Jim Ellison (from Spiritual Gravity blog)
Ju Nana Hon Kata – also known as “The 17” is one of the first katas we learn in our aikido curriculum. This video series will demonstrate each of the moves in ‘The 17’, the way they are taught in our dojo.
Please note that these techniques involve some amount of falling. If you haven’t been trained on how to fall safely and properly, please practice these moves with extreme caution. Like any martial arts training, it’s possible for either partner to be thrown off-balance unexpectedly. Being able to fall safely can help prevent injuries.
The first kata in this series is called shomenate. It is a frontal head strike. The move itself appears to be simple, but it results in one of the most powerful throws in aikido. There are a lot of subtleties in shomenate. The defender begins in a non-desirable position (on the inside of the attackers arm). From here, tori must be able to control the situation safely, resulting in a throw that effectively ends the attack. While it is considered a beginner’s move, shomenate is actually very complex from a technical standpoint.