[Aikido Techniques] Principles of Kote Gaeshi

Click here to subscribe ►► bit.ly/1KPZpv0
We release new Aikido Tutorials every Tuesday!
This video is an explanation of principles of Kote Gaeshi which should be easily accessible to beginners. The technique was requested/suggested by username: softwhere07 .
Our Other Aikido Tutorials:
Easiest Way to Learn Nikyo ► bit.ly/2a5T15B
Technique and Philosophy of Tai no Henko ►bit.ly/1tdXKZf
22 Different Yokomenuchi Entries ► bit.ly/1LTf34i
Brief History Videos:
Aikido Lost Popularity ► bit.ly/1QZMWWA
Steven Seagal's Negative Influence ►bit.ly/1OvQs6y
Greatest Martial Artists ►bit.ly/1UVuON1
Instructor: Sensei Rokas
Editing: Danguole Garškaitė
Uke: Egidijus Martisauskis
Camera: Eduardas Girjotas
Dodzo is a full time Dojo focusing on self-development through Aikido and Yoga. The Dojo is run by Sensei Rokas Leonavicius.

[@michaelgallagher4696]

You sir, are a throwback to my old Senseis; who emphasized proper footwork, balance and technique. I would, however, like to see your tutorials begin with regular speed demonstration. Don't know where you learned Aikido, but whoever your sensei(s) was/were instructed you well. Thank you for keeping the true tradition. "Saikei rei"

[@MartialArtsJourney]

+Michael Gallagher Thanks! I will keep in mind demonstrating a technique full speed before the video

[@MartialArtsJourney]

+Michael Gallagher Thanks! I will keep in mind demonstrating a technique full speed before the video

[@hizzlemobizzle]

For those who are saying it's impossible to catch a punch I would like to say this. You don't catch the punch you catch the arm and slide to the hand. You have the time between extention of the punch and the retraction to accomplish this. With proper training and practice it's more than possible.

[@Annoyingdad78]

Finally, someone applying kote gaeshi with the wrist low and not lifting the uke so they can pretend to not regain their balance! thank you Sensei

[@jonatassantana8100]

Muito Bom!!!! Os ensinamentos são bem simples e direto. Parabéns

[@reginemaligne4116]

Thank you so much. I am new to aikido and this is invaluable...as there is never enough time in the dojo to see everything! thank you for your step by step approach.

[@AgentRafa]

Please watch his videos from the present days...

[@martinofeldman1039]

You are very meticulous, serious and methodical teacher. Bravo!

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Thank you!

[@colinbenfield326]

Very nice technique. Thanks.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

My pleasure!

[@hnoushahi]

Great Explanation

[@sandooo4603]

This is my favorite technique and Irimi nage. Thank you for showing it.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

My pleasure, Sandooo!

[@sandooo4603]

Hello it may be presumptuous, but can I ask you a favor. Can you advertise this link: www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-beginning-of-aikido-dojo-seikatsu-ryu?fse_2=e#/ This is my new club and needs a little help to develop.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Sandooo Hey Sandooo, I don't mind the asking at all :) I'll think about sharing this, give me a bit of time

[@sandooo4603]

AikidoSiauliai Ok, thank you

[@hossein1326]

Sensei you are assum, thank you for posting this

[@MartialArtsJourney]

My pleasure! I'm glad you liked it

[@sahh7089]

Thank you !

[@gigipizzuto4068]

I like the stretching kotegaeshi like you show better. it works on the balance, it actually doesn't need pain. in my dojo we practice it with 1 hand as well. we either use only the hand that grabs or we switch hand after we step away (more difficult because it is easy to lose connection).

[@MartialArtsJourney]

I really agree with you. That's how I exactly feel too. I do it with one hand sometimes too by the way

[@KhadijahJoySams93]

Thank you

[@kwuker]

Great techniques you teach my sensei

[@nexxogen]

He has since abandoned aikido and switched to MMA and BJJ. He has learned by testing that aikido just doesn't work in real life. You can see his newer videos.

