Asato no Eku

Masanori Uekata, samurai and bōjutsu master from Tsuken Island, was a failed contender for the crown of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and was sentenced to "sleep with the fishes" for this failure. However, the executioner failed to carry out the sentence, in admiration of his skill, and sent to to live in secret with a fisherman named Asato, to whom he taught his skill. Asato adapted these teachings for fighting on beaches with boat oars, which were codified into the kata, Asato no Eku ("Oar of Asato"). This form is alternately called Tsuken Akachu no Eku (津堅赤人之櫂之手; "The Oar of the Red Man from Tsuken") Apparently Asato was better-known by his nickname "Red Man" because his outdoor lifestyle left him perpetually sunburnt.

...or at least, that's how the story goes. Again, most kata origin stories were never recorded, or the records were destroyed.

Directions

1. Stand in an [Attention stance|attention stance], but with both feet turned out 45°, with the eku slung diagonally over your right shoulder. Bow.
2. Quickly look to #2. Step your left foot to #3, entering a deep left front stance to #2, fully-extending your right arm and holding the eku vertically.

Balance is critical.

1. Quickly look to #1. Draw your right foot up into a left cat stance facing #1 with a rising block (blade to the left).
2. Invert your cat stance, and drag your left foot along the ground, like an [Exercise kick|exercise kick] to kick into the opponent’s eyes. Simultaneously push the eku's blade forward, and pull it to your left hip, in a rowing-like motion. Set you left foot by your right foot, and step your right foot out to #8, entering a right front stance to #1 with a butt-end thrust to #1, with the eku's blade on the outside of your left arm.
3. Repeat step 3 twice.
4. Left nami ashi, setting foot down to #4, entering a right cat stance with facing #3. Invert your cat stance, and drag your left foot along the ground, like an [Exercise kick|exercise kick] to kick into the opponent’s eyes, and simultaneously perform a horizontal low-level block. Rechamber you left foot and enter a right kake dachi facing #3, and horizontal strike from the left to the opponent's floating ribs.
5. Step your left foot out to #4, entering a left front stance to #3 with a blade-end thrust to #3, with the eku on the outisde of your right arm.
6. Repeat steps _ twice.
7. Snap head to #7. Right nami ashi, setting foot down at #2, entering a left cat stance facing #3 with a rising block (blade to the left). Invert cat stance. Drag a left exercise kick along the ground, throwing sand into the opponent’s eyes, as you make a rowing motion to the left side. Upon the kick’s return, step right foot to #2, entering a right front stance to #3 with a butt-end thrust to #3, eku on the left side. Repeat this series two more times.
8. Slide right foot to #3, entering a kiba dachi facing #5, switching the grip so that the blade is near your right shoulder. Pull hands to left hip, slashing across opponent’s chest (think kesa giri). Strike opponent’s chin with butt of the handle, blade over your right shoulder. Return eku to the left hip, then step right foot out to #4, entering a right front stance facing #5 with a blade-end thrust, eku on left side.
9. Step right foot to #8, entering a deep back stance to #5, eku vertical and high in the air on your left side. Switch stances by jumping, entering a deep right front stance, flex your bicep across your chest, and let the eku rest in the crook of the elbōw, right before the blade. Then switch stances by jumping, returning to a deep back stance to #5, eku vertical and high in the air on your left side.
10. Slide right foot to #3, entering a kiba dachi facing #5 and pull hands to left hip, slashing across opponent’s chest (think kesa giri). Strike opponent’s chin with handle butt, blade over your right shoulder. Return eku to the left hip, then step right foot out to #4, entering a right front stance facing #5 with a blade-end thrust, eku on left side.

1. Pull right foot back into a left cat stance, facing #5 with a vertical block, planting the blade into the sand. Hit the back of the blade with a right front snap kick, bringing the eku to waist level, left side and throwing a cloud of sand into opponent’s eyes. Step right foot to #4, entering a right front stance to #5 with a left-side blade-end thrust.

1. Snap head to #1. Switch grips as you execute a right nami ashi, setting right down at #6, entering a right cat stance facing #1 with a rising block (blade to the right). Invert cat stance. Drag a right exercise kick along the ground, throwing sand into the opponent’s eyes, as you make a rowing motion to the right side. Upon the kick’s return, step left foot to #4, entering a right front stance to #5 with a butt-end thrust to #5, eku on the right side. Repeat this series two more times, making sure to have the blade inside the armpit on the final thrust.

1. Snap head to #1. Execute a blade-end thrust to #1, then slash blade, straight down, disarming opponent. Turn around, entering attention stance with bōth feet out 45°, eku slung over right shoulder. Bow.

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