Strikes

 

Shomen: In gyaku hanmi, standing just out of reach of the nage, raise up the hand over the head, bringing it down towards the center of the nage's forehead as one steps forward to close the distance. The hand is open, with fingers held together as a "blade." To offer for this attack stand with the desired foot forward and slightly lean your forehead forward to make it a more appealing target. In all strike offers, it is also acceptable to point to the area before-hand, especially before the first technique of a demonstration where it might not be yet clear, what attack is needed.

*This is one of the few techniques where hanmi is not mirroring that of the nage (i.e.: if nage's right foot is forward, uke's right foot is also forward).

Yokomen: In ai hanmi, standing just out of reach of the nage, the hand is raised above its own shoulder (as opposed to shomen, where the hand is raised directly above the head) bringing it down in a slight outward arc towards the side of the nage's head as one steps forward to close the distance. The hand is open, with fingers held together as a "blade." To offer for this attack stand with the desired foot forward and slightly turn the head so that the side to be struck is slightly more visible.

Yokomen-Hantai: Another strike to the side of the head, this is basically a "backhand" yokomen. In gyaku hanmi, the hand is brought up, over the opposite shoulder and then is struck against the nage's opposite side of the head as in proper Yokomen. There is a slight shuffle-step forward (front leg first, back leg following). The offer for this attack is the same as for the previous yokomen.

Tsuki: Simple punch to the solar plexus (tummy). In gyaku hanmi, standing just out of reach of the nage, punch with one's back fist towards the nage's stomach, as stepping forward with the back leg. As with all strikes, one should not attack out of control, whereas one could not stop one's self if the nage did not respond correctly. To offer for this attack stand with the desired foot forward and stand straight, leaving one's chest open.

Keri: Kick. There are various kicks (snap kick, front kick, side kick, round-house, etc.) but it will be specified in the demonstration. In gyaku hanmi, standing slightly farther back from hand strikes, draw the back leg up to one's chest and then push it out towards the nage's solar plexus, stepping down with this front foot if no contact is made. Kicks are not general Aikido techniques so there is a wide variety. This is just an example. The offer for this attack is the same as the previous tsuki but if a side or round-house is expected, slightly turning the back to be a more attractive target is possible.

Atemi: "surprise" strike. Basically this can be any action, usually with the hand that either feigns or (carefully) strikes the uke. The purpose is not to injure but surprise the uke to perform a technique that might not work as well without it or to preemptively stop an attack (usually with the extra hand, as when in a one-handed grab, for example).

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