[@softwhere07]

Nice. I see your using my suggestion. And you explained it well

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Yes, sorry though I forgot to mention your name in the video. I've added it to the description now

[@softwhere07]

You really didn't have to mention my name anyway. Just the fact that you heard me and did this video makes me happy. I really like how you explain things.

[@PiedPiper97601]

It will be perhaps interesting to watch a remake of this video in 10 years or so and see if you have a different approach and focus in your teaching.

[@AgentRafa]

Bingo.

[@aungthihaphyo3113]

Can you please show me the way how to do a Kotegashi from a mordern day street punch. Because the punches in the real world are not as simple as tsuki. They are much quicker and hard to catch.

[@gigipizzuto4068]

you don't "catch" the arm/wrist. If your intent is grabbing, when you face a quick jab, you'll never make a kotegaeshi. focus on cutting the center of the opponent, you want to take the arm into account, but not focus on it. if you think making a vertical cut through the opponent, your end will finish its path naturally in the right place. so it doesn't matter if the arm goes back fast or stays stretched out, because you enter irimi to the uke center. this is just my take on kotegaeshi, of course there are many different ways to explain it.

[@aungthihaphyo3113]

+Gigi Pizzuto So when I cut the center of the opponent. Do I need to move in? Or just stay with one place?

[@gigipizzuto4068]

That is a tough question. It is easy to picture, but if you are moving back, forth or stay still changes according to the situation. You don't move to a pre set place, you establish a relationship with uke and try to maintain it. Uke provides the energy so you move accordingly (which with time you'll learn it is not always true, you will learn to modify the relationship at your advantage and need). Surely the intent is irimi. In kotegaeshi is irimi tenkan, not only tenkan... Look at this video, when he says no to turn in front of uke, that is what it means. If you simply tenkan you will turn in front of uke. But for the movement it is a hard question... Can I have an irimi intent while I go backwards? Sure you can. Think of tsuki kaitennage, you drop back as you enter in.

[@aungthihaphyo3113]

+Gigi Pizzuto If I am in a situation where I have to enter irimi. Do I have to enter straight into the uke's center? Or to the sideways?

[@gigipizzuto4068]

Aung Thiha Phyo​ haha you are crediting me more knowledge that I actually have. I am not sure I understood your question. By the way they teach me, you never enter sideways, you always try to get the center line. Elbows low and hand that comes from the center of your body, not from your hips. But different styles teach different as you can see in this video. I'm far from being able to tell you who is right, I leave that to masters. If what you meant was do you need a side step, I'd say kinda. The way I do it now is going straight in, opening my hips right before the turn. That allows my leg to continue with a slight angle so that I manage to end up a bit farther from uke. By keep going straight in, I used to find myself too close to uke and I had to crumple my arm instead of keeping it stretched and relaxed. That helped me to change my tenkan as well. I used to do a sharp 180 degrees tenkan. If you think it means my forward shoulder goes, it stops, I turn the body and then the shoulder starts moving again. Giving myself more room allowed me to make a more round tenkan. My shoulder never stops, it keeps leading my body into the tenkan. The way I was taught is the last you stop the better it is, every time you stop uke feels it. Even when you have no more movement, keep your intent going.

[@Wuei108]

The harder they come the harder they fall.

[@ninjamaster7724]

Why doesn't anyone in Aikido know how to punch?

[@Aegis---]

Its almost like its a non striking sport

[@bobdownie.2806]

A huge amount of confusion about the practical application of Aikido has primarily arisen due to UESHIBA changing jujitsu into a gentler more spiritual art. The techniques of Aikido are similar to Jujitsu techniques, but Jujitsu used to emphasise attacking first. So if you applied Kote gaeshi, mostly you would initiate the attack. If someone was standing in front of you in a typical boxer stance, you can quite easily grab both of his wrists, pressure his hands into him so that the hand you are attacking s elbow is trapped against his body, knee him in the groin and perform kotegaeshi. Follow up with maybe a knee ride position whilst keeping the wrist and stab him in the neck with your Tanto dagger. Of course it is possible to apply the technique as a response to a strike, but this requires much more skill……the kind of level of UESHIBA, thus the legacy being misled in a impractical direction. You have to develop the lower level technical mastery first before you can realistically hope to do what they do in modern day Aikido.

