Straight Kick

The straight kick is not a formal Aikido attack. Straight kicks are handled by Nage's normal Close With Partner. Nage either strikes Uke in the face or deals with Uke's defense. It is tempting to catch Uke's kicking leg and many times that is easy but a good Kuta Kick is too low to easily catch. Getting in the habit of trying to catch the kick is not good.

Example 1, Straight Kick Omote.

Movie of Straight Kick Omote.

Fig. 1 Start		Fig. 2 Kuta Punch		Fig. 3 1st Irimi Step		Fig. 4 2nd Irimi Step

1. Fig. 1 shows the start position with Uke and Nage spaced so that their outstretched lead arms do not quite touch.
2. Fig. 2 shows Nage's back foot stepping in while Nage's right hand strikes at Uke's face. Nage's left hand has come up by Nage's chest where it can be used to parry the kick or punch Uke as needed. Uke is doing a form of the Kuta Front Kick where the arm on the side of the kicking leg is down and the opposite arm is up protecting Uke's face. The protecting arm prevents Nage from actually striking Uke's face. Nage's step in is important to get Nage off of the line of attack and to jam the kick.
3. Fig. 3 shows the end of the 1st Irimi Step. Nage's right arm is sweeping Uke's left arm down and Nage's left hand is striking Uke's face. This is an applied form of Tenchi Nage.
4. Fig. 4 shows the end of the 2nd Irimi Step. Nage's 2nd Punch to Uke's face did not pull back as in a normal Kuta Punch. Nage's hand has maintained contact and Nage's hand is driving Uke's head into the mat. Nage's right arm is holding Uke up so that Uke does not get injured in the demonstration.

		5. In Fig. 5 Nage has taken a 3rd step forward as is frequently done with Irimi to generate tremendous power driving Uke into the mat.
Fig. 5 3rd Step

Example 2, Straight Kick Ura.

Movie of Straight Kick Ura.

Fig. 6 Start		Fig. 7 1st Irimi Step		Fig. 8 2nd Irimi Step		Fig. 9 3rd Step

1. Fig. 6 shows the start position with Uke and Nage spaced so that their outstretched lead arms do not quite touch.
2. Fig. 7 shows Nage's front foot moving in for the 1st Irimi Step while Nage's left hand strikes at Uke's face. Uke is doing a form of the Kuta Front Kick where the arm on the side of the kicking leg is down and the opposite arm is up protecting Uke's face. The protecting arm prevents Nage from actually striking Uke's face. Nage's step in is important to get Nage off of the line of attack and to jam the kick.
3. Fig. 8 shows the end of the 2nd Irimi Step. Nage is throwing Uke with a standard Ikkyo Irimi.
4. Fig. 9 shows the end of the 3rd Irimi Step used to flatten Uke on the mat and pin Uke's arm.