Bunkai: Ananku Rear Choke Defense and Macrocosmic Orbit

In all the traditional kata in our style there are techniques which you can train as chi kung or as a combative tactic.

It is the intention of the kata design to use these as chi kung, reflected in the fact that the moves in this class of techniques are taught to be practiced in slow motion. The slow movement allows you to connect the motion of the body with a particular sequence of meridians and reservoirs – the channels and chakra – which are used in Chinese medicine theory for healing and for martial power. 

In the case of the move in Ananku shown in this video, we draw in energy through the palms and soles of the feet and through the ming men point at the small of the back, as we breath in. 

As the right arm circles down and then up and around we mentally connect the palms with the conception vessel on the front of the body as the right arm moves downward, and then connect the palms with the governing vessel on the back and over the head. We energize these center line meridians as we move the arm slowly through its full range of motion. 

The left, stationary hand is the yin hand, the moving right hand is the yang hand, completing the circuit from the beginning to the end of the move. 

As we breathe in we fill the dan tien, or the hara, the reservoir of energy in the center of the body, under the knot of the belt. We complete the circulation as the hands meet at the heart chakra. Now we have full reservoir of energy and fully energized channels. We then use that energy in the explosion of power in the kiai which follows this energy cultivation technique.

It is a macrocosmic orbit because we are using the five yin points – in the palms, arches of the feet and at the small of the back – along with our inhale, to draw in energy. This extends the energizing power of the chi kung technique throughout the body. 

As a note – the microcosmic orbit is used in to concentrate the energy cultivation in the conception vessel and governing vessel, and the reservoirs along the center line of the body. The macrocosmic orbit includes the limbs of the body. 

The same movement that functions for training the macrocosmic orbit can also be used as a defense against a rear choke. Here is the sequence for the combative application:

You are fighting one opponent who is in front of you, in this case you are stopping an incoming attack to the center line of your body, with a left shuto chudan.

A second opponent comes up behind you and attempts to apply a rear choke.

You pivot your body back toward the right, as shown in the kata, dropping your right arm between your body and the opponent’s. You come up under his left shoulder, continuing the circle with your right arm. You throw him over your hip. You can also send your arm between his legs and throw him that way.

Besides the hip throw, he might fly onto his back in front of you, or attempt to roll out. If he is in range for a knee strike you can do it, if he is range for the kick, you kick. 

Your right arm can land on top of his neck as he comes around. Your left arm is in place to apply a compression technique to his neck.

The main point of this video is how to use the circling arm technique as both a chi kung training and as a combative application. 

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Post Copyright © 2024 Jeffrey Brooks, MountainKarateNC.com, Yamabayashi Ryu, Mountain Karate, Saluda, NC

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