Here is the idea. I'm trying to get further and further away from the notion of a laundry list of techniques. The first time I tried to tackle jiyu waza with a set of techniques I could see immediately that that approach was going nowhere. Then I started looking at principles. But which ones? Pretty soon I was trying to apply a laundry list of principles, trying to stop and analyze the attack, determine the the most fitting principle in order to generate the most fitting technique. Again, much too slow and rigid to be useful. Now I am exploring the idea of congruence.
I don't have time to analyze uke's attack and select a response. Instead, when uke moves, I move. That's about as complicated a notion as I can afford. Fortunately, it just might be enough.
Uke either leads with his left or his right. Those are the only choices. I can respond by leading with either the same side or the opposite side. But those aren't really choices. Those are results. Uke moves, I move. Sometimes my movement will be to lead with same side, sometimes with the opposite.
If uke leads with his left side and I happen to lead with my left side, that is rotational congruence. If you took a picture from above and then rotated my body 180 degrees, we would match.
If uke leads with his left side and I happen to lead with my right side, that is reflective congruence. We would match the same way that a person matches their own reflection in a mirror.
Likewise, sometimes I'll intersect with the inside edge of uke's attack, sometimes with the outside edge. Again, these are results more than they are conscious choices.
Keeping it broad and simple like this means there are only four general possibilites, none planned ahead of time and all of which allow for congruence or matching. Further, at the moment of congruence and intersection, the right technique is pretty self-evident.
I'd like to think of some great and catchy terminology but for now this is what I have (along with the stylish icons) to descibe the possibilities.
Rotational Inside Match
Nage happens to match uke by leading with the same side of his body. He intersects with uke on the inside of the attack. The likely outcome might be Shomen Ate or Kokyu Nage (I wish I had a more precise name for the technique I am referring to). If that first technique doesn't do it, a likely follow on is Shiho Nage or Tembin Nage.Rotational Outside Match
Nage happens to match uke by leading with the same side of his body. He intersects with uke on the outside of the attack. The likely outcome is often Ikkyo. If Ikkyo doesn't pan out, Nikyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo, Ude Garame or Tembin Nage are likely follow ons.Reflective Inside Match
Nage happens to match uke by leading with the opposite side of the body. He intersects with uke on inside of the attack. The likely outcome may be some variation of Sumi Otoshi. Failing Sumi Otoshi, Shiho Nage, Tembin Nage, or Ushiro Otoshi are often apparent.Reflective Outside Match
Nage happens to match uke by leading with the opposite side of his body. He intersects with uke on the outside of the attack. Depending on how deep he has entered, Irimi Nage, Sokumen Irimi, or Kote Gaeshi may be most obvious.I think the big thing here with this framework is that I'm reassuring my own monkey mind that uke can really come in with just about anything and it'll all work itself out just fine. What needs to be remembered though is that this isn't a structure that I impose on uke. It's not a 'plan.' Uke moves; I move. The options unfold of their own accord and technique presents itself.
