How to Mesh with Your Partner Like Gears: Aikido Tenkan-ho (Turning Method)
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
In this video, Aikido Samsungdang covers tenkanhō (転換法, turning method), a kata for learning how to connect with your partner. We have been practicing it with more focus recently, and we see it as a training method for developing musubi (結び).
Tenkanhō is also referred to as tai no henkō (体の変更) or tai no henka (体の変化).
To be honest, I did not work on tenkanhō very often in the past. However, through traveling back and forth to Japan, I came to reflect more deeply on the meaning of repeating the basics. That is why we have recently returned to this kata and are practicing it more intensively.
Students sometimes ask about the difference between self-defense techniques and aiki-based martial arts. In the dojo, I usually explain it like this: many self-defense approaches try to solve the problem by breaking the opponent’s grip, while aiki-based martial arts attempt to reorganize the relationship without breaking that grip.
People with no martial arts experience often wonder why uke does not let go of the grip while tori turns around and around in demonstrations. I explain that this is a phenomenon that occurs when tori and uke become unified (synchronized). In Japanese, this is called musubi (結び). In other words, it is training to restructure direction and center without cutting the connection.
Musubi is often translated as “tying” or “connection,” but I feel “meshing” describes it better. Tori actively creates the connection through uke’s grip, and the two must unify (synchronize) as if two gears are meshing with each other.
When distinguishing omote (表) and ura (裏) in kata, it is common to explain it based on the direction of uke’s force. For example, if uke pulls, tori enters on a front triangle for omote; if uke pushes, tori enters on a back triangle for ura. This is intuitive and reasonable. However, it is worth noting that this approach begins by giving the initiative to uke. In this video, rather than being pulled along by uke’s reaction, we focus on tori creating musubi and choosing omote or ura while maintaining the initiative.
When musubi is established, tori can maintain the initiative and choose between omote and ura.
As you will see in the video, tenkanhō is made of movements that look simple, but it is not easy when you actually do it. Through this kata, I believe tori and uke learn the following:
- Tori: aligning the body axis and frame, connecting the body axis to the center, relaxing the body, and guiding uke without breaking uke’s grip
- Uke: connecting to tori’s center through the grip, maintaining that connection, and controlling tori through it
Because tenkanhō is a training method, there are also important points and cautions that both tori and uke should follow. I hope you can apply the points shown in the video and train hard—safely, without injury, and with enjoyment.
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