Aikido Strikes

Many aikido techniques also incorporate strikes called atemi. Atemi is an actual or feigned strike delivered to/toward an attacker for the purpose of facilitating the execution of the specific technique(s) warranted by that attack.

And, for safety's sake, atemi is often omitted during actual practice.

But, should it be?

No!

Not at Rockford Aikikai...

Because, it is important to study atemi-carefully--as both the attacker (uke) and defender (nage).

Why?

Think about it from the practical point of view.

When attacking (as uke), to be realistic you must leverage weaknesses and openings in your victim's response, and thus help that nage learn what works, and where they must move to be in a safe place.

Likewise, when training as nage you have the opportunity to help your volunteer uke realize where they must move to be in a safe place, as well as to redirect that uke's mind, in that moment, to where you must lead them to successfully execute that technique.

This is quite an opportunity-atemi, to advance the learning possible in aikido.

Reality must be confronted.

If sincerity is missing from both uke during the attack, and nage in the reaction to that attack, how can aikido truly be absorbed in a practical, feasible, useable response?