by Kitty Sullivan
Learn to use gravity and structure to assist with effective aikido kuzushi / off-balance
As long as you are not floating around in space, you are probably attached to a very large spherical body. Therefore you are fortunate enough to utilize its very own gravity when being attacked by another human. Getting around on a planet usually entails walking. That means that a body does only two things:
1) It moves up, away from the center of the planet, and,
2) It moves down, toward the center of the planet
….otherwise known as walking.
When uke attacks with his/her foot falling into the downward position, he/she is falling towards the center of the planet. YOUR JOB IS MORE THAN HALFWAY DONE. Why try to pick him/her up and do something different? Always assume that uke is heavier and stronger than you. All you have to do is at least one thing.
Gravity Assist
Definition: “dropping your hand” – abruptly providing no muscular assistance to your hand to keep it from dropping towards the center of the planet.
Encourage uke to continue falling towards the center of the planet by dropping your hand at the point where uke cannot change the direction of their fall. Fortunately, the surface of the planet abruptly halts uke’s fall
If you are feeling particularly feisty, you can encourage uke to continue falling towards the center of the planet by dropping your hand at the point where uke cannot change the direction of their fall, while simultaneously changing the direction of their fall by stepping in a very slightly different direction – for a dramatic fall.
Structure Assist plus Gravity Assist
When uke attacks with his/her foot rising into the upward position, he/she is pushing against the center of the planet. YOUR JOB IS TWO-FOLD. Why try to change his/her trajectory and do something different? Always assume that uke is heavier and stronger than you. All you have to do is entertain uke (Structure Assist) until he/she steps downward towards the center of the planet and then engage gravity (Gravity Assist).
Allow uke to lift your hand while you follow that lift, thereby pulling you away from the center of the planet. While Uke is occupied with pulling you upwards, move your appropriate foot into a superior position: 90 degrees from uke’s trajectory and slightly “off” uke’s trajectory, closer to uke or further away from uke.
The Prestige: During the Structure Assist, tori moves their center into the space where uke HAS TO BE in order to regain their balance; because, no two bodies can be in the same space at the same time.