Men Uchi – Kote Gaeshi – Two-Hook Atemi Variation

Uke and Tori are in a Men Uchi contact. Tori steps to the inside, maintaining the contact point, and as he steps, delivers an atemi to Uke’s face with his other hand (now lead hand). This atemi follows a circular path, like a hook, rather than a straight punch. Following the motion of this hook, Tori performs an Enka pivot, seizes Uke’s wrist with the hand that just struck, and brings his now lead leg in line with the rear leg. From this position, Tori takes a small step forward with the outside leg and executes another Enka pivot. Using the rotation of this pivot, he delivers a second circular/hook atemi to Uke’s face, while raising the hand gripping Uke’s wrist to begin the Kote Gaeshi wrist turn. Continuing along the circular trajectory, the punching hand ends on Uke’s grabbed hand, completing the wrist turn of the Kote Gaeshi.