Wristlock

Kote-gaeshi (literally: “wrist-return”) is the basic wristlock. While most marital arts include some version of kote-gaeshi, it is generally considered to be an aikidō technique. The basic premise is grabbing the opponent’s wrist and rotating it to the outside. Once the wrist reaches the end of its range-of-motion, any further rotation create additional elbow and shoulder locks. Since kote-gaeshi is a rotational lock, the opponent cannot relieve the pressure by straightening or bending their arm. Resisting this technique causes a sprained or broken wrists, damaged elbow ligaments, and/or dislocated shoulders. Yielding to the technique is the only way to alleviate the pressure, and the opponent must spiral around their own wrist to “unwind” it -- and throw themselves in the process. The opponent should land in a side breakfall, which is an ideal setup for a shovel pin or stomp kick.

Beware that this takedown does not work on opponents with a freakishly strong grip, like a plumbers or guitarists -- and there is no way to tell if you’ve encountered such a person until this technique fails. Fortunately, a failed wristlock attempt can still disrupt your opponent’s balance, setting up opportunities to incapacitate your opponent with a series of kicks.

Like all takedowns, kote-gaeshi is a three-step process.

1. Kuzushi (destroying the balance): Kote-gaeshi is a “towards throw;” it works best when the opponent’s energy is moving towards you. As such, wristlocks are appropriate when the opponent is charging at you, pushing you, or is stunned and doubled-over following a strike to the abdomen or groin.
   
   Grab the opponent’s same-side hand, with your thumb on the back of their hand, in-line with their middle finger. Your fingers wrap around the base of the opponent’s thumb. (If you accidentally grab with your opposite-side hand, perform nikkyō instead.)
   
   [Photo of setup.]
   
   Grabbing a moving hand is difficult, so slide your hand down the opponent's forearm to their wrist. The hand's flanged shape automatically stops your sliding at the correct position. The opposite side hand can offer additional support, wrapping its fingers around your opponent’s shutō, with your thumb in-line with the opponent’s middle finger. (Thus forming a “hand-sandwich.”)
   
   
2. Tsukuri (Positioning): Pull the back of the opponent’s hand to your center, and imagine that it is welded to the knot of your belt, making you and your opponent into one continuous piece. By aligning their wrist to your centerline and to your axis or rotation, you maximize the torque imparted to the opponent’s wrist. If their wrist is above your navel, or not aligned to your centerline, then a clever opponent can counter with a kote-gaeshi of their own.
   
   Pressing against the opponent’s fingers with your opposite-side hand makes the opponent point at themselves, and compromise their balance.
   
   
3. Nage (Throwing): Step your opposite-side foot towards the opponent, and pivot around it for tenkan. Simultaneously use your opposite-side hand to push the opponent’s fingers towards a point directly behind the opponent and between their legs, “where their tail is not”.

[Video of Kote-gaeshi, fast and slow, from several angles.]

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