Don’t lose sight of basics: Yokomen uchi shomen iriminage ni

Continuing on from Shomen uchi shomen iriminage 2, the main difference being first point of contact. 

For aikido to be an effective martial art it requires shite to be balanced and uke to be unbalanced or lead out of balance. Yokomen uchi presents us with a more difficult issue as the attack is coming from the side. Shite has a tendency to try and block this attack. The issue then becomes that if uke is blocked, their momentum stopped what will they do next? Remaining passive and allowing shite to manoeuvre them is simply wishful thinking. If the initial attack has failed we can be certain they will follow up with another. By absorbing the attack, not repelling it we allow uke’s momentum to continue and limit their potential to attack further.

To aid in the development of this idea we often have students stand individually in kamae, raise their top arm as if intercepting the yokomen uchi strike, then reach across with their other arm, simulating the intercept. When doing this analyse your balance. If you over reach you will find your own balance affected. An unbalanced shite cannot expect to effect uke. Placing ourselves in this unbalanced position we are simply saying to uke “please do aikido to me”.

Through the practice of kamae we know where our centre line is. Either arm can come to the centre, but should not cross that centre line. As soon as we do we become unbalanced. Good aikidoka offset this issue by using their feet, changing body position so that whatever they are doing the arms are always centred and never crossing. It is for this reason that we have tai no henko 2 as a basic movement.

Maintain your balance and lead uke out of balance. This is a fundamental concept that flows through all aikido techniques. Becoming more aware of our own balance and how it can be utilised to advantage is key to continued self improvement in aiki technique.