Tenkai kote hineri is the 13th technique of “The Seventeen” kata. It translates to rotating wrist twist. In this technique, tori does the balance break using the “outside butterfly” grip while evading with a sideways or “goblet” step. As the attacker turns back around, tori must do a hip switch and raises the attacker’s wrist as the attacker moves through. The wrist lock occurs at the peak of the body rise. As the arm descends, tori’s other hand can control the elbow.

Note on Tenkai Kote Hineri
This is another heavily abused technique in the aikido world. Again, the problem comes from turning it into a pain-compliance technique, rather than an off-balance technique. Most styles execute this wrist lock by twisting and stressing the flexor tendons in the wrist and fingers. They crank in and up in a way that causes pain and injury. The true power of this technique comes from the rotation of the body coupled with the asymmetrical leverage on the shoulder joint. The wrist is merely held in a position to maximize the leverage as the body turns and arm drops. This is such a powerful method that in most cases the wrist lock is completely secondary and the technique could be made just as easily while grasping the forearm. Incidentally, practitioners of the pain theory of joint locks also stand a very high chance of being countered and overpowered by anyone with a bit of strength and a high pain threshold.
-From “Aikido: Principles of Kata and Randori” by Nick Lowry Sensei

Please note that these techniques involve some amount of falling. If you haven’t been trained on how to fall safely and properly, please practice these moves with extreme caution. Like any martial arts training, it’s possible for either partner to be thrown off-balance unexpectedly. Being able to fall safely can help prevent injuries.

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