Gyaku Gote
逆小手
Literally: reversed wrist
A Shorinji Kempo technique that uses a wrist lock to pull the attacker to the ground; it follows a release from a grip.
Quick Facts
⚠️ Common Mistakes
The most common mistake: as the foot steps back, the wrist position shifts and the attacker's arm straightens, so the lock stops working. The second is pulling toward oneself instead of lowering the wrist — the shoulder then does not drop and the attacker stays balanced.
💡 Key Tip
Let the attacker's shoulder drop before you start twisting it; if the shoulder does not drop, the balance is not broken.
About
Gyaku gote, literally reversed wrist, is a soft technique (juho) of Japanese Shorinji Kempo. The defender uses it when the attacker grips his wrist and pulls. He first releases the grip (kote nuki), hooks his hand (kagite), feints a strike to the eyes and latches onto the attacker's wrist. He then twists it against its natural direction and, through this pivot, unbalances the attacker so he falls. On the ground a pin, mae yubi gatame, usually follows with a strike, then the defender withdraws. Strength is not decisive. Per instructors, the attacker's shoulder must drop during the unbalancing, or the balance is not truly broken. The defender holds the wrist close to his body, lowers it instead of pulling it toward himself, and guides the attacker's elbow toward the centerline. Stepping back, he turns with his whole body so the attacker's arm does not straighten. It is practiced first from the right stance, then the left; advanced practitioners perform it as a throw in a single beat.