Tsuzukiwaza: A help to memorize

Tsuzukiwaza 1 to 10

• No. 1 means one hand attack, which is Katatedori.
• No. 2 means two hands attack, which is Katatedori Ryotemochi.
• No. 3 is a triangle, which is formed by the Yokomenuchi attack.
• No. 4 makes a square, which is formed by Ryokatadori. In Ryokatadori Uke’s two arms always go to Nage’s two shoulders and so they always create a square.
• No. 5 is a square plus one. The square is formed by the Seiza position by the two knees and two feet. Then one’s head is up there. In Seiza one initially does not have the intention of doing something with the hands. If one wants to work, one stands up. When one sits down, one intends to use one’s head for eating, thinking, reading, writing, etc. That is why the Seiza position is a square plus one’s head, which makes five.
• No. 6 means two hands attack to two hands and legs. So Ushirodori. In Ushirodori Uke can attack Nage’s neck, elbows, wrists, upper body, etc. with Uke’s two arms. So Uke uses two arms and Nage uses two arms and two legs to perform techniques. Uke’s attacking two hands and Nage’s two hands and legs makes total six hands and legs.
• No. 8 means two squares formed by four arms. So Ryotedori.
• No. 3, 7 and 9 are uneven numbers. No. 5 is one unity and dedicated to the sitting position. So No. 3, 7 and 9 are hitting attacks. Shomenuchi is a more complicated attack than Munetsuki. So Munetsuki is No. 7 and Shomenuchi is No. 9.
• No. 10 is the end of a set and so becomes the Many-men-attack.

Tsuzukiwaza 11 to 20

• No 11 to No 20 becomes the second set. The ways to attack run parallel to the attacks of No. 1 to No. 10.
  No. 20 Jonage is similar to No. 10 but one uses Jo instead of arms.

Tsuzukiwaza 21 to 33

• No 21 to No 33 are weapon techniques.