Double Grabs 

Background: This is a set of EXERCISES, NOT TECHNIQUES, taught by Kogure Sensei when he 
was teaching in Houston at Karl Geis's school in the 70s. These were developed to teach 
the student how to use the entire body to execute the techniques, learn the off balances, 
and to learn timing. 

Principles: The "Basic" principles of Aikido with special emphasis on the following: 
1. Move the center behind the hand, NOT the hand in front of the center. This means 
move your hand and arm by moving your center. (STEP!!!) 
2. Move around Uke, DON'T pull him around you (act like flowing water) 
3. Push out shoulder level with the heel of your hand(s) keeping the hand(s) centered 
You will find it is much easier to push to an off-balance or throw than it is to pull. 
4. RELAX - when the exercises and later the techniques are done with off balance, timing, 
body alignment and with whole body movement, it feels like you have done little or 
nothing to throw Uke. 

TECHNIQUES (Only right side shown, but also do left) 
START FACING EACH OTHER, FEET PARALLEL, AND UKE GRABS TORI'S WRISTS 

1. Double push = Tore moves back and lets the arms rise (rope effect). Uke lets Tore 
raise him up on his toes (off balance). AS Uke starts to step to regain his balance, 
double push to his chest 
2. Shomen-ate = Same as 1, but AS Uke starts to step, break right hand free and 
Shomen-ate 
3. Tenchi-nage (Heaven and earth) = Push both hands out to your sides AS you turn your 
center and step left. When Uke is on one foot, step through his center with right foot. 
5. Ushiro-ate = Step to the left around Uke's hands pushing both hand out. (Remember, 
you are drawing Uke out off balance) Move around behind Uke maintaining the 
off-balance. Throw to the back 45* corner. 
6. Spinning arm bar = Same as 5 except you are moving around his arms rather than his 
center. Maintain the off balance, grab his right wrist with your right, his elbow with your 
left. Corkscrew down to an armbar. 
7. One hand Wake-gatame = Start like 1. AS Uke starts to step, push your right hand up 
and grab Uke's left wrist from underneath. Push and turn/step to the left, flow around 
Uke's arm to lock his elbow in your armpit, and pull back and out on his knuckles to 
lock. 
8. Two hand Wake-gatame = Turn/step and push your hands to the left. Grab the back of 
Uke's right wrist with your right hand. (THIS IS NOW A PIVOT POINT). Keep pushing out 
and move your center around Uke's wrist. As you move, grab Uke's wrist with your left 
hand and lock his elbow in your armpit. Push back and out on his knuckles to lock 
9. Kote-gaeshi = Turn both palms up AS you turn to the right and push out with both hands 
End with all four palm up. Feed the back of Uke's right wrist to your right palm. (THIS IS 
NOW A PIVOT POINT). Pivot left on your right foot and throw with Kote-gaeshi 
10. Shiho-nage = Turn/step and push your hands to the right. Feed Uke's right wrist to your 
right hand. Continue turning right under Uke's arm to Shiho-nage 
11. Mae otoshi = Turn/step and push your hands to the right. Feed Uke's right wrist to your 
right hand. Left hand under Uke's elbow. Step with the left foot and throw (breakfall) 
12. Sumi-otoshi = Turn/step and push your hands to the right. AS UKE STARTS TO STEP, 
pivot left, left hand grabs Uke's right wrist and right hand pushes on right elbow. Throw 
to the back left corner. (This all happens very fast so you must be sensitive and subtle 
in your off balances). 
13. Drop to back corner = Move your center forward in to Uke as you push both hands 
back behind you. Keep pushing back with your left hand as you drop to your left knee to 
45 degree back corner. Right hand pivots overhead as the left hand cartwheels through 
Uke's right ankle. 
14. O-garuma (hip ROLL) = Start as # 1. AS UKE STEPS, both hands grab Uke's wrists from 
underneath, pivot left and push out shoulder level. Move your hip in front of Uke's and 
continue the pivot rolling Uke over your hip. 

Have your partner give a little resistance later on to see if you are pushing out from 
your center, or moving your arms. You will quickly feel the difference. As you are doing 
the exercises, ask youself and your partner: 
1) Am I moving my center and arms by stepping. 
2) Am I moving around Uke, or pulling him around me. 
3) Am I always thinking push?
4) Do I have and maintain an off-balance. 
5) Is my timing right.
6) And most important, am I relaxed 
The more you work with these, the more you will realize your movements must be 
small and subtle. Like everything else, movements are large at first but as you learn to 
use your whole body, just a little goes a long way. 

Mike [Haygood]