We asked some of our newer aikido students at the Aiki Arts Center if they had any questions about practice for the yudansha (black belts), and then we passed those questions along to the yudansha to get their answers. The result is this series of posts we call “Insights for Beginners.”
This first post in the series features answers from Niki Enriquez, who currently holds a 2nd degree black belt.
What does it feel like for you to connect with your Aikido partner?
For me, connecting with my Aikido partner is being in tune to their body, and not anticipating their movements but responding to them instead. This involves some trust; you are trusting your partner to know what they are doing (appropriate to their rank/ability), and that they will do it safely.
As nage, I don’t have to hold back when I am throwing uke, because I trust that they know how to take the fall safely. If I am overly gentle and careful with uke, my form and technique will be compromised, and uke will not get good rolling/falling practice.
As uke, I can feel confident aiming a strike that would hit nage if they didn’t move, because I trust that they will. If my strike doesn’t aim at nage, I am not giving them any energy to work with. In Aikido, many of the techniques we do rely on timing, and the energy and momentum you get from uke. If I don’t provide nage with that, I’m not providing them with the material they need to build the technique.
I also trust that nage knows when they want to throw me, and I will be connected and alert, and will wait for that moment when I feel my balance getting away from me, and do my best to fall into a roll/side fall. If I decide to do a roll/side fall when I think nage wants me to, or when I think I’m supposed to, I am taking away nage’s chance to do and feel the throw, and to notice what needs improvement.
Having connection with your Aikido partner takes an awareness of both of your bodies, and can be challenging, but I think it’s essential to the practice!
Why Aikido? Something about the art struck you in a way strong enough to keep you around all the way to a black belt (and beyond). What was it?
Aikido stuck out to me because it doesn’t rely on strength. It was the first martial art I saw using the opponent’s energy, which was a completely new concept for me. I love the physics of it, and that we use gravity and momentum to our advantage. I also think it’s really fun that we have to find the right timing, or “window” to execute many techniques. It provides a constant challenge and makes me feel like I’m playing a rhythm game.
Aikido also feels like it just fits my body frame. I’m not sure how to explain this, but for example, if martial arts were different clothes, I can wear them all comfortably, and they’re all nice, but Aikido fits me just right. Also, knowing that the founder of Aikido was about my height makes me feel I have an advantage, since it was designed to be efficient for someone my size.
What is the most important advice you would give to an Aikido practitioner who is early on their journey of practice?
Practice slowly! A lot of important bits and pieces get lost when we go fast. It’s essential to learn all the steps first. When you need to do it fast, your body will do it for you.
If you are striking at nage, really aim to go through them. Again, practice slowly! Well-aimed, super slow-motion punches give nage the motivation to move, and can be easily and safely stopped if needed.
