. This is the dojo that was made famous by the American Actor Steven Seagal (7th Dan Black Belt in Aikido) and his first wife Miyako Fujitani Sensei/Shihan (7th Dan Black Belt in Aikido). Today Miyako Fujitani Sensei continues to operate and lead the Tenshin Dojo in Osaka. The Tenshin Dojo has trademarked techniques that make its expression of Aikido unique and in a certain way more practical for self-defense. What is it that the Tenshin Dojo does that many Aikidokas do not…HAND DEFLECTIONS!!! On American Sensei that I have written about is in the past in Lenny Sly. He has branded Tenshin Aikido around the world and has pointed out the importance of hand deflections to make aikido techniques or jujutsu techniques better in real-time execution. And, most importantly under pressure; not kata.
Above Steven Seagal Sensei performs his kata dori shoulder grab or single-lapel grab defense at the beginning of this video. Watch his first move in the demonstration starting at the 25-second mark of the video. Seagal catches the attacker’s hand just before being grabbed at the shoulder. Next, watch the third move in this demonstration where Seagal does it again; 33-second mark. You will see in this third technique his yubi dori (finger lock) at the attacker’s thumb. The rest of the video is a great example of the Tenshin Dojo’s expression of hand deflections to setup locking techniques and throws. How Steven Seagal Sensei uses Yubi-dori to address the shoulder grab (kata dori) is where I how other systems will add in the future. This is attacking the attack. In Budo, this is called Sen No Sen (Attack the attack)!
To The Reader
The author will be most happy to receive your comments, including criticisms and suggestions. Noteworthy comments may be included in future editions or books on this series.
For more information about Tony Pacenski’s books and instructional in Martial Arts, visit:
www.soulfight.net – Books, Instructionals, and Gear.
www.gunjiuniversity.com – Military Arresting Technique – Books, Instructionals, and Certifications.
– Prof. “little” Tony Pacenski
Yokota Air Base – Tokyo Japan
www.tonypacenski.com
