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We hope You are well and having a successful day... here is Your latest Harmony of Mind-Body-Spirit Newsletter from the Aikido Health Centre.

Your Unique Journey continues with our NEW Series... 'Aikido Ukemi - Giving and Receiving'... tune in to Universal Energy - see below...

Read on... for our Words of Wisdom, World Community News, and Feature Article. The back issues & unsubscribe links are at the end of the Ezine.

Next month's article is titled 'Receiving Aikido Techniques' Learn how to truly attack your training partner without ego... Stay Tuned!

Peace and Harmony

Tony

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For example in aikido and judo, uke initiates an attack against his nage/tori (training partner) who then defends.

In the early stages of training in traditional jujutsu, the primary function of the junior student is to be uke. Although, in weapons based arts, uke is most often the teacher with the student attacking.

The action of an uke in Aikido is called 'taking ukemi', which is the art of knowing how to respond correctly to an attack and safely.

These skills can include moves similar to tumbling and are often used as an exercise in itself. In aikido and judo training for instance, many classes begin with ukemi training as conditioning. These include...

1. Zempo Ukemi, a forward roll, like a ball, ending on the feet, ready.

2. Zempo Hyaku Ukemi, a forward breakfall, usually higher and further, using the arm to protect the body on landing, ending on the feet.

3. Koho Ukemi, a backward half roll, returning to the feet, like a pendulum.

4. Koho kaiten Ukemi... a backward roll, ending on the feet.

These are the basic methods used by Aikido Uke to protect themselves when they are thrown. Of course there are many variations, depending on the angle and power used by the nage/tori (defender).

An essential ingredient of ukemi is awareness. The uke is able, with experience, to respond quickly to any action. Truly graceful ukemi comes from serious training with harmony and balance between partners.

Taking ukemi is far more than falling down, how to fall down, and about being thrown. It is also about physical and energy connection, intention to attack and continuation of that attack.

It is about looking for an opening to take back control after you have been unbalanced, and continuing the attack while keeping yourself safe. It's about constant awareness of all that is around you.

This awareness and connection with your surrounding environment is often missing in practice. It is far more important to focus your attention on your training partner, than to look cool and flashy, which is ego.

In Aikido practise both Uke and Nage are always attacking each other's centre of gravity. Both must keep themselves safe, and find a way to take the other's balance, to keep the connection.

How should the receiver of a technique react? Taken too far one way, uke flinches from every strike and rolls at the first sign of a throw. Too far the other way and nage/tori is left with the choice of either doing it for real by breaking joints and noses, or walking away shrugging.

When a new student is first learning a technique, their partner may need to perform their side of the technique regardless of its effectiveness. Alternatively, uke may need to resist a technique; perhaps to demonstrate a weakness in the technique, or perhaps to discover for themselves whether or not the technique is effective.

The preference is for an active uke, who is pushing the boundaries of the technique for weaknesses but acknowledging the actions of nage/tori. If uke is sufficiently responsive it is possible for tori to perform techniques with commitment and integrity whilst uke survives to return another day.

Tori and uke form a partnership, both seeking to perform a martial art. There is a need for a communication between the two in order to agree the manner in which to perform. How do you achieve that communication?

There's no substitute for mat time, but not just passively performing techniques. If you find that you are being thrown easily, question it. Try staying on your feet, moving beyond tori or just plain resisting.

Does the technique still work? Constantly challenging your partner during training can sometimes hurt, but at the end of it you will know what works and what doesn't.

Are you the uke that no one can throw? Are you failing to be honest with your partner? Are you ignoring his potential control or attacking with a punch that never covers more than half the distance between you?

Find a partner you trust. You are going to hurt each other, you need to both feel confident in the other. Work through some of the basic techniques with full commitment from both sides.

Find out what works and what doesn't. Once you've experienced and understood a committed technique, bring that feeling into your training when techniques are being performed at a lower intensity.

And above all, dont't forget to enjoy your training and smile!

Good Ukemi is moving through a technique looking for an opportunity to educate your opponent/partner. This raises both skill levels.

Ukemi may be described as the art of receiving a technique, and the practice involves rolls and other breakfalls. Here are a few reasons why we practice ukemi in Aikido, and why it is so important...

1. To stay safe, not only to avoid injury in the confrontation, but to be aware of what is going on throughout the whole encounter to be able to find and respond to openings and, perhaps, to escape.

2. To experience the throw. Part of the learning process must be to understand what the 'other' side of the encounter is - what does it feel like to be tied up in a particular technique? Also, to observe the other person's technique, particularly if nage is a senior student or teacher.

3. To learn to listen with your body. To throw well requires sensitivity to your partner. Often we are so caught up in the active role of nage that we forget to be receptive to our partner and move in a way that harmonizes with uke. By being uke we get a chance to emphasize the receptive aspects of body movement.

4. To assist your partner to learn. Being a good uke means maintaining the connection with nage, and allowing nage to experience that connection and to really experience the technique. Being a good uke allows nage to perform the technique without worrying about injuries.

5. To condition the body. Taking good ukemi requires a lot of work, to stay connected, flexible and aware.

After plenty of Ukemi practise, You may come to an understanding of the positive and negative flow of life energy. This vital life force is often called Ki, Chi, Prana, Magnetism etc.

This will further give You many insights into nature and the universe, that you can take and use in Your daily life. After all Aikido is not just an effective martial art, it is also an ethical and moral way or path.

Once You welcome, allow and accept energy, as it is, then You can take control by leading it in Your desired direction.

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Coming next month... 'Ukemi - Giving and Receiving' We turn the spotlight on the essential ingredients for You to become a successful Uke - a receiver of technique... giving and receiving energy.

Coming soon... The Ultimate Aikido Success Blueprint' We will be focusing on the BEST ways for You to fast-track your Aikido skills towards self-mastery. You will learn how to achieve Your peak performance levels.

Peace & Harmony

Tony Wilden - Aikido Instructor/Healer
Aikido Health Centre
Harmony Ezine & Ebooks
Arun Aikido Club 1992-2007
www.aikido-health.com/index

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Tony Wilden is an Aikido Instructor and qualified in several Healing Arts.
He has a deep interest in spiritual matters, optimum health, environmental issues, and the creation of harmony between people and nature. Tony is on a path to wisdom, freedom and power and shares his insights on aikido, health, universal principles, ancient knowledge and master strategies.