卍受け (上段内受け同時に下段受け)

Overview: 

上段内受け同時に下段受け (Jodan uchi-uke doji ni gedan-uke) is often simply referred to as 卍受け (Manji-uke). I need to clarify that often 側面  (Sokumen) is added to both of the receptions, when they are delivered to both sides. Furthermore, instead of 受け (Uke), 構え (Kamae) is utilized… Indeed,this  is the case in Gankaku and many of the kata passed down to us from Asai Tetsuhiko Shuseki-Shihan.

 

Manji-uke (Jodan uchi-uke doji ni gedan-uke) appears in ten of 26 standard 松濤館流  (Shotokan-Ryu) kata and 25 times in total. These points alone verify that this karate-waza has important 応用 (Oyo).

 

To be specific I will list each of these ten kata and the number of times the waza is executed in each of them.

 

1. 平安五段 (Heian Godan): Movements 21 and 23.

2. 抜賽大 (Bassai Dai): Movement 25.

3. 観空大 (Kanku-Dai) Movements 18 and 23.

4. 慈恩 (Jion): Movements 18, 20, 26 and 28.

5. 十手 (Jitte): Movements 19 and 20.

6. 岩鶴 (Gankaku): Movements 15, 16, 17, 25, 29 and 33.

7. 抜賽小 (Bassai Sho): Movements 10 and 11.

8. 観空小 (Kanku-Sho): Movements 23 and 25.

9. 壯鎮 (Sochin): Movements five and ten.

10. 慈韻 (Jiin): Movements two and three.

 

Categorical Variations:

 •  平安五段 (Heian Godan) involves firstly turning 180 degrees to delivering the waza then switching sides and repeating—on the opposite side—in the same direction.

 

•  抜賽大 (Bassai Dai) utilizes a 180 turn with sasho jodan sotonagashi-uke doji ni migi shuto gedan-uchikomi, which is rapid, followed in the same count by slowing making manji-uke via pulling back into heisoku-dachi.

 

• 十手 (Jitte), 抜賽小 (Bassai Sho) and 慈韻 (Jiin) are all the same. Single waza repeated on the left then right side (Migi kokutsu-dachi followed by pivoting on the spot 180 degrees into hidari kokutsu-dachi).

 

• 慈恩 (Jion) and 観空小(Kanku-Sho) share the same aspects, turning and making sideward actions with the uke, all followed by ‘move-in counterattacks'.

 

• 観空大 (Kanku-Dai) utilizes manji-uke after executing jodan mae-geri keage and whilst turning 180 degrees. This is immediately followed by sasho jodan sotonagashi-uke doji ni migi shuto gedan-uchikomi; thus, is reversed version of movement 25 in Bassai Dai.

 

• In 壯鎮 (Sochin) the waza is firstly delivered with a 90 degree turn then a 180 degree turn. However, in both cases the follow is the ‘Muso Gamae’ followed by tateshuto and two consecutive ‘Tsuki’. In sum, a flurry of ‘continuous attacks’.

 

• The kata, which features this waza the most (six times)—and with the most variations—is obviously 岩鶴 (Gankaku). This includes two single (directly advancing) Manji-uke; one advancing and spinning followed by a drop; and three as a Kamae balanced on one leg. Each of these three are initiated jodan sotonagashi-uke doji ni shuto gedan uchikomi, and followed with a simultaneous yoko-geri keage and uraken yokomawashi uchi, then concluded with a ‘tsuki’ (once ‘oi-zuki’ and twice ‘sokumen-zuki’.

 

 分解 (Bunkai) vs. 応用 (Oyo):

I need to apologize in advance for explaining this point again, but this is important in Shotokan Karate as 武道 (Budo)/武術 (Bujutsu).

 In our style, 分解 (Bunkai) is analysis—not ‘application’; that is, its to learn the exact movements, trajectories and completed positions. It is only for the initial learning phase of each respective kata and as a reference for ensuring your actions and positioning are correct. One problem here is that many instructors and organizations only know and teach this.

 

A vivid example of this is simultaneous attack with a chudan mae-geri from the front and a jodan oi-zuki from the rear. There obviously is zero realism in such a scenario, but this perfectly represents the trajectory and completed positioning of manji-uke.

 

応用 (Oyo), on the other hand, is “practical application” of the movements—single waza and sequences in the kata. These tactics/applications for rudimentary self-defense.

 

Conclusion:

As outlined above manji-uke is executed in several different ways—especially in regards to body shifting/footwork/transitions (and with various initiations and follow-up waza). While this may seem complicated, it isn’t. The oyo is always natural and takes into account the variables in unarmed self-defense. In the case of manji-uke, depending on its use, can be applied as a simultaneous joint attack and choke, double arm cover then counterattack, a simultaneous defense and counter or a takedown. Note how striking, grappling and a mix of both are all included. This is because, in the real world, they obviously cannot be compartmentalized/separated.

 

Again, and unfortunately, many instructors practice and organizations teach a form of Shotokan which is utterly ineffective outside of the karate world. Bunkai is the rule of thumb, and it even challenges the attackers more than the defenders to attack correctly’ in order to ‘help the respective waza to work’. For such people and groups, the Manji-uke ‘bunkai’ above might as well be their application. Taken as a whole, if an application requires a cooperative partner to work, it is not Oyo. Likewise, if application requires a specific response from an opponent, it is not the Budo/Bujutsu application of kata. Keep in mind these two points, that I always tell my students and trainees: “…minimal fine motor skills and reliable effectiveness are the constant/intrinsic traits of Oyo.”

 

In sum, all of these, when understood—and practiced correctly and consistently—it clearly elucidates why  ‘卍受け (上段内受け同時に下段受け)’ appears so many times in the standard 26 Shotokan Kata.

 

© Andre Bertel. Oita City, Japan 2024.