Today in Ramat Hasharon dojo - Hidden strikes as setups

Using strikes as a preparation to armlock is a characteristic feature of middle level kata of many Takamatsu-den Ninjutsu systems. Today we are going to venture further and train with a feature of upper level kata - The strike sets up the opponent for a predictable reaction thereby allowing an advanced joint lock or a throw.

Video of a not so obvious elbow before an O-gyaku lock