One of the distinctive features of naihanchi is an open-handed sweeping motion to the side. In different styles you will see this done differently, sometimes as a palm-upward ridgehand, but more commonly as a thumb-upward backhand. Like all of the movements in Naihanchi, this movement is extremely general-purpose, and can be used in a lot of different situations, including...
- a flicking eye-rake or an open-handed back-knuckle strike into nerve centers
- swimming through the opponent's arms into his center
- a scooping throw, similar to aikido's gedanate
[photo courtesy of Mike Oliveri]
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Patrick Parker
