Some of the most unfortunate 'aikido fail' videos feature a black belt sparring (so to speak) with another martial art, say BJJ, and requests the BJJ partner "grab my wrist" or shoulder or whatever. I note the BJJ fellow usually complies and then proceeds to trash the aikido fellow.
Pride before the fall. Too many practice without a thought to application.
The fact is aikido depends on the other's force, and one of the most difficult attacks is when one simply comes up to you slowly and then latches on with a grab. Now what. The force is just a lockdown, and it there is no force directed at you. And there you are, looking silly as someone has grabbed you, wrist or elbow or shoulder. And maybe just cussing you out to threatening you, but no force. What to do?
Of course you can counter by grabbing the wrist on the same side, drop your weight, irimi, then whatever. Except not in this day and age. If someone "only grabbed you" and you in turn hurt him (and assuming the cops show up, always bad news), then the cops are obliged to arrest someone, given the "domestic violence" laws, which require someone be arrested if there is an altercation gone physical.
These laws began to show up in the 1980s, with a view to curbing men beating up women, but lo and behold! It turns out far more often women are the ones doing the beatings! The laws feminists pushed through seemed to backfire. Amendments were effected, and now a person with bruises is assumed to be the victim, and if in doubt, arrest both parties. Well, when being assaulted today, it's a good idea to get a bruise or two, to prove you were defending yourself. Yes, that's right, take a hit.
We live in strange times. Adjust. Just grin while they have you grabbed, and take a smack, a bruise maker. Then you can get to work.
Feel Free To Email This To Three Friends.
Pride before the fall. Too many practice without a thought to application.
The fact is aikido depends on the other's force, and one of the most difficult attacks is when one simply comes up to you slowly and then latches on with a grab. Now what. The force is just a lockdown, and it there is no force directed at you. And there you are, looking silly as someone has grabbed you, wrist or elbow or shoulder. And maybe just cussing you out to threatening you, but no force. What to do?
Of course you can counter by grabbing the wrist on the same side, drop your weight, irimi, then whatever. Except not in this day and age. If someone "only grabbed you" and you in turn hurt him (and assuming the cops show up, always bad news), then the cops are obliged to arrest someone, given the "domestic violence" laws, which require someone be arrested if there is an altercation gone physical.
These laws began to show up in the 1980s, with a view to curbing men beating up women, but lo and behold! It turns out far more often women are the ones doing the beatings! The laws feminists pushed through seemed to backfire. Amendments were effected, and now a person with bruises is assumed to be the victim, and if in doubt, arrest both parties. Well, when being assaulted today, it's a good idea to get a bruise or two, to prove you were defending yourself. Yes, that's right, take a hit.
We live in strange times. Adjust. Just grin while they have you grabbed, and take a smack, a bruise maker. Then you can get to work.
Feel Free To Email This To Three Friends.
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