{"id":1268,"date":"2022-08-10T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-10T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/remoteaikidodojo.com\/?p=1268"},"modified":"2022-07-22T07:41:28","modified_gmt":"2022-07-22T06:41:28","slug":"aikido-is-90-atemi-revisited","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/remoteaikidodojo.com\/index.php\/2022\/08\/10\/aikido-is-90-atemi-revisited\/","title":{"rendered":"Aikido Is 90% Atemi – Revisited"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The idea that \u201caikido is 90% atemi<\/em>\u201d is a persistent one. There\u2019s even a post on this site<\/a> suggesting that this is the most misunderstood quote in aikido. In this post, we\u2019re going to revisit it, and consider a new point of view. One that may make it the most accurate aikido quote in existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The previous blog entry argued that this quote wasn\u2019t referring to atemi as striking. Rather, it was referring to a \u2018hitting body\u2019. That\u2019s the ability to hit the opponent with any part of your body during the technique. This was the only logical conclusion based on what we could see. It meant that, instead of striking 90% of the time, we should be performing irimi 90% of the time. This makes a lot more sense based on the evidence before us, and fits with the martial aspect of aikido. We\u2019re returning to this quote because that interpretation now seems to be wrong. Not completely wrong though, maybe just 90% wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Original Quote, In Context<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Before going any further, it\u2019s worth knowing what was actually said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018The founder, Ueshiba sensei, said, \u201cIn a real battle, atemi is 70 percent, technique is thirty percent.\u201d [\u2026] In a real battle, we must use the power that we have developed in our bodies in the d\u014dj\u014d and use it explosively in an instant; we must decide the outcome of the fight at that moment. In that situation atemi becomes very important.\u2019<\/em><\/p>Pg 24. Total Aikido: The Master Course, Gozo Shioda, Yasuhisa Shiodoa<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The first thing to observe here, are that the percentages are not 90\/10. What\u2019s interesting though, is that we can reasonably eliminate the possibility that O Sensei didn\u2019t say it. That\u2019s based on the idea that one of his students wouldn\u2019t deliberately mislead about something he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other thing that jumps out is the explanation provided with the quote. What is Shioda referring to here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Deeper Explanation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For quite some time I\u2019ve experienced a rising awareness of what the term \u2018hitting body\u2019 might mean. As observed in the original post, this is the idea that you can strike with any part of your body as you enter. Put in context though, Shioda is suggesting that Ueshiba was talking about something else. He seems to be implying that you are actually hitting them. That the atemi is in fact, striking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That atemi may well be with any part of the body. It may be that you have to have a \u2018hitting body\u2019 to achieve this. Regardless, the suggestion that you are going to strike an opponent 70% of the time is quite clear. Unfortunately, this brings us right back to the original problem, not even boxers punch 70% of the time. If we believe O Sensei, then something is wrong somewhere. Aikido is either missing a serious amount of atemi practice, or we have a serious misunderstanding about our art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this stage, we can rule out that aikido is missing a large volume of atemi practice. Watching the footage of O Sensei and his direct students confirms this. They\u2019re clearly not hitting anybody that much. Sadly, this means there\u2019s an understanding problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not too difficult to solve though, and the quote, as well as it\u2019s context, point the way to a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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