The Karate Mawashi-Uke (Double circular block), originated from the Naha-Te and closely related Karate styles. I do believe it is meant to be used in short range defence. This circular block is very efficient against straight type of attacks by hands, targeting the level between the belt and the face.
My core interpretation of Mawashi-Uke: it was originally directly related to a desire to defend against someone using a double attack motion:
- Yama-tsuki (2 simultaneous punches)
- Someone trying to grapple you and throw you with both hands
- Someone trying to shove you with both hands
(regardless of the hands position: Horizontally or vertically aligned, and otherwise..).
Rika Usami – Shito-Ryu
In my interpretation of this block, the end result of applying a Mawashi-Uke is that, the attacker be the one either thrown down on the floor, or pushed away, while holding both his wrists/arms and twisting them on one another. At the very least, it allows the defender to stay close to his attacker in a position of advantage with wider counter options.
Mawashi-Uke also happens to work well as a defence when your opponent is trying to “straight-punch”/grapple/shove you with a single hand. For this reason, and because the bunkai (interpretation) are usually simpler, you can find many bunkai of Mawashi-Uke against single hand attacks, but rarely seen are bunkai against double attack motions.
There are multiple variations of the Mawashi-Uke, depending on the Karate style, sometimes executed with arms closer to the body, or with a much wider motion. You also have differences in the way the block is initiated, as well as the final position of the hands (vertically aligned like in Shito-Ryu, or wider spread like in Goju-Ryu.. etc). Beyond all these variations, I believe the general intend is the same.
Kenwa Mabuni- Shito-Ryu
Mario Higaonna – Goju-Ryu
Have you ever wondered why there are no "reverse stance" Mawashi-Uke anywhere to be found in Katas? (The motion arming is always done on the side of the back leg); I believe It is directly related to the original bunkai of an opponent attacking you with a double sgraight attack motion explained above. If you were to defend with a "reverse stance" Mawashi-Uke and throw your opponent while holding both his wrist/arms, you would increase the chances of finding yourself in an unstable position, and possibly fall with your opponent while throwing him.
I encourage all of you who are not very familiar with Mawashi-Uke, to practice, explore the bunkai with a partner, so to further understand the many options of Mawashi-Uke used against a double attack motion.
Toronto, Alpha - KarateBoost blog