In Aikido, yokomen uchi is a strike to the side of the head. It’s close to a round-house punch or a swing with a blunt weapon so our defence is very applicable to self-defence. One good place to move is toward the attacker with your foot just outside his, halting uke’s arm before it strikes and using you other arm to feint (atemi) to uke’s face. Then we can execute nikyo.

Aikido in Cornwall on Instagram.

Attack: Yokomen Uchi Uke attempts to strike tori’s temple with the side of the hand.
Defence: Nikyo Omote Waza Tori enters and intercepts the strike. Tori grabs uke’s wrist and elbow and turns out to lower uke’s arm to waist level. The pin is with uke’s arm vertical.