Home BLOG

A teacher who values peace does not want to teach atemi.
An aggressive teacher (on the other hand) teaches atemi.
Why is this? Because there is always this fixed idea: atemi means striking, and striking means destroying others. Causing as much damage as possible. That is the problem.
To do as much damage as possible, you have to practise... (demonstrates punches and kicks).
So the best thing is just to do ‘BAM’ (use a pistol) or a bomb or even a nuclear bomb.
So logically, it’s not worth it.
That is why atemi has been a somewhat awkward position (practice) in Aikido.
It is a matter of theory, of philosophy.
The only way to practise atemi is if the aim is not to cause as much damage as possible, but to control the situation. So, in this way, you can incorporate atemi well into Aikido peacefully.
So...
There is damage done this way (demonstrates boxing), this causes damage.
But controlling the situation is this (demonstrates the proposed movement).
It might probably hurt a bit.
So when practising without touching, you do it with Ki. So... UNO...
It’s the same movement but with Ki. For not to touch, for not to hurt. ... UNO...

... without touching with this hand. ... UNO ...
(When you do this without atemi ...) you don’t know what to do when your opponent strikes.
You must use atemi to know what to do when your opponent throws a punch.
In reality, they often throw a punch. So you need to understand this.
When you do this (strikes uke’s chin with his hand). Look.
(Yoshigasaki Sensei attacks and uke simulates this situation) Here, he causes damage, clearly. I can resist, but there is damage.
OK. When he does this... (Y. turns his head) Now there is no more damage.
Just don’t do it like that, so there is no collision.
You need to know all this. (Y. throws a punch towards uke’s face, who turns his head...) Just do it like this. But even in reality, when (the punch) makes contact, it’s not a big problem. When done slowly, even if it makes contact, it doesn’t do much damage.
So you need to know all these things.
(In a situation) on the street, resist or walk away.
Your body has to decide what’s best; there’s no time to think. Do you understand? When the punch comes, resist or do this (... turn your head).
The arm too; the question is whether to use the arm or not. There are two possibilities, but which is best depends on the situation.
This cannot be solved by thinking; the body must learn this.
(Uke attacks with sakate mochi, Y. performs the technique) All uke has to do is this (turns his head), and that way I haven’t done anything (haven't caused any damage).
When that happens, then I take the wrist.
When uke turns his head, it also becomes difficult to attack.
(Demonstrates the strike with the tanto by turning his head in the other direction) It’s difficult like this.
At this moment, the arm holding the tanto is weak. So it’s best to control it.
So when he does this (uke attacks and Y. enters with both arms), he turns (his head) and then it comes like this. (He takes uke to the ground and removes the tanto).