This page provides details on the Aikido technique Nikyo or “Second Teaching”. This is a basic wrist control technique used in self-defense. For other Aikido techniques (i.e. Aikido wrist locks, elbow locks, counters or dislocations), please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main section on Aikido Techniques.
According to the US Government’s NCBI, Nikyo “is a joint-lock technique that results in extreme pain. It allows one to control an opponent by destroying his will to continue fighting. Nikyo is accomplished by flexing and adducting an opponent’s wrist producing an instantaneous sharp pain that causes him to fall to his knees involuntarily to alleviate the pressure. The exact etiology of the pain elicited by this technique has been obscure to many practitioners. The usual explanations have been nerve compression, joint capsular stretch, tendon/muscle strain, or partial ligamentous disruption. Studies of a cadaver’s wrist have shown that Nikyo forcibly compresses the pisiform bone against the ulna, two bones that do not normally articulate. The intense pain thereby produced results from stimulation of the periosteal nerves in these bony surfaces.”.
This information is meant to supplement what is taught at Aikido schools. To properly understand these techniques, you need to learn them from a certified Aikido instructor who can give an in-depth explanation of the technique, correct your mistakes and detail how the technique should be utilized. All martial arts techniques should only be practiced under the supervision of a trained martial arts instructor in order to prevent injuries and to ensure the proper technique is utilized. In addition, all martial arts techniques and training should be used safely and responsibly.
Aikido Nikyo – Basic Tutorial
Aikido Nikyo
Reference Sources
- National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), The anatomy of Nikyo (Aikido’s second teaching), http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8284142