Hanasu no kata, or “The Eight Releases” are among the first things taught to beginning students at our dojo. Each release is done on both sides: right and left. These releases focus on many of the basic principles of aikido, such as keeping unbendable arm, staying centered at all times, and utilizing same hand same foot.
About the Eight Releases
Hanasu no kata is a fundamental kata for learning evasion and kuzushi (balance breaking). This is the first exercise in which a student gets to apply aikido principles in action. The actions of this kata are practiced with uke making a same hand and foot attack to tori’s extended wrist (katate dori). Tori responds at ma-ai and simultaneously evades and takes uke off balance. As uke recovers, tori follows into a fitting position (tsukuri).
When practicing the releases, engage the wrist fully into a complete push or curl depending on which technique you are practicing. While executing the pushing techniques, tori’s arm remains unbendable and pivots at the shoulder, like a universal joint. In curling action releases, tori’s arm should become like a swinging rope. As a result, power comes from the movement of center, not the action of the arm or upper body. The kata is structured in a logical progression of repeating patterns.
Lowry, Nick. Aikido: Principles of Kata and Randori
Tips for the releases
- Same hand, same foot is used in all releases
- Work at your shoulder level
- Cock the wrist and move as soon as uke invades your space (breaks ma-ai)
- Focus on getting off the line of attack (evasion)
- Practice following uke’s off-balance
- Focus on making your movements as efficient as possible.
Releases 1-4
Release 1. Hon Soto Hanasu
Normal Outside Release
Tori begins with palm down, and as uke attacks with cross grip, tori evades with a pushing gesture to uke’s outside. Uke’s grip naturally becomes a kote mawashi.
Release 2. Hon Soto Te Osu
Normal Outside Hand Push
Tori begins with palm up, and as uke attacks with cross grip, tori evades with a downward (or turning) pushing gesture to uke’s outside. Tori continues to pivot and lets arm swing like rope to uke’s full range of motion. Uke’s grip and arm position end in an arm coil similar to udegaeshi.
Release 3. Gyaku Soto Hanasu
Reverse Outside Release
Tori begins with palm up, and as uke attacks with mirror side grip, tori evades in a pushing gesture to uke’s outside. Uke’s grip naturally becomes a kote mawashi.
Release 4. Gyaku Soto Te Osu
Reverse Outside Hand Push
Tori begins with palm down, and as uke attacks with mirror side grip, tori evades in a curling gesture to uke’s outside. Tori continues to pivot and lets arm swing like rope to uke’s full range of motion. Tori ends with palm in, and uke’s grip and arm position end in udegaeshi.
Releases 5-8
The second half of the kata are reactions from the first half. In other words, releases #1 and #5, releases #2 and #6, releases #3 and #7, releases #4 and #8 all form linked pairs of action. For example, release #5 is a viable option if release #1 fails, and so on.
Release 5. Hon Uchi Hanasu
Normal Inside Release
As in #1, tori begins with palm down, and as uke attacks with cross grip, tori evades with a pushing gesture to uke’s outside. Uke tracks to encircle tori. Tori then pivots under uke’s attacking arm. Uke’s grip and arm position naturally become kote-hineri.
Release 6. Hon Uchi Ude Hineri
Normal Inside Arm Twist
As in #2, tori begins with palm up, and as uke attacks with a cross grip, tori evades in a downward pushing gesture to uke’s inside. As uke begins to recover, tori pivots under uke’s attacking arm causing a spine lock and ending at uke’s full range of motion in a shihonage type arm coil.
Release 7. Gyaku Uchi Hanasu
Reverse Inside Release
As in #3, tori begins with palm up, and as uke attacks with mirror side grip, tori evades in a pushing gesture to uke’s outside. Uke tracks to encircle tori. Tori then pivots under uke’s attacking arm. Uke’s grip and arm position naturally become kote-hineri.
Release 8. Gyaku Uchi Hineri
Reverse Inside Arm Twist
As in #4, tori begins with palm down, and as uke attacks with a mirror grip, tori evades in a downward pushing gesture to uke’s inside. As uke begins to recover, tori pivots under uke’s attacking arm causing a spine lock and ending at uke’s full range of motion in a shihonage type arm coil.
