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I got partnered with the Biggest guy in aikido class last night. He's a big German guy I think and easily the biggest guy literally in class. I'm not the smallest but I'm one of the smallest women in class and probably only weigh 1/4 what this guy does. He's well over six feet and very broad and strong. I can't imagine why anyone would ever want to attack him . His wrists are so large it's very hard for me to keep a hold on them. Sensei came around to tell me to hold harder....I try!!! I did get the hang of holding his wrists hard later though but I have to get a *really* good grip.
We were doing kaiten techniques both from inside and outside from ushiro which i've never understood before. Last time I tried I wasn't able to figure out after the initial move out of the ushiro hold where I was supposed to cut down to execute the kaiten move. I was better today than the last time after sensei came around and said it's like ikkyo at the initial stages of cutting down. But I think somehow I never quite feel l have full control of uke. Especially if the guy is big. I somehow feel I'm too far from him when clamping down on his neck. There's too much of a gap between my centre and his. It's really my least favourite technique both as nage and uke cos I'm bad at both. At least with this guy he's more in control than the last chap I partnered so my falls are better. I go over quite naturally most times.
We also did kaiten from kata dori and the guy showed me how I must extend my arms more and make it a nice circular movement then it works far more smoothly. I think that advice applies to a lot of my techniques. I need to learn to extend my arms out further in a lot of the moves. I have an unconscious tendency not to...it helps when I partner guys as they're stronger and heavier and larger generally so that I'm forced to extend more naturally whereas with other women even when I'm not extending very much I can get them down with relatively imperfect technique.
Anyway, I think the big guy was highly amused when sensei sent me over and he had to partner this tiny woman. He was very patient and taught me. I'm always grateful to these giants...I always figure they'd be happier up against someone their own size but well, once in a while they can partner me and teach me .
01-25-2006 08:15 PM 
. His wrists are so large it's very hard for me to keep a hold on them. Sensei came around to tell me to hold harder....I try!!! I did get the hang of holding his wrists hard later though but I have to get a *really* good grip. 