hamni = “half body” (stance)
stances
every standard attack is executed from one of these two stances:
gyaku hanmi — mirrored stance (literally: reverse stance)
e.g. tori has their left foot forward, uke mirrors with right foot forward
ai hanmi — matched stance (literally: same stance)
e.g. tori has left foot forward, uke attacks with left foot forward
grabs
dori = grab or “control”














all grabs except #s 2 and 8-11 are gyaku hanmi
katate dori — “mirrored” wrist grab
e.g. tori offers their right hand, uke grabs it with their left hand
ai hanmi katate dori — cross hand wrist grab
e.g. tori offers their right wrist, uke grabs it with their right hand
ryote dori — double wrist grab
morote dori (a.k.a. katate ryote dori) — baseball bat grip
hiji dori — elbow grab
kata dori — shoulder grab
ryokata dori — double shoulder grab
ushiro ryote dori — double wrist grab from behind
ushiro ryohiji dori — double elbow grab from behind
ushiro ryokata dori — double shoulder grab from behind
ushiro katate dori kubishime — wrist grab + choke from behind
mune dori — one handed lapel grab
kata dori men uchi — shoulder grab + overhead strike
uchi = strike
(position at completion of strike)
strikes





note: these images are meant to be used as a reference of where to aim the strikes and which foot to have forward upon completion of strike. These are not necessarily examples of correct angles and distances
shomen uchi — over head strike (ai hanmi)
start in ai hanmi: uke lunges in with lead foot to strikes with lead hand blade
yokomen uchi - side of head strike (gyaku hanmi)
start in gyaku hanmi: uke lunges in with lead foot to strike with lead hand blade
chudan tsuki - middle punch (gyaku hanmi)
start in ai hanmi: uke lunges in with rear foot to strike with rear fist
jodan tsuki - high punch (ai hanmi)
start in gyaku hamni: uke lunges in with rear foot to strike with rear fist
kata dori men uchi - shoulder grab + overhead strike (gyaku hanmi)
start in gyaku hamni: uke grabs tori’s lead shoulder with their lead hand, and strikes with rear hand blade