Sankyo

Sankyo is a wrist twist that in its basic form is executed from the Ikkyo position. Here Sankyo is shown from Shomen Uchi. The technique is a similar variation of Ikkyo regardless of the attack. From the Ikkyo movement it is awkward for Nage's hand at Uke's wrist to strike Uke in the head. Sankyo is a way of getting Uke's arm out of the way so that Nage's lead hand can deliver a powerful strike to Uke's head once Uke's balance is broken. Kaiten Nage serves the same function from Arm Down so Sankyo and Kaiten Nage are very similar throws.

Example 1, Sankyo Irimi.

Movie of Sankyo Irimi.

Fig. 1 Start		Fig. 2 1st Irimi Step		Fig. 3 Hand Shift		Fig. 4 2nd Irimi Step

1. Fig. 1 shows the start with Uke and Nage spaced so that their extended lead arms do not quite touch.
2. Fig. 2 shows the end of the 1st Irimi Step with Nage's lead foot. Uke is striking with a Shomen Uchi and Nage is meeting the strike in a standard Ikkyo manner.
3. In Fig. 3 Nage's left hand has shifted from Uke's upper arm to Uke's right wrist. At this point it is not important to take a Sankyo grip.
4. In Fig. 4 Nage has taken the 2nd Irimi step and is sweeping Uke in a circle around Nage and down.

   Fig. 5 Rounding Corner		Fig. 6 Strike		Fig. 7 Catch Arm		Fig. 8 Step Back

5. Fig. 5 shows Uke coming around the corner of the throw. This is the point at which Uke can most easily counter strike Nage so it is important to have Uke well under control at this point.
6. In Fig. 6 Uke has fallen and Nage's lead hand is striking Uke in the face. Nage has swept Uke's arm down and back. This movement with Nage going low usually drives Uke into the mat making getting the pin easy.
7. Fig. 7 shows Nage's lead hand grabbing Uke's upper arm to control Uke if needed.
8. In Fig. 8 Nage's left foot has stepped back as it would do in the Sankyo Irimi to flatten Uke if Uke had not gone all of the way to the floor. At this point Nage can shift to a formal Sankyo grip for a standing pin if Nage does not already have a Sankyo grip as shown in Fig. 16.

Example 2, Sankyo Tenkan.

This example is also done from Shomen Uchi but the attack is not important for the basic Sankyo.

Movie of Sankyo Tenkan.

Fig. 9 Start		Fig. 10 Ikkyo Start		Fig. 11 1st Tenkan Step		Fig. 12 2nd Tenkan Step

1. Fig. 9 shows the start with Uke and Nage spaced so that their extended lead arms do not quite touch.
2. In Fig. 10 Uke is striking with Shomen Uchi and Nage is meeting the strike as in a standard Ikkyo Tenkan.
3. Fig. 11 shows the end of the 1st Tenkan Step with Nage's back foot. At this point Nage's left hand is shifting to Uke's right wrist.
4. In Fig. 12 Nage has just taken the 2nd Tenkan step. Nage is in the Tornado Twist and squatting down. This brings Uke around Nage. In this example Nage took an extra step back between the Tenkan steps shown to get more extension of Uke.

   Fig. 13 Punch Face		Fig. 14 Take Grip		Fig. 15 Standing Pin		Fig. 16 Sankyo Grip

5. In Fig. 13 Nage has swept Uke's arm down and back bringing Uke to the ground and exposing Uke's face for the punch that Nage is delivering in this picture.
6. In Fig. 14 Nage is taking the Sankyo grip as shown in Fig. 16. From many attacks Nage would already have the Sankyo grip.
7. Fig. 15 shows Nage in a standing Pin that would be used in an applied situation. Kneeling might not be practical because of other attackers or Nage could be on a surface that would be hard on the knees. Nage's right foot has stepped back to get to the position shown. Had Uke not gone all of the way to the mat Nage would have made a step like this between Fig. 13 and Fig. 14. When doing Sankyo Irimi Nage steps toward Uke's head as shown in Fig. 8 and when doing Sankyo Tenkan Nage steps toward the legs as shown here to flatten Uke.
8. Fig. 16 shows a formal Sankyo grip.

		9. Fig. 17 shows a formal kneeling pin as demonstrated on the test. The three elements of the Aiki Pin are always used here and in the standing pin. Press down to pin the near shoulder. Move Uke's hand toward Uke's far shoulder to pin Uke's far shoulder. Twist Uke's arm to pin Uke's hips.
Fig. 17 Formal Kneeling Pin

Example 3, Sankyo Up Ura.

Movie of Sankyo Up Ura.

