This article will cover uchi uke in shizentai (natural stance), toes facing forward and feet approximately shoulder width apart
1. The left uchi uke blocking arms elbow is roughly a fist, to a fist and a halfs distance from the body.
2. A 90 degree bend at the blocking (left) arms elbow.
3. The fist of the blocking arm is at shoulder height, with the palm of the left fist, facing towards you, shoulders should be down and relaxed.
4. The right hikite arm, should be placed at the bottom of the ribs on the right side of the body. The palm of the fist should be facing up, with the elbow pulling down slightly, both shoulders down and relaxed. Try not to let the elbow stick out to the side, keep the elbow directly behind the fist, in a straight line.
5. Sharply extend the left arm forward, so the back of the fist is pointing up. The left fist can be open or closed, if open, be sure to stretch the fingers forward.
6. At exactly the same time you stretch the left arm forward, the right arm should come across the stomach to the top of the left hip, back of the hand facing up. Keep the right arm as close to the body as possible, throughout this movement.
7. The right blocking arm should now go out and forward, from inside the body to outside, try not to swing the right arm past the right side of the body. The blocking arm should travel around and forward! The finished arm position should be level with the side of the body, fist shoulder height and back of the fist facing away from you. The blocking part of the arm, is the back of the forearm.
8. As you execute number 7, pull the left hikite (pulling arm) strongly back. Pull the arm straight back. Be sure to keep the elbow on line with the side of the body. To make sure the elbow and fist come back in a straight line, as soon as you start the pull back, rotate the left hikite arm clockwise, so the bottom of the fist faces down. As the hikite arm reaches the side of the body, finish the rotation strongly, by rotating the forearm, so the fist finishes palm up, elbow pulling down slightly and with both shoulders square and relaxed.
Uchi Uke Top Tips
Think of the block as a strike! Imagine there is a striking pad at the finishing point of the blocking arm. Strike with an uraken (back fist) strike.
The blocking arm should travel in more of a straight line, from hip to completion and not a sweeping arc.
In the finished blocking position, make sure you can tighten all of your arm muscles properly, if you cannot, your blocking arm will be to high, to far forward, or to far to the side.
