Tenkan

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 the rear, on the lead foot.^[1] That is, if the left foot is forward, the pivot is clockwise, and if the right foot is forward, the pivot is counter-clockwise.^[2]

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

Aikido

Tenkan is a very common foot move in aikido.^[3] 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)

Judo

Tenkan is a foot move used in judo.

See also

• Aiki
• Irimi
• Uke
• Tori
• Throw