Ugoku ni Roku Hō

Ugoku ni Roku Hō (“The Movement of Six Directions”) has a confusing sounding name at first. In this kata, you move forward and backward, and attack to the left and right -- but to unlock the motion of your hips, you must turn clockwise and counter-clockwise -- and those are directions as well.

Ugoku ni Roku Hō is a short and straight-forward form for novice students.

Directions

1. Slide your right foot to #1 and enter a left extended cat stance, with a head-level right pressing block and a left four-fingered spearhand strike (palm facing downward).
2. Quickly rotate your hand palm-out, and grab the opponent’s lapel. Shift into a left full-side-facing with a right makkikomi-shutō uchi to #1.
3. Pull your right leg back into a left cat stance, facing #1 with right side guard to #7. (Please refer to the side kick article to see what is meant by a side guard.)
4. Enter a left walking crane stance, and setup for a makkikomi-shutō to #7. Grab the opponent’s sleeve with your left hand, and slide your right foot to #7, entering a left full-side-facing, with a right makkikomi-shutō to #7.
5. Pull your right foot in, entering a left cat stance facing #1 with a left outside shutō block, into a left grasping block.
6. Step your right foot to #8, entering a right front stance facing #1 with a right tate-shutō uchi.
7. Use the Futatsu-Mae slither to enter a right back stance facing #1, with a left downward-fist block.
8. Shift into a left front stance with a right downward backfist strike and a left rising block.
9. Without re-chambering the rising block, execute a right reverse punch to the opponent’s groin at #1.
10. Slowly, and with great tension, execute a right cross-body block with ibuki breathing. Keep your right arm inside the left.
11. Draw your left leg back into a right cat stance facing #1, your hands chambered on your hips (open hands, palm up).
12. Slide left foot to #1 and enter a right extended cat stance, with a head-level left pressing block and a right four-fingered spearhand strike (palm down).
13. Quickly rotate your hand palm-out, and grab the opponent’s lapel. Shift into a right full-side-facing with a left makikomi-shutō uchi to #1.
14. Pull your left leg back into a right cat stance, facing #1 with left side guard to #3.
15. Enter a right walking crane stance, and setup for a makikomi-shutō to #3. Grab the opponent’s sleeve with the right hand, and slide your right foot to #3, entering a right full-side-facing, with a left makikomi-shutō to #3.
16. Pull left foot into a right cat stance facing #1 with a right shutō uke, into a right grasping block.
17. Step your left foot to #8, entering a left front stance facing #1 with a left tate-shutō uchi.
18. Use the Futatsu-Mae slither to enter a left back stance facing #1, with a right downward-fist block.
19. Shift into a right front stance with a left downward backfist strike and a right rising block.
20. Without rechambering the rising block, execute a left reverse punch to the opponent’s groin at #1.
21. Slowly, and with great tension, execute a left cross-body block with ibuki breathing. Keep your left arm inside the right.
22. Draw your right leg back into a left cat stance facing #1, your hands chambered on your hips (open hands, palm up).
23. Pull your left foot up into an attention stance. Goshin-Justu Bow.

Notes

Movements 12-22 are mirror images of Movements 1-11.

The entire kata is spent facing #1.

Bunkai

An opponent attacks with a right pursuit punch from #1, but you deflect this with a pressing block, and you use your other arm to maintain control of the centerline, creating a wedge (Movement 1). Grapping their lapel, you pull the opponent into a makkiomi-shutō to their jaw or neck (Movement 2).

Another opponent approaches from #3, and in preparation, you assume a side guard (Movement 3). As they rush in to grab you, you grab their clothes, brace yourself, and pull then into a makkiomi-shutō to their jaw or neck (Movement 4).

The first opponent has survived his injuries, and attacks with a pursuit punch from #1. However, you quickly block the attack (Movement 5), grab their wrist, and counterattack with a tate-shutō to their jaw or neck (Movement 6). The opponent attacks with a right front kick, which you evade and block (Movement 7). The opponent quickly follows up with a right punch, but you stun them with a backfist to the nose and block their attack (Movement 8), before incapacitating them with a punch to the groin (Movement 9). If the opponent is allowed to naturally double-over, they will fall on top of you, compromising your balance, so you brace yourself, and brush them off to the right (Movement 10).

You pull into a cat stance, squaring yourself up and checking your balance in anticipation for new attackers (Movement 11).

Movements 12-22 explain the same bunkai, but all attacks and defenses are mirrored.