![\"Bruce-Lee-Enter-the-Dragon\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.searchofpeace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Bruce-Lee-Enter-the-Dragon.jpg?resize=474%2C378\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I was surprised looking back at Bruce Lee pictures that he didn’t look that mean or nasty even when he was about to knock someone out. Often when I want to show how great Aikido is I ask my uke (partner) to be really mean. This make for a great demonstration, especially when uke is much bigger and stronger but while this is great practice I am realizing that it may be “bad medicine.”<\/p>\n
O’sensei remarked about how Aikido is medicine for a sick world… There are many stories about how important it was that his direct students go share Aikido with the rest of the world. <\/p>\n
I often feel challenged to show how “magically powerful” Aikido is against “real” attacks. This is especially true for some reason when I am trying to show how it is possible to remain peaceful in conflict. I pick the biggest, meanest, most doubting guy in the room and tell him to go for it. ARRRRRRRGH ahhhhhhhh BOOOOM. Job well done, everyone is impressed including the guy on the floor and score one for Aikido.<\/p>\n
I need this challenge, it rarely goes perfectly and I learn something about my technique. I try it again and see if it goes more smoothly with less muscles etc. And, people do need to know that Aikido isn’t just a nice philosophy.<\/p>\n
What happens when the guy that is called up struggles with aggression, anxiety, or defeat? At some point Aikido is a great place to address those struggles but what if uke is not there yet?<\/p>\n
If the person knows nothing about Aikido and may never see it again they are left with the feeling that Aikido makes the other guy feel like crap. The do what they are asked and end up feeling like they got shown up by some old lady. (no offense to the ladies, I strive to feel like Mother Teresa when I do Aikido).<\/p>\n
The practice of Aikido is gradual for Nage (person practicing Aikido) and Uke (partner acting as “attacker”) We need to be safe and challenged at our level in either role. We develop our capacity to return to center even after being the bad guy. Eventually that practice may be as beneficial as practicing being the good guy but be aware of what we ask of ourselves and others. As we leave the mat we should feel like the good guy and that Aikido is “Good Medicine.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I was surprised looking back at Bruce Lee pictures that he didn’t look that mean or nasty even when he was about to knock someone out. Often when I want to show how great Aikido is I ask my uke (partner) to be really mean. This make for a great demonstration, especially when uke is … Continue reading Are we asking for “Bad Ukes”<\/span>