H. Yondan, Step 23-26, Nihou Geri, Riote Kanoha Gaeshi

[HanshiClayton]

Reference, "Riote Kanoha Gaeshi," Dennis Palumbo, Secret Nidan Techniques Of Hakkoryu Jujutsu, Paladin Press, 1988.
Also, page 82 of War Department, Basic Field Manual - Unarmed Defense for American Soldier (FM 21-150) June 30, 1942.
Also, "Twin dragons playing with a pearl," page 172 of Patrick McCarthy, The Bible of Karate Bubishi, Tuttle, 1995.

Step 23-26 of H. Yondan is the "ear grab," knee-lift, and final two knife-hand blocks of the kata.

We are usually taught that one grabs the opponent's ears or hair to pull his head down into a rising knee-lift (hiza geri). This is certainly an effective technique, present in US Army hand-to-hand combat manuals as far back as 1942. The Bubishi calls it "twin dragons playing with a pearl." We also have an opportunity to continue the lesson of riote kanoha gaeshi, and demonstrate the sixth example of nihou geri in the kata.

In step 22, you were driving the opponent backward, using riote kanoha gaeshi to implement the "wheelbarrow" come-along. We may picture this as using his body as a shield to push through a crowd.

In step 23, instead of grabbing his ears, just push his locked wrists down to force him into a bowing posture. Step 24 (kick and kiai) is the sixth example of nihou geri, the two-treasure kick. Your knee hits him in the face while your foot strikes his groin. When you turn to your left in step 25, still maintaining the wrist locks, the result is to throw the opponent on the floor by rolling him over on his back. The knife-hand block gestures twist his wrists beyond the point where he can remain on his feet.

The final step of the kata, number 26, does not appear to have any immediate purpose other than to return to the starting line. This may be an instance where it is appropriate to invoke the Last Move rule.