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Train softly until you get some muscle memory, then continue training softly 50% of the time, and training near-full-speed 50% of the time.
Although training softly is a must for getting a feeling of the energy flow, the REALITY is that a simple light sparring match against a non-Aikidoka will show you just how much speed really matters.
Hell, a coked up homeless guy can throw a punch 5 times faster than many dojo's practice shomen-uchi.
At the way things are now (for this sad state of affairs look no further than "Aiki Expo"), I think the unfortunate fact is that many high level practitioners would get stunned by the speed and intensity of a real fight with some young punk suffering from road rage, not to mention that they'll realize just how much they underestimate their opponent.
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