Kokyu-Dosa
(Extracted from Aikido-L)
Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2002 11:03:41 -0600
From: "Bosman, Paul J"
Subject: KOkyu dosa
Snipped from my email journal for today. This is really bugging me. We play at
a martial art, but I don't want to be responsible for breaking an uke.
Final technique was yokomen uchi iriminage. Uke attacks. Blending with the
attack (see I can learn,) as it makes contact on the forearm, nage folds at the
elbow to carry the attack across to the inside, raising the other arm to create
a barrier between the offending limb and nage's face. Nage circles the arm that
made the initial contact to attach uke's head to the opposite shoulder, steps
and pivots, then reverses direction while raising the other arm for the throw.
I think John's ukemi was up for this, but it does seem like it's hard work for
him. I mention this because of what happened next, wondering if my inner German
Shepard puppy was off the leash. (Playing with a German Shepard puppy is how
Craig explains working out with me early in our practice. The pup is just happy
to play; it is unaware that it can do German Shepard damage.)
Kokyo dosa, or like the title says KOkyo dosa. I think kokyo dosa is like a lab
experiment, so I like to play with the parameters. John was giving me
resistance as I moved into him, so I made what Craig calls a small move, I drew
him in with one hand while extending the other. Bob goes over hard. He lays
there for a few seconds (possibly an eight count.) I thought he was goofing,
making a point about pushing too hard. It didn't occur to me until after we
bowed out that he was actually out. So I asked. Yup, his head banged the mat
and stunned him. I apologized profusely, he seemed moderately OK. I did some
extra kokyo dosa with Craig. I guess I think of kokyo as a safe laboratory; how
far can you fall? I still need to be aware of uke's ukemi ability. I think
this is a growth sign. I was usually more tentative earlier, when MY ukemi was
weaker. Funny, because most of the people I was throwing could breakfall out of
shihonage. I guess I'm not the rawest beginner any!
more, and need to pay attention to the ukemi of my kohai (juniors.)
I think part of what's bothering me is whether it was me overpowering John, or
John's ukemi. (John has been out of the loop for a while, but has actually
practiced more than I have.) If it was his ukemi, how should I have known. Is
it just one of those things that happens. I am unhappy with the uncertainty;
how can I practice well and make sure I'm withing the skills of my uke.
Uke's name changed to protect his privacy. Craig is another 5th kyu I started
with last June.
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Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2002 10:05:26 -0800
From: Janet Rosen
Subject: Re: KOkyu dosa
"Bosman, Paul J" wrote:
>
> Snipped from my email journal for today. This is really bugging me. We play
at a martial art, but I don't want to be responsible for breaking an uke.
Paul:
Accidents can happen anytime; you can catch your toe in your hakama
while walking alone across the mat and break a bone on the landing.
OTOH, it is reasonable to examine one's practice and see if what
happened was preventable by a change in how you practice.
I would suggest that, however playful we are, "more force" is not the
answer to resistance even if it seems like the obvious thing to do at
the time. Try being "more slippery" or as George used to say "out soft
them."
My greater concern is whether anybody paid attention to the fact that
somebody sustained a minor head injury and did any follow up on that.
janet
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Date: Tue, 2 Apr 2002 12:13:26 -0800
From: Chuck Clark
Subject: Re: KOkyu dosa
At 11:05 AM 4/2/2002 -0700, Janet wrote:
>... "more force" is not the answer to resistance even if it seems like the
>obvious thing to do at
>the time. Try being "more slippery" or as George used to say "out soft them."
Another way to think of it is...
When you feel that you need more force (or "pain") to make the technique
work, you need to change the relationship to uke by moving your feet
therefore changing the angle. (Of course, stay connected and don't let any
"slack" to develop in the connection while you're doing this.)
Regards,
C. Clark
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Last updated on 13 Sep 2002