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The te hodoki or "hand escapes" are a set of
elementary methods of escaping grabbing attacks to a position of advantage. They are related to a set
of escaping movements (the kote hodoki or wrist escapes)
sometimes taught in traditional judo. There are responses to 14 distinct grabbing attacks in the
formal Yoseikan program; in a few cases, there are two distinct approaches to a particular attack.
The te hodoki are practiced often in Yoseikan Budo and are reviewed frequently even at advanced levels. This is because the te hodoki are not simply methods of escaping a set of simple standing attacks. They serve at least two other functions in the system. First, the te hodoki constitute instruction in the biomechanics of centralized movement against a resisting opponent. Of equal instructional importance, the te hodoki can be conceptualized as representing a kata of entrances to techniques. These entrances are often applicable to striking techniques as well as grabs. Other exercises which serve this function can be found in the the Te Waza Kyoka Ho. The advantage this provides for the student is that a set of reliable initial responses to many attacks are learned early in the curriculum, which may then be used to apply a wide variety of techniques. When a new technique is under study, the student can fall back upon the te hodoki to provide at least one entrance to that technique for each major type of grabbing attack. The te hodoki provide a good example of the way that Yoseikan Budo is constructed as a carefully planned system; rather than representing simply an assemblage of a very large number of techniques, an approach which could easily result in confusion, the program presents a subtle and carefully planned structure, which imparts the relationships among skills in a way that is both formally accessible and, through regular practice of basic skills, intuitively absorbed on a physical level. The te hodoki are listed below, and a few of the basic exercises are illustrated in GIF animations. Less detail is provided for more advanced entrances, and only memory prompts about key points, directed at experienced practitioners, are provided for exercises at the end of the series. |
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Te hodoki contents]
Jun kata te dori
Same side grasp Metsu Bushi
Blinder to eyes
| The first te hodoki provides an application of the nagashi tai sabaki and, depending upon distance, irimi during the counter-attack. In addition, uke uses irimi in receiving the counter-attack safely. After viewing the animation below, consider the following question: How might the lead arm be used differently to protect tori? |
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Te hodoki contents]
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Te hodoki contents]
Gyaku kata te dori
Reverse grasp Waki Bara Ate
Blow to short ribs
| In this te hodoki, it is critical to grab underhand and to extend the attackers arm at 90 degrees to the shoulder to insure that the balance is broken. After viewing the animation below, consider the following questions: In what situations is this grabbing attack likely to occur? What sorts of techniques are strongly implied by this escape? |
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Te hodoki contents]
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Te hodoki contents]
Dosoku kata te dori
Cross-hand grasp Metsu bushi
Blinder to eyes
| This te hodoki is very similar to the first one, although the escaping arm must move differently. After viewing the animation, answer the following questions: Where is the first real threat in this grabbing attack? Considering the defense, what sort of striking attack might be handled with a similar movement? |
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Te hodoki contents]
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Te hodoki contents]
| The attack for this escape is commonly seen in formal demonstrations of judo self-defense. The arm is locked against the body to control a weapon. After viewing the animation, consider the following questions: Where are there hidden strikes? At what point in the movement is the tai chi aphorism "Where there is a right, there is a left; where there is a front, there is a back," clearly illustrated? |
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Te hodoki contents]
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Te hodoki contents]
| Step number | | Defender | Attacker |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. | |  1.Stand in  shizenhontai (natural standing) |
1.Step behind defender in
parallel stance 2.Wrap both arms around defender,
pinning elbows. |
| B. | |
1.Step back with right foot--a.drop weight--b.strike attacker's midsection with hips--c.turn elbows outward,
extending them forward 3.Turn hips to right --a. deliver tetsui to attacker's groin | |
| C. | | 1.Bring left foot in front of attacker's right foot 2.Same side hand presses up under attacker's elbow | |
| D. | |
1.Coordinated with the press of left hand,
step back with the right foot into
hidari zenkutsu dachi (left forward-leaning stance)
2. Push attacker's elbow into his face | |
| E. | |
Deliver gyaku tsuki (reverse punch) to attacker's short ribs | |
| F. | | 1.Withdraw fist for strike 2.Push attacker's elbow into his face to unbalance him. | Attacker begins to initiate gyaku shuto counter-attack |
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Te hodoki contents]
| This is a very common grappling attack. It can lead rapidly to a variety of throws and takedowns. It is critical to move the hips away from the attacker's center of gravity. There are two routes of escape--one under and one around the arm, depending upon the finger grasp. There are several atemi (strikes) in the course of this escape. |
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Te hodoki contents]
| There are two distinct approaches for escaping this attack. In both, the defender uses both hands braced together to concentrate power. The first method, which ends with a blinder to the eyes, is similar to the escape from dosoku kata te dori, illustrated above. The hands are clasped in perpendicular fashion and the arms provide a lever to disrupt the grasp. In the second method, the hands are opposed in a "praying" position, and a large circling motion of the arms is blended with a strong hip shift to clear the grasp and prepare the target through kuzushi. |
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Te hodoki contents]
Ryote ryoho dori
Two hands grabbing two Hiji ate
Elbow strike
| Extend the attacker's arm so that the thumb is turned out. Enter in kiba dachi (horse riding stance). |
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Te hodoki contents]
Sode dori
Sleeve grasp Uraken
Backfist
This is a judoka's attack. To understand the response, consider the motion of yokomen shiho nage.
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Te hodoki contents]
Eri dori
Lapel grab Waki bara ate
Blow to short ribs
A widely used attack by judoka and brawler alike. Stabilize the point of contact. Attack the weak point with a tiger's
mouth. The motion echoes an earlier te hodoki.
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Te hodoki contents]
Kata dori
Shoulder grab Waki bara ate
Blow to short ribs
The hips cause the arms to sweep. The waki must align to cross the attacker.
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Te hodoki contents]
Ushiro hiji dori
Rear two-on-two sleev grasp Hiji ate
Waki bara ate
At the risk of obscurity, escape like an Egyptian. Another image is the snake. If the shoulders are threatened, remember Heian sandan.
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Te hodoki contents]
Ushiro kata dori
Rear two on two shoulder grab Waki bara ate
Blow to short ribs.
Begin by directing power forward. The feet move to accomplish this.
The hips cause the arms to sweep. The waki must align to cross the attacker.
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Te hodoki contents]
Ushiro eri dori
Rear collar grab Waki bara ate
Blow to short ribs.
Begin by directing power forward. The feet move to accomplish this.
The hips cause the arms to sweep. The waki must align to cross the attacker. If the fingers are
foolishly committed, one would stabilize the point of contact.
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Te hodoki contents]
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