The Better Half
I recently read an aikido blog post* which points out that good teachers tend to have good ukes. If a teacher does not have a good uke, it is very difficult to show what he can do because he can only execute his techniques to the extent that the uke is capable of handling. After all, a nage has the responsibility of protecting his partner by calibrating the power of his techniques with respect to the abilities of his uke.
To laymen, Aikido training is about performing techniques as nage. Experienced Aikido practitioners would appreciate the fact that the essence of Aikido is ukemi. And the most basic task of an uke is to deliver a good, solid attack.
A lot of people overlook the importance of being able to attack because they think "that is not Aikido". They think they only come to the dojo to learn to throw or pin people down -- the part that is done by the nage. As such, they miss out on half of their practice on the mat. This happens to be the most fundamental training for you to learn to be stable and strong, and to be able to use your body properly to deliver power.
If you cannot strike, and you are not capable of taking the fall, there is no way a nage can safely do a full blown Aikido technique on you. If he were to do so, you may not ever get up again! Therefore, if someone does not work on becoming a good attacker, he may never have the opportunity to experience a spectacular throw that they admire. Being a lousy attacker is an uke's own self-imposed obstacle to growth.
*http://tampaaikido.com/articles/what-makes-an-amazing-aikido-teacher/
To laymen, Aikido training is about performing techniques as nage. Experienced Aikido practitioners would appreciate the fact that the essence of Aikido is ukemi. And the most basic task of an uke is to deliver a good, solid attack.
A lot of people overlook the importance of being able to attack because they think "that is not Aikido". They think they only come to the dojo to learn to throw or pin people down -- the part that is done by the nage. As such, they miss out on half of their practice on the mat. This happens to be the most fundamental training for you to learn to be stable and strong, and to be able to use your body properly to deliver power.
If you cannot strike, and you are not capable of taking the fall, there is no way a nage can safely do a full blown Aikido technique on you. If he were to do so, you may not ever get up again! Therefore, if someone does not work on becoming a good attacker, he may never have the opportunity to experience a spectacular throw that they admire. Being a lousy attacker is an uke's own self-imposed obstacle to growth.
*http://tampaaikido.com/articles/what-makes-an-amazing-aikido-teacher/
Photo Credit: Hong Kong Aikido Association
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