Question about Mawashi

[karatechick]

Im currently learning Tensho and have a question about the two mawashi's. I have been told that in the mawashi's the top hand is "wiping the face" (palm facing towards me) and the bottom hand "wiping the blackboard" (palm facing outwards).

I was just wondering if this is the correct way to do a mawashi as it doesn't feel right.

[daizyblackbelt]

i'm going to assume that you mean a mawashi uke (as mawashi just means "round")

if you were to do a mawashi-uke that ended with the right hand on the bottom, and right foot forward, the left hand would begin facing palm in, and the right hand would begin facing palm out.

think of it as a defense against someone grabbing your left hand.

you lift it palm towards you, and scrape off/grab their hand with your right hand, and finish off with a double push away or double palm strike.

that's one interpretation, and the one that most closely matches the outward form of the move.