[@italman69]

Inefficace dans un véritable affrontement

[@nordanfalko7202]

this is something I always see with "traditional" techniques is people who do them try to grab the punch that is never going to happen a way to test this is if you stand in your stance and get someone to stand to your side and they punch and pull back you cant do it no matter how good your technique is you wont be able to grab a punch Tenshin Aikido deals with this really well as they include deflections with their punch and kick attacks its the same for the Aikido that I do there are lots of hand deflections and parries taught in my Aikido but that isnt to say that your technique is the wrong technique its just different then what I do I mean I respect that its your way of doing it it's just I would never do it that way because I dont think that its effective.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

+NordanFalko I see your point and it makes sense what you say. This is though sharing a traditional technique, so I'm happy you see that too

[@rogerdeleon7663]

Your attacker started with a right punch lead, at 2:21 sec. your attacker leads with his left which completely inverts the counter. I am forced to imagine your lesson inverted for a right handed attack.

[@victorribeiro2431]

We do miss the Longhair skinny Rokas 😂😂😂

[@MartialArtsJourney]

😄

[@demz6365]

now try full speed and a real punch

[@sa6985]

ugh..you need to use BOTH hands to control the arm/wrist and pull it in tight to your waist as you tenkan then reverse for the kote gaeshi, use small tight circles.....I'm sorry but using one hand will not work to control a person that's hell bent on fighting and will only get you and your students hurt trying that. I've been practicing aikido (and several other arts) for 19-20 yrs so I'm not just talking bs.

[@Seegie16]

The truth is 1 hand or both hands work, because aikido is an art where uke always cooperates with you 100%. Lets face the facts. Aikido is not a form of self defense. Its an art of body movement and choreography. Its beautiful and a great form of exercise and expression, but lets stop this nonsense of believing that this is a form of practical self defense.

[@H4I2I2EE]

Ironically, that's why you can get injured, cuz you aren't cooperating. The wrist joint on that one arm can't support the entire weight of the body. Once it's in motion, you don't have the leverage or strength to stop it so you have to go with it and do the flip so you don't get hurt. Also Aikido movements are supposed to be circular, which are harder to stop once they're in motion. The motion/energy initially comes from the attack. In a sense you are cooperating with the attacker(at first). It's not choreography. It's just that you become so familiar with how to respond to the technique as an uke cuz you've done it so many times and can do it in the spur of the moment.

[@egontokessy1610]

Man you look and communicate so differently here compared to the way you are now. Were you confident in this video?

[@MartialArtsJourney]

I was confident, but my confidence was of a very different kind :)

[@egontokessy1610]

@@MartialArtsJourney I think I understand :).

[@egontokessy1610]

@@MartialArtsJourney By the way, if you have a moment to spare. Can you tell me if this video on Aikido is fake or real. I genuinely can't tell, goes for 3 mins, it's from a documentary kzbin.info/www/bejne/oae3qYaQbr5qepY&ab_channel=zeljko485

[@teodorstefanov984]

Please stop complaining for aikido, aikido is aikido and aikido isn't for anyone. If you don't believe just stop watch it go learn other martial arts!!!

[@leventoktaykaya708]

Japon bale

[@AdamRoss1975]

Never seen anyone punch like that.

[@sharokhkoussari3073]

If Aikido is to good why doesn't any aikidoka go head to head against an MMA or BJJ guy ?

[@tazzz69dazzermind35]

Many Aikido moves are illegal in mma! example (open fingers in the eyes, wrist locks, finger bends to break fingers, etc, etc.

[@unsurreal83]

From what I've got researching a little, aikido is just NOT about violence and "fight'" or even competition. It is mainly a way to know body mechanics and it has a strong philosophical sense in it. It can be tough, but it is not the aim of the art, so these comparisons are pointless.

