Drills or exercises for speed?

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[John Vattic]

Hi everyone!

I was wondering if anyone did anything specific in their training to work on speed? In 'Dynamic Aikido', for example, Gozo Shioda says:

"Speed must not be gauged simply in relation to the opponents capacity and certainly it is not sufficient to develop only enough to outstrip the average man - in aikido, one must continually strive to build up exceptional speed'"

We can discuss in another topic whether or not this is actually important, but just for now - what do or your dojo's do to specifically train speed? Do you think you could benefit from more?

[dps]

Give uke a bokken to do shomen uchi. Tell him/her to strike as fast as they can.

dps

[Shadowfax]

Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.

Move only as much as you need to and at the exact right time. We don't drill speed. Speed comes naturally with skill.

[gezznz]

Speed comes from moving before the attacker does. This is the basis of irimi. It comes from a lot of practice in raising your awareness, sensing their intention. Practitioners who "try" to be fast merely look rushed and end up forcing the uke. There is a natural rhythm and flow that comes from letting go of "trying."

[Walter Martindale]

Practice... and more practice... to support Gerald's comment - it's about timing more than speed. And the timing comes from deliberate practice. Deliberate practice is used in all sorts of activities - from sports to music to just about everything in which one becomes a "master" of the activity.

[dps]

It was a speed drill our sensei had us do.
You move fast avoiding a hit on the head by a bokken.

dps

[Mark Mueller]

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

[dps]

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.

Slow & smooth gets you hit with the bokken, fast & smooth the bokken missed your head.

dps

[ninjedi]

continuations

[LaurenceN]

Slow & smooth gets you hit with the bokken, fast & smooth the bokken missed your head.

dps

....move smoothly before the bokken, and you don't see the panic in the eyes and the rushed technique, but the bokken still misses your head.

Read the signs well and there is no need to rush. :D