Post by JWG on Jan 12, 2016 23:43:20 GMT
Over the years I have been asked by many students "what or who is a good uke?" and, in truth, I have dealt with a number of people that didn't quite 'get' the role of Uke within the relationship of Tori and Uke.
If you're reading this post then I will assume you've been a member of my Avon or Bega dojo for at least a few weeks or have some previous background in Aikido (or related Budo at least) so explaining at face value and for translation what Tori (also known as Nage) and Uke "are or do" isn't necessary.
So, what is a "good" uke? I could spend paragraphs explaining what I think are the desirable attributes of an Uke or indeed what kind of Uke is required for Tori to develop (and Uke for that matter).
I will elaborate later (after some other input) but for now, I shall just provide a few lines and these two quotes that stick in my mind:
One came from Steven Seagal Sensei: "Just attack. Don't think about falling; just attack".
The other from Mitsugi Saotome Sensei: "Uke provides enough resistance to challenge nage but not so much as to make execution of the technique impossible. The difference between old style Bu-jutsu and Aikido in the severity of training is like the difference between a fire that rages out of control and the fire of a forge. One destroys, distorts, and kills; the other, while equal in heat and intensity, improves raw metal, shapes it".
My personal irritations for a bad Uke are
(I) someone taking a fall before the technique is even executed. That usually indicates that they're falling, not taking ukemi after a sincere attack &
(ii) Someone who, with full knowledge of what technique is being executed and the mechanical movements and positioning required constantly moves to "block" in the hopes that they are making a point or helping Uke. This is both frustrating and demoralising to a practitioner who hasn't yet developed the confidence or technical skill to adjust or adapt. It can also be disrespectful to a teacher running a class as it does not allow a certain technique to be practised.
thoughts, questions, comments, personal experience?
