Josh Gold
“This stops the information feed to uke because there is no
longer tension in nage’s hand. Uke is left out of the loop…”
Aikido’s katatedori grab presents a thorny problem. I refer to the fact that uke grabs nage. As a result of this contact — uke’s hand and fingers holding nage’s wrist — an energy connection between nage and uke is created. Uke’s fingers enclose nage’s wrist and uke can feel nage’s movements through the tactile sensations he receives. This is especially the case if nage tenses in opposition to uke’s grab.
When you employ physical strength, you isolate the body parts where the muscular effort is being directed. Uke senses this through the feedback transmitted by your hand and arm, and can easily oppose you because he feels your intent. It is much more effective to conceal your intent by letting your hips power your movements. This stops the information feed to uke because there is no longer tension in nage’s hand. Uke is left out of the loop, and can no longer mount a strong opposition.
I believe the above photo of Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei from his 1938 training manual “Budo” clearly illustrates these points. Please take a close look at what is happening.
This image along with a great deal of experimentation allowed me to resolve a recurring problem I was having in executing techniques against a powerful grab. My efforts to resort to power were futile against a strong opponent. By learning to disturb uke’s balance at the moment of first contact by letting my hips, not my arm, do the work, I gradually became able to overcome this limitation in my training.
Aikido practitioners today can look in many places to find technical inspiration. Although the surviving documentation is sparse, many surprising discoveries await those who scrutinize the details of the Founder’s techniques for the tremendous insights they offer.
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Watch these videos for insights into solving the
technical problems that hold back your progress!
Antonio Aloia
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