Grasping block

Tsukamu uke, the grasping block, is Goshin-Jutsu’s preferred method of grabbing an opponent’s wrist. While wrist grabs are not the useful by themselves, they are often a necessary step to pull opponents off-balance, or to setup joint manipulations and takedowns.

Grasping blocks usually immediately follow shutō blocks. Turn your blocking hand's palm towards the opponent’s arm. Slide your hand down the opponent’s arm until your middle finger and thumb touch, creating an Unbreakable Circle surrounding the opponent’s wrist. The flanged base of your opponent’s hand will catch your hand before it can slide off the opponent’s arm.

[photo of grasping block from the side.]

From here, the reciprocal action of your counterattack will pull the opponent off-balance, or this connection can setup joint manipulations. Please note that grasping block does not offer the deep, full-connection which optimized aikijutsu techniques require. Grasping block only creates a bare-minimum connection, which offers its own advantages:

• Grasping blocks requires less grip strength than regular grabs. This prevents forearm tension and fatigue, so grasping blocks can be maintained indefinitely without slowing down counterattacks.
• Grabbing an opponent’s wrist immobilizes their hand, but it also immobilizes your hand. When you grab someone, they are effectively grabbing you. A skilled or clever opponent can exploit a deep, full connection to counter with a reversal technique. Providing a minimum connection offers the opponent less to work with.

[video of grasping block, fast, slow, and from the side.]

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