Being and staying "connected" with Uke and the feeling and sensitivity of that training is I think a very important part of aikido. Understanding the dynamics of Uke's and your movement is excellent training. To that end I very much enjoy henkawaza (sp?), kaishiwaza(sp?) and weapons awase.
At one of the dojos that we train at we do these techniques continually to get a flow going. The exercise is not to rely on conscious thought about what technique to do, change to or counter with but just to let something happen and to "feel" your way around. Sometimes I just close my eyes, breathe normally and just do the basic movements and the techniques just "fall out" or I fall over
Too much conscious thought about what to do next leads to very tired muscles in a short time, puffing and panting and stilted movements. Whereas if you just let it happen it leads to some very interesting and movements.
Sorry Paula, that was a very long winded way of saying I agree and that its fun to do
All the best and have fun with training
