"Large attacks" and Simultaneity
I posted this up on a different message board; thought I'd ask you guys as well. For context with respect to the experience level mentioned, whatever the difference may be, the style of aikido I study begins at 9th/8th kyu, so I've taken a few tests. (Might be 4th; waiting for results.)
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A couple questions, probably beyond my level, but which I am considering:
1) How does one, generally speaking, blend with very 'large area' attacks that cut through a lot of space? Maybe a large TKD crescent kick, or a kesa cut. I've considered the move back/move forward 'wave' motion, but wonder if there's a better way. I have often heard that with a large, circular attack, it is best to make a "counter-spiral" and blend into the space around which the attack moves...get inside the circe, as it were. This seems very hard to do in practice, and seems to invite further strikes. I guess if you entered really ferociously and broke uke's balance right off the bat, it'd work...
Stopping before it starts (as with many yokomenuchi techniques) could do it, I guess, but that seems to require a very fine sensitivity to the other person's movement. (Either "predicting" it in time to register it as a 'big attack' that needs to be stopped quickly, or knowing the movement's "pattern" so as to determine when exactly it's "weak".)
2) One thing I've been considering lately is the idea of replacing "attack-->blend-->technique" with a more "attack and blend --> technique" feel. That is, rather than having a gap between seeing the attack, moving to evade, catching or whatever, applying a technique, making it more "one-step". This is a very mental thing, it would seem. Any exercises? Particular techniques?
And now to go to sleep, so I can get up tomorrow and work on ikkajo. ^_- I know, kihon, kihon...especially for a 5th kyu. Still, I believe in starting to work advanced principles out in the back of my mind well before I "arrive" at them.
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