Yokomenuchi Variations
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Yokomen·MasaKatsuAiki
Seidokan Aikido of South Carolina Chief Instructor, Doug Wedell, and Senior instructor, Paul Bradley, demonstrate defens…
Yokomen
Species横面
TraditionalTranslation: Side Face
Overview
History & Origin
Yokomen (diagonal head cut) strikes the side of the men target at approximately a 45-degree angle, making it one of the two fundamental men-uchi techniques in kendo alongside shomen. [1] The technique has roots in classical kenjutsu, where diagonal cuts were considered essential battlefield actions — a diagonal trajectory was more likely to find gaps in armour at the neck and temple than a straight vertical cut. [2] In modern kendo, yokomen is taught as a more advanced strike than shomen because it requires precise angling and footwork to deliver the cut at the correct trajectory while maintaining ki-ken-tai-ichi. [1] The All Japan Kendo Federation includes yokomen as a standard waza in its grading syllabus. [3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
Yokomen (diagonal head strike) targets the side of the head, descended from classical kenjutsu diagonal cutting technique (kesa-giri). [1]
Competition Record
Yokomen is a valid scoring technique in kendo competition, though less commonly scored than shomen due to the difficulty of demonstrating correct form on a diagonal trajectory. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Cutting, thrusting, or striking with a bladed weapon — edge alignment and trajectory determine cutting effectiveness
Joints Involved — Wrists (edge alignment and rotation), elbows (extension for thrusts, chambering for cuts), shoulders (arc of the cut), hips (power generation)
Force Vector — Varies — downward diagonal cut (kesa-giri), horizontal cut (yoko-giri), thrust (tsuki), or rising cut (kiri-age)
Weapon Mechanic — Edge alignment (hasuji) is critical — the blade must travel along its cutting plane for effective cuts
Position & Entry
From ready stance (chudan-no-kamae or equivalent) — Assume guard position, establish distance (ma-ai), execute the cut or thrust when an opening appears
From engagement distance — Use footwork to close to striking range, execute the technique with proper edge alignment (hasuji)
As counter — Wait for the opponent's attack, deflect or avoid, and counter-cut to the exposed target
Variants
Standard cut — primary cutting angle from the ready stance
Thrust (tsuki) — straight thrust targeting the throat, chest, or face
Rising cut (kiri-age) — upward diagonal cut from low to high
Diagonal cut (kesa-giri) — downward diagonal cut following the kimono line
Videos
Footwork For Yokomenuchi Shihonage
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Yokomen·MasaKatsuAiki
Instructional video with Doug Wedell, Chief Instructor of Seidokan Aikido of South Carolina, demonstrating the basic shi…
2 videos
What Instructors Say
Yokomenuchi is a diagonal overhead or side cut executed in kenjutsu and aikido contexts, requiring precise footwork and angular displacement to execute effectively. MasaKatsuAiki's instructional material emphasizes that proper footwork is fundamental to maintaining composure and fluidity when responding to yokomenuchi attacks. The instructor stresses that the defender's positioning must account for the attacker's line of force and the shikaku (dead angle) behind the opponent. Key footwork patterns involve multiple pivots—often three distinct movements (step, pivot, step, step)—to shift angles approximately 45 degrees from the initial attack vector. The distance of retreat is determined by the vigor of the incoming strike. When executing shihonage (four-direction throw) in response, the defender controls primarily the wrist and handle rather than the blade itself, using minimal rotational force and light contact to maintain complete control. Alternative responses such as koteotoshi (wrist-pin throw) require fewer footwork adjustments—essentially a single pivot motion—making it faster than tenkan (turning) techniques. Throughout execution, the defender must maintain awareness of the opponent's position relative to their own, preventing the attacker from recovering striking distance while avoiding unnecessary body rotation that compromises control.
Synthesized from 2 instructors
- MasaKatsuAiki — Yokomenuchi Variations: Video title indicates coverage of yokomenuchi technique variations; transcript content unavailable for analysis.
