Ashi garami

[Daniel Ferreira]

At http://www.cam.org/~hiro/skc/english/hypertext/ashi.html I read that "Ashi (the foot) is not considered as a point area. It was considered shameful and disrespectful to try cutting here for Samurai. However, Ashi-garami (leg locking) was originally an important technique in sword fighting in olden times. Although leg locking is prohibited in Kendo officially now, Japanese police officers still learn how to use it in their Kendo training".

Does anyone know more about this technique and where I can find more about it (photos or videos would be appreciated)?

[Dan Shea]

Daniel,

Ashi garami is a common feature of pre-war style kendo, if I am not mistaken.

You can do a search for "pre-war kendo" and check out the differences.
I'd go into it here, but I don't want people to misread my statements.

Besides I've only just started studying this style of kendo recently. Alot of what I know is theory, not practice.

Sometimes I wish I could devote all my time to kendo studies, but that whole job thing kind of gets in the way. :)

[orayakab]

At http://www.cam.org/~hiro/skc/english/hypertext/ashi.html I read that "Ashi (the foot) is not considered as a point area. It was considered shameful and disrespectful to try cutting here for Samurai. However, Ashi-garami (leg locking) was originally an important technique in sword fighting in olden times. Although leg locking is prohibited in Kendo officially now, Japanese police officers still learn how to use it in their Kendo training".

Does anyone know more about this technique and where I can find more about it (photos or videos would be appreciated)?

This is the same as ashi barai or foot sweep...its similar to the de ashi barai (forward foot sweep) used in judo...

However, 99% of the public should not even attempt to use it; especially anybody who is a beginner to Kendo (i.e. 9Kyu through 2 Dan).

Orayakab, U.