Aglimpse into the window of no technique

so often I hear sensei speak of letting technique happen allow uke to step into the hole, concentrate on taking balance and attacking uke's center and technique will happen by it self. Well I understand these concepts completely but at sankyu I still think for the most part balance break technique which is natural and will improve with time. Wednesday I got to randori with sensei which is great I love it. So we begin and I am my usual technique oriented self and after a while I settle down and concentrate on relaxing and trying to just trying to keep getting off balance,feel for some slack recover and attack again or take ukemi. Then from out of the blue I really feel energy build and normally I get excited celebrate to soon and well you know the rest. This time I just relaxed and just followed the energy, the truly amazing part was this was setting up uke for a mae otoshi again I did not rush into it or force the technique. As I was stepping and getting ready to float ukes center I felt a little shift of energy back into me sensei's energy shifting back into me . At this time I hear him say "Ohhhh you almost got it" I hip switched and he fell into shihonage. Please do not take this as bragging as it is intended just to share. By no means do I believe I have elevated my aikido to any new level it is just for a big guy like me who is trying hard to learn small man aikido and learn feel and touch and leave behind power and strength was a momentous occasion.

Ah! I think you have just stumble onto the special hyper secretive almost occult technique, so secretive, no name was given other than being just called the What the Heck, whAT just HAPpen Technique: WHAT-HAP (TM).

Nah... these are common occurance, no bragging right allowed. Try doing that again with three or four ukes charging at you before before considering bragging rights.


Happy training Brian,

Boon.

I also am a "big man" and like you am thrilled when I escape my size and execute technique based on principles of Ki. Several great practitioners have also reminded me repeatedly that I must also accept the reality of my body and while examining "small man" Aikido (I think that's what you called it) I must ultimately perfect big man Aikido. Had O'Sensei been our size then the spirit of the art would likely be the same but there might be less koshi nages. The beauty of his art is that is one size fits all but that size is a tailor made suit unique to each practitioner.

All the best to you and hope we can swap big guy notes at some seminar.

Ed Shockley wrote: ...hope we can swap big guy notes at some seminar.

Just bend your knees.
kool!

Xu Wenfung wrote: Ah! I think you have just stumble onto the special hyper secretive almost occult technique, so secretive, no name was given other than being just called the What the Heck, whAT just HAPpen Technique: WHAT-HAP (TM). Nah... these are common occurance, no bragging right allowed. Try doing that again with three or four ukes charging at you before before considering bragging rights. Happy training Brian, Boon.

to funny but that about describes it.

Ed Shockley wrote: I also am a "big man" and like you am thrilled when I escape my size and execute technique based on principles of Ki. Several great practitioners have also reminded me repeatedly that I must also accept the reality of my body and while examining "small man" Aikido (I think that's what you called it) I must ultimately perfect big man Aikido. Had O'Sensei been our size then the spirit of the art would likely be the same but there might be less koshi nages. The beauty of his art is that is one size fits all but that size is a tailor made suit unique to each practitioner. All the best to you and hope we can swap big guy notes at some seminar.

I agree we are who we are and should use what we have to our advantage. I also agree with my sensei in that learn small man aikido because there is always someone bigger and stronger.

Same: aikido is a small world and seminars abound I imagine we will meet one day

Brian Keesler wrote: I agree we are who we are and should use what we have to our advantage. I also agree with my sensei in that learn small man aikido because there is always someone bigger and stronger. Same: aikido is a small world and seminars abound I imagine we will meet one day

Bigger would exclude you just saw your profile 6'8" got beat by 4"

The first indication that you are starting to "get it" is when your mistakes start working. You screw up and do the wrong thing, and discover that in fact you have done a perfectly valid technique, just not the one you had in mind.

Terrell Gibbs wrote: The first indication that you are starting to "get it" is when your mistakes start working. You screw up and do the wrong thing, and discover that in fact you have done a perfectly valid technique, just not the one you had in mind.

My mistakes work better than my techniques.

"There are no mistakes in Aikido." John Stevens. I won't pretend that I understand what he meant but it makes me feel much better whenever a technique morphs into something different or even something awkward.

Superb! sounds like you have a good sensei - aikido is still alive!

Ian Dodkins wrote: Superb! sounds like you have a good sensei - aikido is still alive!

Thanks, and yeah I believe I do