atemi or fall
 

I was wondering are you more afraid of atemi or fall?

Re: atemi or fall
 

Depends what I'm falling on vs how well they can hit

Re: atemi or fall
 

Not afraid of either presently.

Coming from a bashing background I knew how to take a few.

In the beginning it felt very un-natural to take the fall.

After I recovered from a few separated ribs (always remember to exhale as you land), I learn to take ukemi pretty good.

As a big guy, my biggest fear is falling on someone.

Re: atemi or fall
 

Neither on their own is very scary. Taking a few strikes is tolerable, ukemi is easy even if you are untrained if you just move, but put the two together and then you've got my attention. A well timed atemi rapidly followed by a throw is the most confusing experience I know. When attempting to grab onto nage, he/she thrusts a hand in my face and then before I can gather myself, nage applies a kotegaeshi or kokyunage, I have no chance.

Re: atemi or fall
 

I'm afraid of falling on a hard surface, but otherwise no. As for atemi, I'm often reluctant to give them even if I know it is part of it. I keep fighting this bad habit.

Re: atemi or fall
 

For those who use atemi, is uke allowed to do a technique off of your strike?

Do you ever practice counters in this manner, or is it only a training device?

Re: atemi or fall
 

If some one can do a technique on my fist after its been through their face or my foot after its hit their testicles then more power to them, sometimes its hard enough to just block and evade a good atemi from tori, never mind thinking about countering it...

Re: atemi or fall
 

I am sure it done at higher levels than my limited experience.
Sure sounds reasonable.
Lan

Re: atemi or fall
 

The way we practice katamenuchi is one way that we practice this. After uke grabs the shoulder we go to strike uke in the face and the uke blocks the strike. When done correctly it happens in pretty quick succession and looks like uke is grabbing the shoulder and hitting the face at the same time. This is one of our test techniques for 1st kyu and up. I watched one winter camp where Yamada Sensei corrected everyone testing for doing it the second way and that they should be doing it the first, and Sunday morning's class was techniques from Katamenuchi.

I have also trained when people come around with a second strike or punch.

Re: atemi or fall
 

Fear is the killer of the mind. If you only react to what is instead of to what might be then there is already no room for being affraid anymore. Being affraid of something imho usualy means that someone is trying to predict the future. Freedom lies in the NOW

Re: atemi or fall
 

Erik, started reading Dune again?

Re: atemi or fall
 

If I have to choose I would take a fall over getting hit any day.