Hello!
I was wondering to what extend, an atemi is supposed to be able to knock down the opponent, og even finish him off.
I've heard, that the atemi is a way of taking the mind of the opponent. But I cannot quite understand that I am being told, that in order to give back the opponent his life, you have to have his life in your hands when making a technique?
The atemi-strikes seems to be very central to aikido along with basic moves like irimi and tenkan, så in order to train selfdefense too, I would like to get it right.
Apart from that, I also wondered how the atemi should be applied. Are the angels from where the atemi is applied not quite important, if pressure points are utilized?