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Suri Age Tenkan
By Dr. Ivica Zravkovic

I made few drawings of one of our close range techniques. We call it "Suri Age Tenkan" (sliding, lifting and turning). Aside from this technique, we also practice other tactical solutions for close range - after doing suri age and semme te, we mostly think of "inner cut" (uchi kiri) (sometimes even called sutemi kiri, because we just sink down and cut the opponnet's "do"). Also, te osae waza (grabbing the opponent's hands) is a frequent technique. Sometimes we do ude ate (ura tsuki to his abdomen) or ashi ate (hiza geri, mikatsuki geri or mawashi geri). Generally, close range fight (short maai) is, aside from sukui kiri, my favorite part of kenjutsu kumite.

I composed my drawings into one animated GIF image.
I hope you will enjoy it. Bellow is the explanation of the whole technique.

1. Approach with ayumi ashi, and at the same time lift the opponent's sword (suri age), and pushing it toward his own forehead (semme te)
2. Put your left hand around the opponent's neck, while doing a large tenkan with your right leg, pivoting on your left foot. (At the same time, let your opponent lower your sword and thus disturb his balance)
3. Force the opponent to crouch, as when doing the preparation for irimi nage in aikido
4. After the opponent starts to rise up, you are already behind his back, controlling him with your left hand over his face (possible nekote waza - face scratching, or kubi gaeshi - neck twisting and locking)
5. Put your hamon against his neck.