You may of seen this video before but I have just started realizing why it caught my eye 6 months ago. This is one of the few lessons Saito Sensei or any other instructor focuses on “What if uke freaks out?” Sure, we look at what to do if a uke resists or counters but what about the uke that is just caught off guard and reacts erratically? In this instance the aikido should be all about uke because once they get it back together they are still coming for you.
In this video uke’s hand fling up, out, back, etc and a different technique comes from each reaction. Nage (Saito Sensei) is trying to do Kokyu ho but discovers that uke’s reaction sets up a different opportunity. Another mention is the use of atemi, a strike to the face in this case; the atemi when it isn’t block doesn’t knock uke out but instead the hand opens and becomes an aikido throw.
Aikdo practice of any style is approached as the practice of “kata” or a predetermined form. Some styles of aikido focus more on blending, movement, structure, or technical distinction but in all styles you are instructed on how to do “x” technique. Ukes (the “attacker”) react in a prescribed way and advanced ukes often will catch you doing more mistakes and block the technique. The reality that is neglected and really hard to practice someone will react unpredictably when the target they are trying to hit disappears. When they freak out or are about to run into your fist can you still do aikido?
For the aikido student I will mention that this is different then standard “henka waza” which refers more to a response to a skilled blocking of a technique. It is also somewhat different then “oyo waza” which refers to applying aiki principles to create an outcome that works but really is more about making something work by pushing on through.
As I attempt to advance in my practice I realize that if I am really harmonizing with my attacker and if I am really an aikidoist that there is more than perfect technique and more than perfect “ki.” I am trying to work on responding to uke’s reaction to non-opposition with a technique in contrast to applying a technique in response to a specific attack. Often if it is a good shihonage then it stays just that but it is exciting when every once in a while something unexpected is allowed to occur.