Why uke-nagashi?

[Stefan]

In kodachi ippon-me and nihon-me shidachi parries uchidachi's sword with his left or right shinogi and deflects it to the side. That is called uke-nagashi.

Why does shidachi uses this technique instead of stepping to side using nuki waza to strike uchidachi? In my oppinion this would be a bit safer, especially for one's own kodachi. Is it used to get more speed using the energy of uchidachi's strike?

I understand that uke-nagashi is used by shidachi in yohon-me because both tachi are in contact but I could not yet figure out why it is used in kodachi-no-kata. Except the circumstances that this waza should show the variety of waza one can use and that it is extremely cool.

[Halcyon]

Interesting question. Here's my theory:
If you are using a shoto, you are at a disadvantage in term of reach, so you would want to get in as close as possible to your opponent. If you start moving to the side to perform a nuki waza, you might be able to avoid the initial strike, but you may not be close enough to deliver a strike yourself. So instead, you try to get in as close as you can, and when your opponent swings, you perform ukenagashi and step in even closer to your opponent to deliver the decisive blow.

Well, that's my theory, anyway.

[Kent Enfield]

I understand that uke-nagashi is used by shidachi in yohon-me.Um, there's no ukenagashi in yonhonme.

[Stefan]

Interesting question. Here's my theory:
If you are using a shoto, you are at a disadvantage in term of reach, so you would want to get in as close as possible to your opponent. If you start moving to the side to perform a nuki waza, you might be able to avoid the initial strike, but you may not be close enough to deliver a strike yourself. So instead, you try to get in as close as you can, and when your opponent swings, you perform ukenagashi and step in even closer to your opponent to deliver the decisive blow.

Well, that's my theory, anyway.
But I think you can use the same movement and direction that is used for uke-nagashi for nuki waza. Then you'll have the correct distance, too.

[Stefan]

Um, there's no ukenagashi in yonhonme.
How is the deflecting parry then called? Or was it maki-kaeshi?

[Kent Enfield]

How is the deflecting parry then called? Or was it maki-kaeshi?Yes, it's called makigaeshi. And though in both ukenagashi and makigaeshi one is momentarily in a similar posture, the mechanics of the two techniques are substantially different.

[Charlie]

I've discussed uke-nagashi quite a bit in an iaido context and I'm still not quite sure of a few things, but a lot of people feel it's a "just in case" maneuver. That is, you're moving out of the way, ala nuki, but the uke-nagashi is behind you just in case you don't move fast enough, to deflect the blow. In addition, the blow "bounces" or activates the second part of uke-nagashi, the countering cut. As I said, I've been practicing it for some time both in kendo no kata and iaido, and I still haven't completely understood it.

[Stefan]

I've discussed uke-nagashi quite a bit in an iaido context and I'm still not quite sure of a few things, but a lot of people feel it's a "just in case" maneuver.
Thanks Charlie. I will ask some persons about the "just in case". That happened to me once when I does not concentrate on parrying uchidachi's tachi.

[Charlie]

Also, Stefan, I remember Nishiyama-sensei of Tokyo (RIP) commenting that the uke-nagashi in those kata are very active blocks, that the shinogi (side) of the blade pushes against the shinogi of the attacking blade to knock it aside. I think it's something one could spend a lot of time on trying to get just right, and feel there may be subtle differences between an iaido uke nagashi and the kodachi uke nagashi. Clear as mud, right?

[Stefan]

Clear as mud, right?
As it is mostly.