Grab My Hand!

[sensei8]

Instructors of the MA, and students alike, might get a knowing laugh from this as I have since Sensei Patrick McCarthy published it. We've all been there, and on both sides of this...Enjoy...

[sensei8]

Any comments?

[Wado Heretic]

I used to do that but over time I realised I was looking silly; I was doing a supposed self defence drill and I was telling them how to attack exactly. How does that help in learning self defence? So now I generally just accept it is my fault for not giving clear enough instructions, and work with how ever they attack.

I do have the occasional internal scream where I have to change the drill I had planned to do because of this; but I would rather accept and embrace the challenge then fall back on my old habit of just making my directions more clear.

I have trained with Mr McCarthy so I am thinking that is mostly in jest, or so I hope

[sensei8]

I, too, believe that Sensei McCarthy was just jesting by watching his body language.

Your points are quite liberating because you're absolutely right when you state that it's our responsibility to make our intents and the like as clear as possible so that there's no confusion.

However, I've experienced this jest with no intent of it being a jester at all. Say "choke me" and guess what? The student tries to chokes the tar out of you unintentionally because the student was only following instructions.

Therefore, say what you mean and mean what you say!!

[Harkon72]

In the Aikido class people can get confused as Uke with which hand, which lapel, which wrist, which strike or push for example. Our Sensei teaches us to react to anything; anything that your Uke does, you are expected to react accordingly with a flexible response. You cannot assume anything or take anything for granted; as in life.

[sensei8]

In the Aikido class people can get confused as Uke with which hand, which lapel, which wrist, which strike or push for example. Our Sensei teaches us to react to anything; anything that your Uke does, you are expected to react accordingly with a flexible response. You cannot assume anything or take anything for granted; as in life.

Solid post!!

React to ANYTHING!! That's should be the jewel of the MA, any MA, imho!!

[bushido_man96]

In the Aikido class people can get confused as Uke with which hand, which lapel, which wrist, which strike or push for example. Our Sensei teaches us to react to anything; anything that your Uke does, you are expected to react accordingly with a flexible response. You cannot assume anything or take anything for granted; as in life.

Solid post!!

React to ANYTHING!! That's should be the jewel of the MA, any MA, imho!!

When working off specific attacks for specific defenses, this can happen often in Hapkido or Aikido classes (the one's I've been involved in, anyway). Uke gets confused or loses track of what is being focused on. Its quite humorous. I often visualize Jim Carrey saying "you attacked me wrong!"

On a side note, having principle-based responses are very helpful to minimizing these funny moments.