Aikido is largely about moving everything that is not pinned down. We are almost always free to move our wrist and fingers because if someone is attacking they are not likely trying to hold hands with you. Cognard Sensei demonstrates the power in our smallest parts.
When we are grabbed or frustrated or in almost any conflict the natural impulse is to send all of our energy to the spot of struggle but that is rarely the most effective use of our resources. Cognard Sensei moves everything else with amazing results. In the clip above you see the simple rotation of your fingers and wrist affecting ukes whole body through the jo.
In this clip you notice that regardless of the technique, uke is sent horizontal at about waist level. Cognard Sensei is not trying to throw uke down, he is instead expanding from his center, the most powerful section of the body. He is also not trying to take over uke’s space but is blasting into open air and uke runs into a giant exploding airbag.
The Flick of the Wrist video was not in English but there were still valuable lessons to be learned from the clip. The instructor began with showing moves with a stick object that will prevent your attacker from grabbing onto your tool. What he had done was move into the attacker and simply turned the stick that allowed the attacker to lose connection with your stick and further allowed you to protect yourself. The next valuable move showed how to move away from an attacker grabbing your wrist without the stick and how to move away without having to use you weapon. The last move showed how to move away from your attacker that is trying to take your stick, and but him in a position that is safe for both parties. Moving the stick above your head decreasing the space between you and the attacker allows you to be able to put him safely on the ground by just using his momentum and simple wrist movements on the stick.
In the NAMT 2014 video demonstration there were many techniques that were practiced and shown to the audience. There was an instructor plus three mentees that were used in the video to practice various techniques. They began with one on one combat situations where an attacker was attacking the mentor. The mentor showed how just moving your center of body could get you out of potentially dangerous situations. Sometimes moving into the attacker was what allows you to get free. Moving on after one on one scenarios the mentees began attacking in groups of two and the mentor was still able to get out of dangerous situations by simply moving his body either into the attacker or spinning alongside them. The moves were preformed so elegantly it was as if he was just flowing like water. Some of the final moves showed how the mentor was able to get out of dangerous scenarios that involved weapons. The art of aikido allows you even in these situations to remove yourself or the attacker without any kicking or punching. All parties are able to be disarmed throughput the various moves even when it was two on one situations. The art of aikido allows peace for both parties without either getting too hurt.