Speed. What not to focus on.

The biggest challenge I see in students, especially ones in the 1-3 year mark is the ability to slow down as nage. I know the struggles. I was there too. We, especially the men want to move fast. We want to move as fast as our teachers. We want to move fast because we think we look stronger. We want to move fast because we feel we can. We get to class typically after a long day of work and we want to just exert some energy. I get it. Here’s how you want to think about learning aikido.

Slow is Smooth. Smooth is Fast.

In Aikido, we want our balance and structure to be stronger than our uke’s. That’s how we break their balance. If you move too fast, you will undoubtedly be out of position multiple times during the technique hence be learning incorrectly. Proper Alignment can only be achieved after practicing slowly and correctly. Once, and I mean years and years of this do you feel like you got it. Then increase the speed a little, 10-15%, not 300%.

Finally, in Aikido, there is an ebb and flow to the movement, and uke has his/her part so by slowing down, you can maintain a better connection in your practice.

When I think of speed in the technique, I think of the application. Self Defense. Kihon waza practice. Demonstration, etc. Aikido can be fast, abrupt, e.g. Steven Segal (Take Sensei) in the 90’s. It can be very circular and poetic, e.g. Shirakawa Ryuji Sensei. For 90% of what we do in our traditional dojo, kihon waza and test practice, this would be a perfect example of the correct speed, Moriteru Ueshiba Doshu, imagine that, the grandson of the Founder, and leader of Aikido in the world.