Poll: How important a part of aikido training is having good attacking skills?

AikiWeb Poll for the week of August 7, 2005:

How important a part of aikido training is having good attacking skills?

• I don't do aikido
• Critically important
  
• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not very important
• Not at all important
  

Here are the current results.

I voted somewhat important. If it's a question of ukes attacking full force, I think training safety should be a prime consideration, outweighing all others. Yeah, O Sensei had people come at him with live swords, but that was after he'd had one heck of a life and had developed a lot of skill. The goal should be to learn Aikido safely, not see who's tougher.

Besides which, attacks can require as much study and practice as any throw or control, so teaching good offensive structures means more work, and I'm too lazy.

Michael Gallagher wrote: I voted somewhat important. If it's a question of ukes attacking full force, I think training safety should be a prime consideration, outweighing all others. Yeah, O Sensei had people come at him with live swords, but that was after he'd had one heck of a life and had developed a lot of skill. The goal should be to learn Aikido safely, not see who's tougher. Besides which, attacks can require as much study and practice as any throw or control, so teaching good offensive structures means more work, and I'm too lazy.

Shihan Roseberry, once told my class that our techniques looked good, but asked why we were bothering with techniques when uke would never make contact.

Good attacking skills to me includes safety. You have to commit to the attack, but at a speed that tori can handle. It is, in my opinion, critically important because without a committed and appropriate attack there is no need to do techniques. After all, attacks can be strong and committed, but don't have to be full force. If uke never crosses the line that constitutes guaranteed safety for tori, why should tori move?

If you partner does not commit to an attack why perform the technique?

When my partner does not commit I stand there and look at them funny.

They then usually ask. "why are you not performing the technique."

Too which I answer. "Why are you not attacking?"

This works every time. :-)

I will not perform at any level less then I wish my partner to perform.

I think you can guess what I voted. Aikido needs both parts, uke and shite. And both parts need to strive for perfection.

just my 0.02

I voted critically important because this refers to "aikido training."

By "good attacking skills" I mean that uke can consistently knowingly repeat a given attack. In addition, uke should have the ability to vary this attack appropriately according to circumstances.

This is especially true in the standard kata-esque practice that we do most of the time, but also true at a more subtle level when learning randori or jiyuwaza.

Rob

I believe it's very important to not only have a skilled attack but also an attack with intent.

Andrew Mendes wrote: If you partner does not commit to an attack why perform the technique?

At a guess, I would say to learn the mechanics. As those become second nature, you can ramp it up.

But that's just me.