The Techniques of Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu
A. Yiannakis, Ph.D., Shichidan, Founder
The System consists of the following 7 groups of techniques:
1. Striking Techniques
(Atemi Waza)
Striking techniques are executed in Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu by using the major ewapons of the body including the fists, hands, and arms, the elbows and the head.
2. Kicking Techniques
(Keri Waza)
Kicking techniques are executed using the feet, the instep, the shin and the knee.
3. Strangling Techniques
(Shime Waza)
Strangling techniques are applied mostly to the neck and throat areas using the hands, the forearm, the shin and the legs. Strangling techniques may be applied with or without the use of clothing (e.g., jacket lapel) or implements (use of a belt or a club against the throat).
4. Throwing Techniques
(Nage Waza)
Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu is a primamrily a close quarter fighting art and as such, throws make up a large portion of the system. Throws may be executed by employing every body part with good leverage (e.g. shoulders, hips, feet, hands) from a standing or lying position. The system is made up of finger throws, wrist throws, elbow throws, hand throws, and shoulder, hip, leg and foot techniques. In this respect the system is comprehensive in its application of the principles of kuzushi (breaking of balance), tsukuri (positioning) and kake (executing technique) and a skilled exponent of the art should have little difficulty executing throws with practically every part of his/her body.
5. Joint Locking Techniques
(Kansetsu Waza)
The system permits the application of technique to every joint in the body including the fingers, neck, knee, feet and toes, among others.
6. Holding Techniques
(Osae Waza)
Holding techniques in Wa Shin Ryu may take place on the ground or standing. Holding techniques on the ground employ the principle of three point contact with the center consisting of one's hara. On the ground, holding techniques include kesa gatame, yoko shiho gatame and the like. They also include tying up techniques where the aggressor is "trapped and locked" by tori in such a way that he/she can't move his/her arms, body or legs. These techniques are sometimes combined with joint locking and strangling.
Holding techniques from standing are also known as "come-along" techniques in military or police parlance because they are often used to secure an aggressor before putting him/her under arrest. The officer may walk the aggressor to the police station or a waiting police cruiser. Such techniques often involve tying up the aggressor by employing a combination of joint locking, strangling or pressure point techniques, or by simply securing and locking the aggressor's arm, or arms behind the back or between the legs. The intent in Osae Waza is to secure and control the assailant for some other purpose. When joint locking or strangling techniques are employed in combative or self defense situations, however, the intent often is to injure or disable the assailant and prevent him from doing more harm. When these techniques are applied with this intent they are no longer considered Osae Waza.
7. Pressure Point Techniques
(Kyusho Waza)
The human body has a considerable number of weak points, or vital areas, which may be attacked by applying pressure or by striking or kicking. These include areas in the face and neck, the solar plexus, the hands, the elbows, the knees, shins, the instep and the toes among others.
The Weapons of the Body 1. Leg/Foot (Ashi waza)
Knee (hiza), Instep (haisoku), finger (yubi)
Heel (kakato), Ball of foot (chusoku)
Knife foot (sokuto), Shin (mukozune)
2. Head (
Atama waza)Forehead, side (above ears) and rear of head
3. Hand/Arm (Te Waza)
Fist (ken), Knife hand (shuto)
Base of palm (shotei), Spear hand (nukite)
Crescent hand/open hand (mikazukite)
Forearm (kote), Elbow (hiji or empi)
Hammer fist (tettsui), Reverse wrist (hand folded down)
Shin (mukozune)
Using Arm and Hand
Fist, fingers, elbow, knife edge, hammer fist, base of hand, inverted wrist, forearm, elbow
Major Kicks
front (mae geri) with ball or instep
side (yoko geri) with knife foot
round (mawashi geri) with instep (haisoku) or shin (mukozune)
high front (taka geri) with ball or heel of foot
back (ushiro geri) with knife foot
spinning side kick (kaiten yoko geri)
flying side kick with knife foot to stomach or chest (tobi yoko geri)
1. Blocks (Uke waza - also means receiving)
2. Deflections
3. Evasions
4. Joining (aiki waza)
5. Interceptions
6. Deceptions and counters
7. Advanced Responses such as sen, sen no sen and sensen no sen)
The Three Contexts of Combat in Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu
(i) front - Chikama No Waza
(ii) rear - Ushiro No Waza
(iii) side - Yoko No Waza
3. Sankyo, Ground Fighting
(Katame No Waza). Includes Zone 1 and Zone 2
Standing and ground close quarter fighting may take place in two zones. These zones are characterized by the way Tori's body parts are used for leverage in the execution of technique. Typically, Zone 1 fighting from the standing position employs the application of leverage to the opponent's joints (e.g., the wrist) using mostly one's hands or arms. Zone 2 requires the use of one's major body parts (e.g., thigh, hip, shoulder) for leverage in the execution of technique. Typically, Zone 2 techniques require Tori to apply a tighter fit against Uke's body before executing technique. The ogoshi is a fine example of Zone 2 style fighting while the Kote Gaeshi represents Zone 1 style fighting.
In ground fighting Zone 1 is typically characterized by having the defender on his/her back or side and the assailant attacking from a standing or kneeling position. The defender may attempt to defend by blocking, kicking or tripping the assailant using own legs and/ or feet or by striking with fists or elbows. In Zone 2 ground fighting both attacker and defender are on the ground, often in some form of entanglement where one's body is tighly pressed against the other's.
* Ikkyo, Nikkyo and Sankyo are paths or frameworks to the first, second and third set of principles of Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu. Each framework (or kata) prepares a student to understand and master the principles associated with Distance Fighting, Close Quarter Fighting and Ground Fighting
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