This exercise uses the basic movements in Aikido, demonstrating to the victims that neutralizing an opponent requires complex movement and pure force.
How is it done?
Students work in groups of three. The one who initiates pushes is the uke (receiver of the technique) and the executor of the technique is the tori.
- STEP 1 - The tori stands in the middle of two ukes. The two ukes push the hips of the tori from opposite directions. The tori slowly turns his/her hips until the ukes lose balance. This can be repeated by pushing on the shoulders or the arms.
- STEP 2 - The two ukes attack from the upper morote dori position (two hands grabbing one hand/wrist). Even if the ukes hold statically, by turning his/her hips the tori can disrupt their balance while lowering his arms at the same time.
- STEP 3 - The two ukes attack from lower morote dori position. Even if the ukes hold statically, by turning his/her hips the tori can disrupt their balance while lowering his arms at the same time.
- STEP 4 - The two ukes attack simultaneously with shomen or tsuki attacks from the opposite directions. The tori avoids the attacks by turning his/her hips like before.
- STEP 5 - Try to transfer the feeling with two ukes to the practice with one uke. Imagine the other uke and use your body the same way as with the two ukes (e.g., morote dori - Kokyu nage). Feel your center line.
What is it good for?
Practitioners will learn that they do not need force to implement the technique, but instead a complex, accurate, and timely movement. The tori should feel light while the ukes cannot keep their balance. This experience should lead to change of mind.