Fig. 18 Start With Ikkyo		Fig. 19 Take Sankyo Grip		Fig. 20 Slide In		Fig. 21 Twist

1. Fig. 18 shows the Ikkyo start position. There are other ways of getting to this position but Ikkyo is basic.
2. Fig. 19 shows Nage taking the Sankyo grip in Fig. 18 from the Ikkyo.
3. In Fig. 20 Nage's right foot has slide in close to Uke so that Nage's left arm can get under Uke's arm to support Uke. This does two things. It keeps Uke from being able to whip down Uke's right elbow and turn and strike Nage. The second thing it does is make this an Aikido technique. Usually Aikidoka twist Uke's wrist to try to force Uke to stand up. This is Ju Jutsu, not Aiki. This severely twist the wrist being very hard on practice partners and devastating in application. Aiki is the control of balance and leading. By stepping in and supporting Uke's arm Nage can lead Uke up and back without excessive wrist pressure.
4. In Fig. 21 Nage's body twist to Nage's left and moves toward Uke so that Nage lifts Uke by supporting Uke's arm and manipulating Uke's balance rather than increasing pressure on Uke's wrist.

		5. Fig. 22 shows the Finish of the Sankyo Up Ura. Nage has stayed close to Uke making a counter move difficult for Uke. This has also lifted Uke using Aiki principles of balance and not pressure on Uke's wrist.
Fig. 22 Finish

Many Nage's twist their bodies in a counterclockwise direction as seen from above forcing Uke to dance around them backwards to reduce the pain. In a real situation this will break the wrist if Uke is not familiar with the technique. This rotation will allow Uke to counter the technique if Uke is near Nage's skill level because Uke's elbow has a chance to drop. Both of these factors make this rotation undesirable.

From this Sankyo Up position many techniques are available. Sankyo Irimi and Tenkan are obvious. So is Sankyo hip throw. Several projections are available. Kokyu Nage and many other techniques are also easy. The position itself can be used as a come along.

Example 4, Sankyo Up Omote.

Movie of Sankyo Up Omote.

Fig. 23 Start		Fig. 24 Take Sankyo Grip		Fig. 25 1st Omote Step		Fig. 26 2nd Omote Step

1. Fig. 23 shows the start of the Sankyo Up Omote from the Ikkyo start position.
2. In Fig. 24 Nage takes the Sankyo grip.
3. Fig. 25 shows the 1st step in front of Uke. Notice that Nage's arm is supporting Uke's arm. Again this lifts Uke by controlling Uke's balance and not by twisting Uke's wrist. There is the basic Sankyo twist to connect to Uke but it is not used to lift. Nage's arm under Uke's arm makes an Elbow Drop Pop by Uke difficult.
4. Fig. 26 shows the 2nd Omote step with Nage going to Uke's opposite side. Notice that Uke's arm is still supported.

		5. Fig. 27 shows Uke in the Sankyo Up position ready for one of many actions as described in Sankyo Up Ura above.
Fig. 27 Finish

Example 5, Sankyo Koshi Nage.

Movie of Sankyo Koshi Nage.

Fig. 28 1st Koshi Step		Fig. 29 2nd Koshi Step		Fig. 30 Squat And Twist		Fig. 31 Uke Down

1. Fig. 28 shows Nage at the end of the 1st Koshi Step. Nage has Uke's arm in the Sankyo Up position. Uke is grabbing Nage's belt to help take the fall.
2. In Fig. 29 Nage has just taken the 2nd Koshi Step and Nage's hip is under Uke's hip.
3. Fig. 30 shows Nage squatting and twisting to throw Uke with the Koshi Nage.
4. Fig. 31 shows Uke on the ground. From this point Nage can turn over and pin Uke.

Example 6, Sankyo Koshi Nage #2.

Movie of Sankyo Koshi Nage #2.

Fig. 32 1st Koshi Step		Fig. 33 2nd Koshi Step		Fig. 34 Squat		Fig. 35 Finish

1. Fig. 32 shows the Sankyo Up position at the end of the 1st Koshi Step. Nage has just stepped in front of Uke. It is important to be moving Uke with Nage so that Uke is already losing balance.
2. In Fig 33 Nage's right foot has stepped between Uke and Nage's left leg for the 2nd Koshi step. Nage's right foot steps out well in front of Uke for this style Koshi Nage. This is not completely obvious because Nage has led Uke forward forcing Uke's right foot to step forward so that Uke can roll.
3. Fig. 34 shows Nage squatting very much as we normally squat. This forces Uke down and over Nage's hip. Nage is levering Uke's elbow to the mat forcing Uke's head toward the mat. It is critical for Uke's safety for Nage to release Uke's arm in time for Uke to roll.
4. Fig. 35 shows Uke completing the roll toward the camera.