74: Sam-Il reverse knifehand guarding block

Let's start with set from the 1959 version of Sam-Il.

The "reverse-knifehand guarding block" is a strange movement unique to Sam-Il. I suggested in my e-book that the previous step, the twin low punch, may be used to grab the opponent's leg, so the movement is lifting that leg.

The problem is this double low punch is missing in the 1959 version of the pattern. However, there are other differences that provide insight into what's going on. The set is:

• L. front stance R. knifehand rising block with L. middle palm strike
• Step forward into R. front stance L. middle palm strike
• Step forward into R. back stance outward strike with L. reverse-knifehand with rear hand coming to chest as a guard

Yes, that last movement is described as a "strike" in the 1959 instructions. However, I don't think it's a block or a strike.

The first movement is the precursor of the double arc-hand block. We use this as a right arm lapel grab release. The knifehand rising block does a "wax off" motion while the middle palm strike pushes the opponent's elbow.

 

Double arc-hand block application from Russ Martin

 

From here, we continue into the next movement (reverse palm strike) as a standing armbar, placing pressure on the opponent's outer-elbow.

Standing armbar technique from Choi's 1959 book (left) and the Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do (right)

This is not a stable lock and a strong opponent could easily overpower us. As the opponent turns back towards us, step forward and encircle their head with your left arm. Use your reverse-knifehand to dig into their right jaw, getting a chin lock.

Original image source: Bunkai Jutsu (link now broken)

Your rear hand overhooks the opponent's right arm.

Modern Version

Performance by Joel Denis

In the modern version of Sam-Il

• Step 11 becomes a double arc-hand block
• The reverse palm strike becomes a reverse middle punch
• You turn CCW 180-degrees into a twin low punch
• Then turn CCW 90-degrees into the reverse knifehand guarding block

The application of the double arc-hand block is the same as above. But rather than locking the opponent's elbow joint, we continue into punching their face while pulling their arm.

 

Image source

 

From here, grab the back of their shirt with both fists and pull them back and downwards

If this fails to throw them, at least we've distracted them. Encircle their head and execute the chin lock shown above.

Why Did It Change?

I can think of a couple reasons this set changed.

• This standing armbar (ikkyo in Aikido) is rare in the ITF patterns, despite being frequently shown in Gen Choi's self-defense chapters. Instead, the patterns prefer to use a waki gatame lock, which is more stable. It may be someone changed the reverse palm strike to a reverse punch to avoid using this lock
• Because the ikkyo lock is unstable and easy to counter, someone may have believed it's difficult to get the chin lock from this position. So a strike (punching the head) and shirt pull were added as distractions, but the chin lock itself was kept.

The change to this form creates a "missing footwork" problem. The transition into the first U-shape block was originally done turning 90-degrees clockwise. In modern Sam-Il you execute the first U-shape block in place, but adding a clockwise turn to the block makes its application (part of a single-leg takedown) more effective.