ukemi of atemi

[Please visit our sponsor:]

[Paula Lydon]

~~Yes, I know that title sounds silly, but I'm attempting to refer to giving proper ukemi when asked to use atemi to help nage learn viable movement when dealing with strikes. I've thought about atemi much over the years, moreso of late, and still arrive at the beliefe that a system that teaches responses to strikes must also teach its students the proper mechanics/function/tools and intent of striking/kicking. Otherwise both time and energy is wasted on unrealistic training regards timing, distance, perception and interpretation. 'Hard wiring'. I know that many folks outside of Aikido consider shomen, yokomen and munetsuki to be ineffective show movements. They can be taught as appropriate strikes but often don't seem to be. If only two elements were added to these strikes--proper intention and retraction--training would, I believe, be altered and substantialy elevated. I'm certain there are Aikido dojo out there who pursue this type of trainging, I just haven't come across one as yet. When I do find random people to train with like this it invaribly turns out that, like myself, they have come to Aikido from another martial background.

I am not advocating compititon, injury or aggression; understanding both sides of proper atemi can move a person past delusion, denial and fear. It is a useful tool.

Thanks for listening. I'll probably shut up now for another year :D

[aikidoc]

I see three kinds of ukemi in response to atemi waza: blocking, leaving no openings and avoidance.
Staying connected to avoid creating openings or positioning onself to protect against atemi. Blocking is key. I train my students to block and be ready to block anything (I like atemi-they get conditioned after a while). With proper connection, uke should also be able to move out of the way if in proper position.

[takusan]

Great point / question Paula.
Totally in agreement with your perspective.

This may be why there is some justified criticism of aikido's effectiveness.

Weak attacks = weak defense.

In my club, the uke are instructed (upon request) to have a full blooded attempt at striking me. Its an insult to me, for them to be half arsed about the attack. Besides, I believe it to be safer if they are really committed anyway.

This then encourages me no end, to get the technique right.

Now heres where a think some go wrong. There is generally a theme that we should 'blend' with the attacker. NEVER - at all cost confront or conflict with the attack(er).

That fine for most techniques / movements.
Doing the exact opposite can be VERY effective.

Example, - really strong yokomen uchi. :grr:

Instead of moving away and blending, enter in ever so slightly earlier and execute a defense almost the same as the yokomen attack.
What we fine is a well timed and positioned defense / come attack, beats uke to the strong - balanced posture that they thought they were going to have.

Result, - :)
the strong atemi of tori, upsets and generally 'throws' uke before they are at their focus point, making the counter atemi a very powerful and effective movement.

No - we don't normally make percussive contact with uke, as they are 'taken' well before that situation actually occurs. In this case, no pain - is gain.

Outcome - :cool:
you develop a sense of calmness that I find difficult to achieve any other way. Personally, I feel calmed, peaceful, and importantly, unthreatened. Additionally, there is usually a sense of having alot of time to do this action. A nice bonus.

Is this a result of the efficiency of the movement. Not sure.
OR could it be that the whole movement creates within you a martial spirit? Live or die? Win or lose?

I would like to vote for the latter. This way, I can take that spirit and use it else where while training / living.

Others may find their source of spirit in a different way, but finding it is what is important.

Nothing new for most aikidoka here, but by the sound of some threads in the forum, maybe it is. :rolleyes: