The opening of Kwang-Gae is similar to the opening of the kata Kushanku. But when we circle our arms low, in Kwang-Gae we perform closed ready stance B, whereas in Kushanku the hands come down in front of the groin.
One of the applications for closed ready stance B is a headlock. So if we use the heaven hand to block a right haymaker, we may then strike the opponent's neck (the splitting hands) and then try to wrap our right arm around the opponent's head, placing them into a headlock as shown in the combined gif below.
You can perform this with or without overhooking the opponent's right arm.
We then apply a guillotine choke. Grab and pull in the opponent's shirt with the pulling hand while squeezing their neck against your right side with the upset punch. This is why the upset punch is performed in slow motion, to indicate either that the technique is difficult or an unusual application, not that you would perform it in slow motion against a live opponent! Usually for a guillotine choke your hands remain clasped (see the example below) so I assume the pulling hand is performing some assisting function such as pulling in the opponent's front shirt to keep them lowered.
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| MMA teacher miming the guillotine choke (left) as a close uppercut motion. The guillotine choke may also be done while overhooking the opponent's right arm (right). Source: HowCast |
Given the follow-up movements provided by the pattern (e.g. the next set with the palm hooking block may be used as a reverse head throw), I suspect we are intended to overhook the right arm so that we still have control if the opponent backs out of the headlock.
But Does It Work?
Although this technique is taught in some self-defense and karate circles, I've read criticisms from wrestlers that no one will just let you lower their head like that. A guillotine choke is usually applied against an attempted tackle, because the opponent's head is already lowered.
This makes the technique somewhat opportunistic. If striking the opponent's neck with the splitting hands causes the opponent to lower their head, then a guillotine choke is appropriate. If they do not lower their head, then the pattern provides other options (additional strikes to the neck, a knee to the groin, etc). Additionally, the pulling hand and the drop into front stance may used simultaneously to pull down the opponent's front shirt, lowering their torso.
I too have come across this as a movement to a choke, but remain ambivalent about it. One thing that sticks in my mind is that in the earlier versions of the karate forms (Kanku-Dai/ Kusanku-dai) the gross movement is done in a forward manner--eg the opening movement is done to the front with the upper body leaning forward rather than upward as in Shotokan. I found this interesting as it implies a "splitting" action that intercepts an incoming strike and simultaneously attacks (at least in my apps) the side of the neck.
ReplyDeleteI have noted in some Chinese styles the same movement is used to intercept grabbing arms circling them and pulling together smacking the inner wrist/forearm.
BTW one day please tell me how you do your gifs
thanks
Hi Richard,
DeleteI'm not familiar with the variations of Kushanku/Kanku-Dai, but I do recall one sensei's theory that the heaven hand was originally protecting against a downward weapon strike (like a sword) with two sai, and the circling down is meant to pin the opponent's weapon. A friend of mine who studied Chinese martial arts claims that many form movements were originally for weapons but were later adapted for unarmed fighting, eg circling down a sword becomes circling down an arm.
I usually use Giphy.com to make gifs because it's easy to make them from youtube videos (although often the site is slow or down).
just the beginning https://youtu.be/6XGziyoX5E8
ReplyDeleteWhile i suppose it is possible to pin a sword like that, I am not sure, but i think it does raise a larger point. I once tried to explain to my seminar participants that if you spent 20 years learning how to move with a particular weapon (say a sword) if it was not in your hands in a fight--would you suddenly start moving in a different way?