Renrakuwaza - Combinations And Integrated Attack Systems

Far too often, we teach a single set of techniques, when what we should be teaching (or if you’re a competitor, training in) is a set of combinations that all stem from a single technique. The single technique that is used as a base technique is always one of the main, power throws of Judo. Throws such as Osotogari, Uchimata, Taiotoshi, are all very suitable candidates for this type of training.

This is commonly referred to as an Integrated Attacking System I’d like to provide one example, just so you can see how it works:

We’ll start with a right-sided Osoto Gari… let’s see what a typical ‘Integrated Attack System’ might look like:

1. Uke defends by stepping back with his right leg (the attacked leg) - Tori, rather than reaping, simply places his reaping right leg so that his right foot is touching uke’s right knee, and turns into Ashi Guruma. (Some Judoka prefer a very similar Harai Goshi here)

2. Uke defends by stepping back with his left leg (the non-attacked leg), preparatory to an Osoto Gaeshi counter - Tori, instead of reaping, puts his right foot down on the ground, stepping forward, and brings his left leg across to attack uke with Nidan Kosotogake. (This isn’t really a combination - since Tori’s driver leg is rarely in the correct position for this to work… this is, rather, a feint at Osotogari, and an attack … after noting what defense uke likes to use.)

3. Uke defends by getting all his weight off his attacked leg - Tori hops into a left-sided Sasae Tsuri Komi Ashi. Another nice throw from here is a right-side Ouchigari.

4. Uke defends by attempting Tani Otoshi - Tori immediately shifts to Ouchigari, and keeps a rotation to the left, both to stop the Tani Otoshi, and to ensure he’s on top when both Judoka hit the mat. 

Do you see the difference here? Instead of teaching combinations (Renrakuwaza) in the traditional form of technique 1 - technique 2, technique 1, technique 2, and so forth…  you start with just one technique, and cover all of the common defenses - and what the attack can shift to. This is a wonderful way to bring up throws that aren’t used nearly as often, such as Nidan Kosotogake.