Today, we will go over a few variations of one side grips.
Lets start with the standard Middle One Side Grip:
This grip is applied from Kenka yotsu, where the attacker grips the opponent’s rear arm with his rear hand and grips his same side lapel with his front hand.
By extending his arms, tori controls the distance.
Circling on his right, he could force uke to expose his left side and using foot work and momentum, tori attacks diagonally with big turning, reaping or tripping throws, such as osotogari, ipponseoi, kosotogari, kouchigari and etc.
All attacks are targeting the rear leg of uke, which could be combined with ipponseoi.
The position of tori’s leading arm is of great importance- he could prevent the risk of counter attacks, by pressing his left elbow against uke’s chest, that way increasing the kuzushi and forcing the weight of his opponent on his rear leg, while maintaining distance at the same time.
Another variation of this grip is the Middle Diagonal:
Here, the front hand of tori is placed on the shoulder of uke, while both players are in ai yotsu position.
Same as the previous grip, attacks are primarily targeting the left side of uke, adding easier entrance for makikomi or extra pressure to haraigoshi.
The Reversed One Side grip is applied from kenka yotsu, but this time on the close, front side of uke.
This is a grip, allowing the attacker to control the distance, while been fully aware of his opponents actions.
From this position, common attacks are turning throws, with the help of trapping the leading arm of uke, pulling it across tori’s stomach or chest, similar to 2 on 1.
Common turning throws are uchimata and taiotoshi. It could also be combined with deashibarai.
Very useful for changing levels and grabbing the legs while turning in. Tori could keep the lapel grip, while switching to high crotch, kataguruma and etc.
Another one side grip is the Reversed Diagonal:
Tori is in neutral position, staying on diagonal, gripping the far side shoulder and sleeve.
Personally favorite position, allowing variety of attacks, while blocking many of options of uke to attack or counter.
The attacks are concentrated on the uke’s right leg- plenty of kataguruma variations, with or without grabbing the leg (the mentioned in previous articles Palachinka- Pancake throw).
If the grip of the shoulder is placed on uke’s back side, there is also sasaetsurikomi variation, by blocking his leg with tori’s left knee.
Very easy to switch to normal 2 on 1, by pivoting out with the right leg, while pulling uke in front.
And the last grip for today is the Front Reversed grip, where from kenka yotsu, tori grips across the lapel with his rear hand, while his leading hand grips the front side of the belt of uke.
This is advanced position, requiring a lot of drilling with the use of front belt grips.
Tori has control of uke’s hips, which could be increased, by putting weight on the belt grip, forcing uke to balance down and backwards.
The attacker seeks big turning throws, such as uchimata or if he pulls hard, he could reach the rear leg and execute haraigoshi.
