Tenkan

Tenkan
Step diagram of technique
Technique name
Rōmaji	Tenkan
Japanese	転換
English	convert / divert

Tenkan (転換, lit. convert or divert) is the Japanese name of a movement practiced in several martial arts. It is a 180 degree pivot to one's rear, on the lead foot. That is, if the left foot is forward, the pivot is clockwise, and if the right foot is forward, the pivot is counter-clockwise.

Judo

Tenkan is a foot move used in judo.

Aikido

Tenkan is a very common foot move in aikido. Strategically, tenkan is most often used to place tori back-to-back with uke. A few attacks - techniques that commonly begin by executing tenkan include: shōmen'uchi - kaitennage; katate-dori - shihōnage; and morote-dori - kokyūnage.

Some styles of aikido practice six basic ashi sabaki (stepping/footwork) movements, of which tenkan is one.

Those six basic stepping techniques are:

• Tsugi-ashi (shuffle step)
• Ayumi-ashi (crossing step)
• Kaiten (hip shift to avoid attack)
• Tenshin (step and pivot to avoid attack)
• Tenkan (180 degree pivot to avoid attack)
• Ude-furi (spin step)

See also

• Aiki
• Irimi
• Uke
• Tori
• Throw