Compliant training is better!

**Aikironin21** · Posted On: 5/26/2011 2:59am

Since we Aikidoka are the biggest practitioners of compliant partner practice, let me chime in here. Does alive training necessarily have to be 100% full bore speed and power? At what point, does compliant become alive, or are they two roads which will never intersect?

Case in point: While training in a compliant partner practice, I, as uke, look to see, first, if nage has successfully blended with my attack. This means, he avoided my strike, or neutralized my incoming force. If he hasn't, I let him know; by either making contact with him, or stepping out of the technique.
Second, he is in proper position and actively defending himself from a possible secondary attack. This means he is positioned in a way I have very little, if any, opportunity to strike him or take his balance, and/or has his off hand positioned in a manner to address any opening that is left. If he fails here, don't hit him, or throw him; but extend the would be strike or maneuver at an appropriate rate of speed so he can recognize the opening he left. I never do this faster than the technique is progressing. I do as to not actually hit him, or throw him but to make him aware so he can adjust his technique.
Third, as the technique progresses, I see if he has actually affected my balance and/or posture, and the amount of physical strength he is exerting to do so. If he isn't affecting my balance, or is using a lot of physical strength to, I again either strike, step out from, or maneuver to counter the technique, to make him aware he has not successfully affected my balance.
Fourth, I am aware if he continues to maintain the effect on my balance and posture. If he loses it, then the technique is over, till he regains it.
Fifth, When he throws or pins me, I check to see if he is on balance still and grounded, and whether he is using physical strength to pin or throw me, or if he is allowing me fall as I lose my balance or can no longer resist due to the positioning of my body. If he is trying to muscle me, I resist, or begin a counter; again just to make him aware that he is giving me an advantage by doing so.

Now throughout all this, I have to let him, complete the technique as best as he can. Of course he will be stumbling through it as he makes mistakes, but to just stifle the technique serves no purpose either. We usually take one concept at a time in this. Sometimes, as a higher ranking student, you need to help steer the newer student through the technique. This way he gets a feel of the idea of the technique, even though he isn't really completing it. As he fixes his errors as he goes, he will someday end up with a solid technique. The learning curve is slow in Aikido for this reason. Plus, if all you did was stifle the technique or put up road blocks, you end up in a tug of war impasse, and nothing gets learned for either nage or uke.

Now if we are training slow, and I am essentially stopping the technique at the points where the technique is failing, isn't that a form of being alive while training. I know there are many who just go with the flow in this style, and yes, it creates people who think they are doing something they are not. I have trained with many, who have really pretty techniques, when they train certain people, but can't perform the basic concepts, when training with others. Could this be due to the aliveness of the people they choose to train with?

While training, I try to stifle someone's first couple of attempts if I can. This way, I use human nature to try and ensure they try to do the same to me when we switch.

**Lu Tze** · Posted On: 5/26/2011 4:20am

Originally Posted by Aikironin21

Since we Aikidoka are the biggest practitioners of compliant partner practice, let me chime in here. Does alive training necessarily have to be 100% full bore speed and power?

Stopped reading here...

PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING RESISTANCE.

**DCS** · Posted On: 5/26/2011 5:08am

Originally Posted by Aikironin21

Since we Aikidoka are the biggest practitioners of compliant partner practice, let me chime in here. Does alive training necessarily have to be 100% full bore speed and power? At what point, does compliant become alive, or are they two roads which will never intersect?

And, aikido specific:

http://www.dragon-tsunami.org/Dtimes.../articlea2.htm

**Aikironin21** · Posted On: 5/26/2011 12:55pm

Thank you for your post. Every Sensei I have trained with, encouraged this type training. I think the more dance like training, results from students wanting to emulate the smoothness and speed of experienced Aikidoka. It shows the value of being a good uke; and that being a good uke or harmonious doesn't mean just being able to fall when you are supposed to.

I have noticed, when visiting, or training at new schools, especially those where people have promoted rather quickly to third or second kyu or above, they expect you to just go with their technique because they are doing it and you're in the dojo. I know some who would rather not train with me, and others who seek me out as a partner, because of this. It is literally taking the ego of someone who is right around the corner to shodan, and busting it on the floor, when they discover their artsy technique fails on the basic level.

**wingchundo** · Posted On: 5/26/2011 4:31pm

Originally Posted by jspeedy

If you're confused look at some of the vids and examples others have posted. Hell, look at my example of the FMA drill from the op. You talked about drilling technique in BJJ, do you do any specific drills to train specific techniques? Like a guardpass drill? The armbar, triangle, omoplata drill? Any others? What do you like about the drills? What sucks about them? That's kind of what i'm getting at.

It's not a matter of liking the drills. It's a matter of, there's no other way to learn a technique other than to drill it first, then try it out in a realistic fashion. Learn the technique in a controlled, limited environment where you can slow down, make adjustments and learn the details. Then put it to practice.

Again, I have no idea what is so difficult about this. Drill technique, try it out against a resisting opponent.

**jspeedy** · Posted On: 5/29/2011 11:06pm

Originally Posted by wingchundo

It's not a matter of liking the drills. It's a matter of, there's no other way to learn a technique other than to drill it first, then try it out in a realistic fashion. Learn the technique in a controlled, limited environment where you can slow down, make adjustments and learn the details. Then put it to practice.

Again, I have no idea what is so difficult about this. Drill technique, try it out against a resisting opponent.

Nothing about this is difficult, you're just making it difficult for yourself I suppose. Who's saying there's no way to learn a technique other than to drill it then train it live? I think we both agree on that.

I think my OP may have been hastily written. I should have thought out what I was trying to accomplish with this thread a little more to better convey what I wished to discuss. As It's A Fake pointed out the initial tone of the thread starts out a little condescending. Most people who have been here for some time know both compliant and live training is necessary I was just trying start off and reiterate that, there's really no need for debate there. It seems some of the guys replying to the thread grasp what I was getting at with the OP and others don't.

To simply sum up and restate the OP. Lets talk about compliant drills!