Boxing Lessons

Thinking about boxing, clearly there is no one fixed approach to engaging the adversary. Unless you want to walk into a hook punch. The big idea is circular footwork, trying to come at and dominate the opponent’s center line without giving your own away. The big idea is to doggedly pursue the target zone, bobbing, weaving, slipping and dismissing the obstacles (punches) that come along and not making a big deal of them.

Is aikido any different? Probably not – or at least it shouldn’t be. Boxing is well proven and boxers incredibly effective and efficient. It is probably smart to take a page from their book. But how do I translate these strategies into aikido, into jiyu waza, randori?

Certainly, I always want the center line. I have been working that each day with jiyu waza, focusing on mirror movements of ikkyo and irimi. I've been coming very direct and assertive and feeling good about it. But this week I started allowing uke to include a little atemi as opposed to just grabbing, and now I am less certain. I think that at the same time that he going after uke's center line I am also giving mine away. The result is a clash where I tend to stick then win out by my size advantage.

I'm coming straight at uke. If we were boxing, I'd probably end up taking a jab right on the chin. Not good.

I keep looking for a fool proof movement that covers all the possibilities. I build little charts to see where the holes might be. I have never built a chart without holes. It might not be the right approach.

A better way may be to come at it like a boxer, moving fluidly, targeting my zone and not getting distracted by uke's grabs and strikes. Just keep moving. Just keep pursuing the goal of uke's balance, of turning uke's chin and upsetting his poise. Let the straight in charge give way to more circular footwork, to angling, to slanting, to turning a little tenkan.

Thinking about it, the classic ikkyo that I've studied was never a direct charge. It always involved a slight off the line approach. And irimi has an angle of its own. I should get back to that in my jiyu-waza.

It's something to work on.

Trouble With the Kote-Gaeshi Pin

I've just had a realization regarding the kote-gaeshi pin.

Typically, when taking kote-gaeshi, uke lands on his back with tori still holding uke's wrist and arm in an advantageous position. Tori then cranks uke's arm to roll him on to his belly in order to apply the pin.

The problem is always an uncooperative or sluggish uke who decides not to roll over. It's quite difficult to force uke over and the situation easily devolves into a wrestling match. That's not very aiki, so what am I missing?

Now, I think I understand what I am missing.

It's really no different than an uke who refuses to follow tori around when tori controls his arm. He lets tori get behind him and then refuses to turn himself. The answer there is obvious. If uke refuses to participate in the fight, then there is no fight. But equally valid is tori's option of just choking out the dolt who stands there with his back to him refusing to move.

Same situation. From kote-gaeshi, uke lands on his back then refuses to roll over or move. There are two options. One, the fight is over. Two, tori can just kick and stomp him or take a front mount and start punching him in the face. I don't think that any of that is going to sound good to uke. Instead, the most logical and natural response for anyone being thrown on to their back is to try to get back up.

To get up from your back, you pretty much have to roll over at least partially to get to your knees. When uke moves to regain his feet, tori simply follows the movement and secures the pin. Tori doesn't need to force uke over. Uke wants to turn over, not to submit, but to get back up. Tori just follows uke's intention and uses the arm to steer uke into the pin.

I tested my idea out today. So far it is working smoothly, easily, and much more like what I imagine aikido to be all about.