Kotekitae, or better living through bruising

Posted on Jun 4, 2009 in Martial Arts | 0 comments

Martial arts, as I have written about, isn’t about being a big tough guy with lots of muscle strength. At least, not the martial arts I’m learning at my dojo in Bothell. It’s about body mechanics, timing, relaxation, technique, focus, and speed. But there’s no denying that martial arts–by its very definition–involves some body part or another coming into contact with someone else’s body part (often with considerable speed and force). And where there’s body parts colliding, there can be bruising.

Sometimes, lots of bruising.

One of the exercises we perform in goju-ryu class is called kotekitae (pronounced “co-tea-kye-tay”), which roughly translates to “arm pounding.” It sounds painful and though it certainly can be—as evidenced by the photo I snapped of my forearm the day after a particularly intense bout of kotekitae—there is a point to it. What we learn by the technique is how to properly block.

When your arm rises up to meet an incoming punch, the impact is best taken not by the bone along the edges of your forearm but by the muscle along its bottom or top. Tensing the forearm at just the moment of impact helps distribute the force, too. Here’s how it works: The kotekitae exercise we practice pairs students facing each other in a low stance (to strengthen the legs), then each follows this pattern:

1. Twist the hips to the left and allow the right arm to swing out in front of the body, where it meets the partner’s right arm. The impact occurs on the top of the forearm with the hand in a fist.
2. Keep the hips 45 degrees to the left and swing the right arm up. Again, the impact occurs on the top of the forearm.
3. Remain twisted to the left while swinging the right arm down. This time the impact occurs on the bottom of the forearm.
4. Twist the hips 45 degrees to the right while swinging out with the left arm. The pattern described in 1-3 is repeated on the opposite side.

Begin slowly and focus on the placement of the strikes and the proper tensing of the muscles to absorb the impact. Once you and your partner are able to hit consistently, speed up the drill and increase the power–but never beyond the ability of the junior partner. Remember, the point isn’t to cause pain (or prove you’re tough by receiving it), but to improve your blocking ability.

There are kotekitae methods other than the one described below. A YouTube search for “kotekitae” reveals a number of rather intense variations of forearm, shoulder, hip, stomach, and thigh toughening routines. This one seemed pretty decent.

And remember, if anyone asks where the bruises came from: tell them you got them from thrashing the last guy who asked!

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