One of the main techniques of the Bujinkan Dojo is Omote Gyaku. This technique exists in several raw forms in the different ryu-ha; indeed, it is part of the Kihon Happo. Unfortunately, many people do not realize that they are doing it wrong. It has been my observation that many practitioners are actually doing a technique called Kote Gaeshi. It is important that you understand that there is a significant difference between these two techniques.

Kote Gaeshi is most widely known as a technique used by Aikidoists. There also happens to be a similar technique used in the Korean art of Hapkido. Incidently, you will also find Kote Gaeshi used in the Bujinkan Dojo. Most often it is presented as a henka (variation) of Omote Gyaku.

This is fine, but many people mistakenly practice Kote Gaeshi when they believe that they are doing Omote Gyaku. I have even seen it taught this way. Shidoshi and Shidoshi-ho alike should be aware of this during the course of their teaching.

Kote Gaeshi is usually translated as "wrist turn out." This is exactly what it is. The foe attacks, say with a lapel grab. The defender strips the grab from his lapel, and holds the hand in the same fashion as the beginning of Omote Gyaku. But at this point the two techniques diverge. In Omote Gyaku, the foe's arm is usually kept extended, as the defender rotates the wrist outward. This causes a lock upon the joint of the wrist. If done correctly, the foe will feel no threat until the joint lock is suddenly applied. By then it is too late, and in shiken gata (real combat) the wrist joint is shattered.

In Kote Gaeshi, the arm is not held in an extended position. It is usually allowed to bend toward the foe's torso. Also, the defender will often bring his arms very close to his own body, so that he must rotate his own torso by stepping away in order to cause a rotation of the foe's wrist. In either manner, the foe's arm bends, and the wrist is then turned outward. Unlike Omote Gyaku, where the hand is usually perpendicular to the ground, in Kote Gaeshi the hand is usually parallel to the ground. This causes a lockup of the tendons and muscle area of the wrist. The feel to the foe is that he will want to flip over in a high somersault to get away. It is this reaction that you see in many Aikido dojo.

When practicing wrist throws, be careful that you know the difference between these two. Many people do not. The Omote Gyaku shatters the wrist; the foe is often left standing in an unbalanced place. In practice in the dojo, the reaction is usually to turn and sit into a back roll. But in Kote Gaeshi, the reaction is to leap into a somersault. Learn both to apply in shinken gata.

Michael Fazekas is a 4th Dan and a Shidoshi-ho training at the Bujinkan Akahige Dojo near Cincinnati, Ohio. He began his training in Ninpo in 1982 under Stephen Hayes. He also holds a 3rd Dan in the Korean martial art of Hapkido. He can be reached at MFazekas@aol.com.