For those who are curious, I use the term "sokumen awase uke" differently from the standard karate use of that term.
I use it to describe the deflections discussed in my previous post relating to the variations in Sanseiru (see also the specific video below).
Usually in (shorin) karate the term is (I think erroneously) used to describe a 2 handed circular block.Consider these screen captures of Kanazawa sensei performing the block usually referred to by that name in the kata bassai dai:
Essentially it is a 2 handed block that moves up to the side of the head. Most definitions of the term focus on the "2 handed aspect, which I feel is misconceived.
"Sokumen" is, of course, the side of the head. "Awase" comes from the verb "awaseru" which, in turn, comes from the verb "au" (all of which use the same character as "ai" in "aikido" ). "Awaseru" basically means "to match up with " and "awase" is basically its noun form.
Accordingly "awase" carries the connotation of matching one's movements up with someone else's. In the case of the deflections I refer to in my video, your hand moves out to match the opponent's attack, then carry it slightly off to one side. I suppose the justification for the "standard" use of the term "sokumen awase" to refer to 2 handed blocks is because both hands match each other, but to my mind such a technique is best described in terms of "morote" (augmented) or some other reference to "double".
Certainly "awase", as a martial concept, is known to refer to "matching with an opponent" - especially in arts such as aikido.
I shall return to this topic in a little while as I have something to say in relation to an application of seiyunchin which utilises yet another version of "sokumen awase uke"... [read about it here].
Interesting. The second form, as you do it so the finishing hand comes behind the head is more to how I do the in Shisochin after the two hiki uke and hiji ate. Pressing block (nagashi uke?) and then what you call sokumon awase uke. I just call it "this way" when I teach it.
The Sanseru form as you practice it is something I use for application - my bunkai sometimes stray a long way from the base form. Though in Sanseru and in Seiunchin I tend to a more rotating movement in the palm and the hand as the attack is caught fended and controlled. Depending on which teacher I'm following on the day because I've been shown it a lot of ways.
The seiyunchin version is different in that the hand turns as it sweeps past the head, while in the sanseru version the palm stays in the same position as it intercepts and carries the attack past the head.
Accordingly, if pressed I would say there are 4 types of sokumen awase uke in goju karate:
The seiyunchin technique corresponds with internal arts deflections I have learned, while the sanseru technique seems to me to be descended from the shaolin tradition.
