【AIKI Web Course Part 2】Lesson 6 – Application of AIKI Connection | BUDO JAPAN

» At the starting of AIKI Web Course

Some people may think that the AIKI Connection method, which I introduced in the previous lesson (Lesson 5), is not very practical because it involves contact with only a very light force.

However, the strength of the force that creates AIKI Connection becomes more tolerable when the opponent moves (the faster they move). In other words, you can create AIKI Connection with a moving opponent even with strong force.

I will explain this fact by using the technique 【AIKI Byobu Taoshi】

AIKI Byobu Taoshi

A and B stand face to face.

A…Defender
B…Attacker

a・B steps in with right foot to attack A by right hook punch.
b・A pulls back his left leg to become the right half stance, softly blocks B’s right hook lower arm with his left hand, and places his right hand on B’s left shoulder.
c・As it is, A creates an AIKI Connection with both hands and let him fall down his backward like a large paper screen falls by itself.

For example, when trying to fall down a large paper screen, you should never push the paper surface with force. Because if you do so, the paper on the surface will tear. So in this case, instead of pushing hard on the surface of the paper, you should apply a slight amount of force to the surface to unbalance the weight of the entire screen and cause the screen to fall over on its own. That is the point of this skill.

1 Start practice in a stationary state

First, let the opponent stand still with the right hook fully out. Position yourself so that you can create AIKI Connection by touching your opponent’s right hook lower arm and left shoulder with both hands.

2 Move arms without breaking AIKI Connection

It’s the same as the last lesson point, when you succeeded making AIKI Connection, move your hands and arms so as not to break it.

Never press hard with both hands that touch your opponent. Keeping both hands in light contact with the opponent’s body, simply turn your body without moving arms.

3 After succeeding above practices, then try in a moving situation

As explained at the beginning, the faster the opponent moves, the greater the allowable force of AIKI Connection becomes.

However, if you practice with a moving opponent from the beginning, it will be difficult to master this technique accurately.

Therefore, after you can fall down a stationary opponent with AIKI Connection, start practicing by letting him actually move. The same is true for the other method.

Summary of Lesson 6

For example, in case you try to fall down a large screen made of paper, you should never press down on the paper surface with force.

Because if you apply force, the paper will tear. So instead of pushing hard on the surface of the paper, I think you apply a little force to the surface to unbalance the weight balance of the whole screen so that it will fall down by itself.

This AIKI Connection technique is the same. Another important point is to think of the opponent as fragile and light like a paper screen, not as a hard and heavy object.