- MasaKatsuAiki — Footwork For Yokomenuchi Shihonage: Detailed instruction on footwork mechanics in response to yokomenuchi, including pivot patterns, angular displacement (45 degrees), distance management, and application of shihonage and koteotoshi throws with emphasis on wrist control and minimalist force application.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
9
Extreme9/10
Edged weapons cause fatal lacerations; historical battlefield mortality rates >30% (Amberger 1999)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— datotsu-bu
FIK Kendo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Yokomen (diagonal men) is a diagonal descending cut to the side of the opponent's head — typically targeting the temple area at a 45-degree angle (All Japan Kendo Federation, Japanese-English Dictionary of Kendo, 2011)
✓Yokomen attacks the side of the head: where shomen attacks the centre, yokomen attacks the left or right temple — a different target that requires different defence
✓Yokomen is the second men variation: it provides an alternative when the centre line is defended, attacking around the opponent's guard
✓The cutting path of yokomen follows a diagonal line from the raised position to the side of the head — the angle should be approximately 45 degrees
✓Yokomen is used tactically: when the opponent defends shomen effectively, yokomen attacks the exposed side
✓In kendo, yokomen is valued for its ability to teach diagonal hasuji (edge alignment) — the diagonal cut requires more precise edge control than the vertical
✓Yokomen from the left side and right side are both trained: each side has different body mechanics and tactical applications
Common Mistakes
!Cutting at too steep or too shallow an angle — yokomen should be approximately 45 degrees
!Using the same mechanics as shomen — yokomen requires adjusted hand position and hip angle for the diagonal path
!Telegraphing the yokomen — the preparation should not reveal whether shomen or yokomen will be delivered
!Not achieving proper edge alignment on the diagonal — hasuji is more challenging on diagonal cuts; extra attention is needed
!Only practising yokomen from one side — both left and right yokomen must be developed
!Using yokomen only as a fallback — it is a primary technique with specific tactical applications
!Not targeting the correct area — yokomen strikes the temple, not the top or the ear
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Ready Position — assume the guard stance appropriate for the weapon
2Distance Control — manage spacing relative to the opponent
3Execute Technique — perform the offensive or defensive action with correct form
4Return to Guard — recover to a defensive ready position
Sources & References
Primary Source
The Book of Five Rings (Miyamoto Musashi, 1645)
1BookThe Book of Five Rings (Musashi, 1645)
Alias sources — [1] Japanese Swordsmanship (Warner & Draeger, 1982) [2] Japanese Swordsmanship (Warner & Draeger, 1982) [3] Japanese Swordsmanship (Warner & Draeger, 1982)
2BookThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
Effectiveness sources — [1] All Japan Kendo Federation, Kendo Official Manual (AJKF) [2] Warner, G. & Draeger, D., Japanese Swordsmanship: Technique and Practice (Weatherhill, 1982)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Standard Terminology (武道用語)
Established Japanese martial arts naming convention — native Japanese term (和語/漢語)
4CitationThe Book of Five Rings (Musashi, 1645)
Alias sources — [1] Japanese Swordsmanship (Warner & Draeger, 1982) [2] Japanese Swordsmanship (Warner & Draeger, 1982) [3] Japanese Swordsmanship (Warner & Draeger, 1982)
5CitationThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
Effectiveness sources — [1] All Japan Kendo Federation, Kendo Official Manual (AJKF) [2] Warner, G. & Draeger, D., Japanese Swordsmanship: Technique and Practice (Weatherhill, 1982)
Community
Athletics
Requires
wrist control for edge alignment, grip endurance, footwork precision
Favours
quick wrists, strong forearms, good posture
Key muscles
forearm extensors/flexors, deltoids, core, calves
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is footwork so important when responding to yokomenuchi?
According to MasaKatsuAiki, if your footwork is wrong, it's difficult to maintain calmness and motion in your technique. Proper footwork is foundational to executing yokomenuchi responses effectively.
What footwork pattern should I use for yokomenuchi shihonage?
MasaKatsuAiki demonstrates the sequence as: step, pivot, step, step. The goal is to position yourself at the correct angle, sliding from the elbow down to the wrist at approximately 45 degrees away from the attacker's strike.
What should I focus on before executing the throw?
MasaKatsuAiki emphasizes that you should make sure you're looking in the attacker's ear before you cut and throw. This visual reference point helps you establish the correct angle and timing for your technique.
How does the Yokomen work?
Diagonal cut targeting the side of the head, angled approximately 45 degrees from vertical.
Where does the Yokomen come from?
Yokomen (diagonal head cut) strikes the side of the men target at approximately a 45-degree angle, making it one of the two fundamental men-uchi techniques in kendo alongside shomen. The technique has roots in classical kenjutsu, where diagonal cuts were considered essential battlefield actions — a diagonal trajectory was more likely to find gaps in armour at the neck and temple than a straight vertical cut.
Is the Yokomen legal in competition?
FIK Kendo: legal — Legal, valid strike requires correct form (datotsu-bu), spirit (kiai), and fo…
How dangerous is the Yokomen?
Danger rating 9/10. Extreme — edged weapons cause fatal lacerations; historical battlefield mortality rates >30% (Amberger 1999)
How do I set up the Yokomen?
The standard setup chain: Ready Position → Distance Control → Execute Technique → Return to Guard.
How do I defend against the Yokomen?
Standard counters include: Parry (Absetzen) — deflect the incoming blade with a counter-displacement / Void (Step Back) — withdraw from measure to avoid the cutting arc / Counter-Cut (Nachreisen) — strike into the opponent's opening during their attack.
What are the variants of the Yokomen?
Common variants: Standard cut (primary cutting angle from the ready stance); Thrust (tsuki) (straight thrust targeting the throat, chest, or face); Rising cut (kiri-age) (upward diagonal cut from low to high); Diagonal cut (kesa-giri) (downward diagonal cut following the kimono line).
How effective is the Yokomen in competition?
Yokomen is a valid scoring technique in kendo competition, though less commonly scored than shomen due to the difficulty of demonstrating correct form on a diagonal trajectory.
What are common mistakes when doing the Yokomen?
Top errors to watch for: Cutting at too steep or too shallow an angle — yokomen should be approximately 45 degrees / Using the same mechanics as shomen — yokomen requires adjusted hand position and hip angle for the diagonal path / Telegraphing the yokomen — the preparation should not reveal whether shomen or yokomen will be delivered / Not achieving proper edge alignment on the diagonal — hasuji is more challenging on diagonal cuts; extra attention is….
What are other names for the Yokomen?
The Yokomen is also known as Yokomen Uchi, Diagonal Head Cut, Side Men.