Tehodoki Waza 手解き技（てほどき・わざ）is a Japanese martial arts term meaning “Hand-release techniques” or “Escapes from grabs.” It appears in jūjutsu, aikidōAikidō is a Japanese martial art that blends with an opponent’s force to control and throw them without relying on strength. More, koryū bujutsu, and sometimes police taiho-jutsu. Tehodoki Waza refers specifically to techniques that remove an opponent’s grip from your wrist, arm, or clothing; use angles, structure, and body movement; avoid using brute strength; or set up entries for throws or locks. This includes escaping from: katate-tori (single wrist grab); ryōte-tori (two-hand grab); muna-dori (lapel grab); and kata-tori (shoulder grab). You will see tehodoki in aikidōAikidō is a Japanese martial art that blends with an opponent’s force to control and throw them without relying on strength. More basics; tenjin shinyo-ryū jūjutsu; yōshin-ryū, fusen-ryū, kito-ryū; iaidō paired kata (especially koryū); and modern self-defense manuals.
Examples from almost every classical jūjutsu syllabus include turning the wrist to escape a hold; sliding the hand along the attacker’s thumb line; stepping off-line to remove tension; using body rotation to break the grip (“tai-sabaki release”); and folding your elbow to slip out of a two-hand grab. Often these are pre-technique actions — they create freedom so the actual technique can begin (ikkyo, kote-gaeshi, irimi-nage, etc.).
Translation
手 (te) — hand
解き / 解く (hodoki / toku) — to untie, release, undo
技 (waza) — technique
手解き技 = “techniques for releasing the hand.”
Maybe be said simply as “tehodoki.”
Find Out More
Te Hodoki – Traditional Jujutsu – April 1, 2020 by Jose Caracena (Author), Bruce R Bethers (Author), available on Amazon
Te hodoki, hand release – Ninjutsu By Yossi Sheriff
