It's A Lot Like Playing Chess!

I was watching a pair of students practice.

One of them seems to have more trouble than the other although he is the more experienced student with better skills.  It looks like he is so grabby with his partner.  It seems a little out of character for him.  On closer examination, I realize that the issue does not lie with him.

To start, his partner does not really give him any attack or momentum to work with.  In addition, the moment this student tries to do his technique, his partner disengages.  The only way the nage can continue with the technique is to hold onto the uke and make him move along.

I intervene and appeal to the uke that, if he really wants to be a friend to help his partner improve, he needs to deliver a solid attack.  "Just in case he does not move out of the way in time, stop and don't damage him.  He has practiced for long enough and should be able to handle it," I assured him.

This time around, the uke does give a stronger hit, but then, as soon as the nage responses, the uke twists and wrestles around with the nage, resisting to no end!

Argh!!!

Alan Ruddock Sensei says, in his book, that Aikido is all about blending.  You move along with your partner as if you were his shadow.  There is no place for resistance in Aikido.  The nage blends with the uke's attack, and then the uke blends with the nage's technique.  The interaction just goes on back and forth.  There is no beginning and there is no end.  

To attack does not mean you resist every move of your partner.  Resistance and attack are two very different things.

Here is one metaphor I would like to offer:

Imagine we are playing chess; the two sides are at war and we are trying to get at each other.  When I make a move you do not like, you cannot push my piece away and refuse to let me set it down.  You have to accept this is my play.  The only thing you can do is to work on your response.

You should do the same during Aikido practice.  Your partner moves his body a certain way, you adjust and figure out what your response is by moving your body to a different position.  Resisting or stopping his movements does not help improving your situation.  As a matter of fact, it leaves you so wide open that if this were a real life situation, you would not survive.  But, I guess if you are someone who resists and wrestles, you probably are not aware of how vulnerable you are.

The silver lining of this is: You must have been very lucky to be in the company of very kind people. Not only do they not point out the flaws of your actions, but they have also been protecting you the entire time.  Lucky you!