[@MilitiauScom]

joint lock throws are illegal in MMA due to their potential for injury. Akido when applied at full speed and full force is not very "sporting". Joint locks applied in a slow and controlled manner give an opponent time to submit. Wrestling throws, as they are designed for sport, are much safer. A four corner throw for example, can easily lead to a dislocated shoulder and a broken neck.

[@MilitiauScom]

that said, very basic principles of Akido are quite usefull in MMA, such as, do not be where your opponent thinks you are and the circular foot work.

[@nexxogen]

He actually tried that and ended up leaving aikido and switching to MMA. You can see it in his newer videos.

[@SuperGuitarman69]

I love the videos, however, Aikido is based upon realism. Therefore, I would suggest to you that it is impossible to "catch" the punch. A snake bites at 15 feet per second. A punch from a trained fighter is 20 feet per second. So if we are going to "think" realism, we must understand that not only is the punch coming that quickly, but it is returning to "re-chamber" virtually the same speed hence it came. First off, allow me to introduce myself. I am Seagal udansha with Tenshin. Although I have my own dojo now, and am unaffiliated at present time to Tenshin, I have trained only with Tenshin since 1992. So, I would like to freely share an insight, in the spirit of sharing great Aikido, with others such as yourselves which has great Aikido they share willingly. We use sword technique deflections on all punches. Be in Yokomen, Shomen, or ski's. Ukenagaeshi, Suriage etc. We literally spend our first 2 to 3 Kyu ranks getting our students to be able to do it in their sleep, before we even begin to look at how they perform a technique. That is how important it is to make the deflection natural and not dependent upon catching a punch mid air. Just thoughts from a fellow Aikidoka.

[@MartialArtsJourney]

Sounds good and true. Thanks for sharing!

[@SuperGuitarman69]

Thank you for sharing. Excellent Aikido, and excellent videos. Keep up the good work. You are helping spread the truth of Aikido.

[@MilitiauScom]

SuperGuitarman69 After a few Saki, an untrained drunk at a bar punches at about 3 feet per second. Kote Gaeshi works best on a stumbling, akward, grab towards your chest or abdomen.

[@SuperGuitarman69]

I train in Tenshin Aikido. We use deflections based upon sword. It doesn't matter how fast the punch comes. We are not moving. We take center and that automatically over balances the opponent. It is one movement. The deflection, the entering and the throw is one movement. It really doesn't matter how fast the punch is. In a real situation with a drunk in a bar, if you try to get him on the ground and do a sloppy MMA or UFC style cage match, by the time you get to your sloppy pin, the guys buddy has had time to pull out his pocket knife and stab you in the neck 3 or 4 times. Wake up.

[@AgentRafa]

@@SuperGuitarman69 Have you watched any of Rokas newer videos?

[@laverdad6120]

who attacks like that really?

[@MilitiauScom]

Hector Ramirez people who are very drunk.

[@laverdad6120]

you dont fight very drunks guys

[@laverdad6120]

you dont fight very drunks guys no distespect

[@MrGoodtogo55]

they have different ways to perform from an sidestrike which represents a wild punch .. yokomenuchi, shomenuchi,,

[@aungthihaphyo3113]

Can you please show me the way how to do a Kotegashi from a mordern day street punch. Because the punches in the real world are not as simple as tsuki. They are much quicker and hard to catch.

[@aungthihaphyo3113]

+sonnyhok Yeah. Get away from it. Move offline. But we are talking about kotegaeshi. We need to get the correct hand position to perform that lock

[@shawnmcginnis4458]

My sempai's preach to practice first from finding the arm then to finding the hand, then proper placement. Precision is a by-product of practice.

[@aungthihaphyo3113]

+Shawn McGinnis thanks

[@gigipizzuto4068]

+Shawn McGinnis try cutting vertically uke center. with your turn and your finishing the cut, your hand will finish in the right place. again, you don't need actually the wrist for kotegaeshi, but that is a bit ahead.

[@shawnmcginnis4458]

+Gigi Pizzuto, thanks. Ill keep that in mind while i practice.