Is Uke Opponent or Partner in Aikido?

This question actually gives a hint how different Aikido is as a martial art compared to all other martial arts and for this reason, it deserves a blog of its own to give you my honest answer and why…

Before I do answer this interesting question, I think it is good to rewind first from the very beginning and look at what really made you and I decide to join a Martial art club: Many of us chose to learn a Martial Art to know how to defend ourselves and to be strong and these were my main reasons by the way. Others joined a Martial Art club from an early age as child, so their parents introduced them to it. Others joined a Martial Art club because they fell in love with its discipline with good etiquettes forming strong values, respecting one another etc.

So, when you took your first lesson in Aikido, I am quite certain that you (as well as I) you thought Uke (attacker) was an opponent, someone you needed to defeat and overcome. So putting your Uke to the ground was a top priority and when it happened, it made you feel confident that you were on path to learn how to defend yourself against a number of attacks. Well, I am giving you my honest thought, as I did think like this when I began!

However, I am imagining that at some point or perhaps rather quickly, your Instructor began to show you the true meanings of Aikido and how we must change our mindset from OPPONENT to PARTNER if we are serious in following its principles.

Needless to say, that I was even more intrigued by this and it made me realise why the Founder kept saying Aikido forms unity and peace, reconciling people together. I simply fell in love with Aikido from that day onward and still today, I am as eager as I was then.

This must have been an extraordinary finding for the Founder Morihei Ueshiba to reveal such thing because he had studied Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu under Takeda Sokaku (who was a terrific Martial Artist and had a notorious reputation in Japan for being extremely skillful and one not to mess with!) and like most Japanese Martial Arts, Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu is a fairly ancient Art (in fact as old as 900 years old!). In this Art, Uke is an opponent so Tori will have this mindset to eliminate the threat as quickly and efficiently as possible. So you can imagine what happens to Uke with all the possible pains he may be inflicted with.

Throughout the Founder’s life and early studies of this Art, the Founder became affected by the loss of WWII, which triggered something to change the Art with a view to reconcile rather than destroy and transformed Aiki Jujutsu to Aiki ‘Do’. The way of true warrior, which the Founder quoted should be ‘to preserve peace and harmony, NOT to destroy it’ so love is in equation.

So, this concept is, I think, is really appealing to many Aikidokas hence why we practice this Art, I suppose. To me, Aikido gives me strength with an additional meaning in life and how we interact with one another with respect, which I find truly amazing. Some say that if everyone understood Aikido and were practicing it, there would be peace on earth. I believe this too.

So it comes as a true realisation that Tori must be conscious how he/she should see Uke. We no longer see him/her as an opponent but as a ‘partner’ in practice and in our lifetime journey in learning Aikido.

Foremost, Tori has to initiate and create this kind of relationship with Uke. This is important to understand this.

As far as Uke is concerned, he/she must carry on ‘as before’ i.e. by being honest when delivering any attacks and to do so with vigour too. Tori on the other must find a way to off-balance Uke and subdue him/her as a partner. So ultimately, we become more caring to a degree towards our partner during practice. We can increase the strength of our technique only if Uke is ready for this.

Does it mean that we lose any concept of Martial etiquette? Paradoxically, no. As far as Uke is concerned, he/she remains in ‘the attacking mode’ so to speak and Uke should retain its Martial and Budo spirit when attacking. But Uke’s attack should be HONEST and REAL, as it is the only way to retain ITS strong Martial edge or it simply loses it altogether...

The concept of preserving peace is a very thin thread between retaining our Martial etiquette or to merely practice gymnastic movement without any Martial spirit.

Some may suggest that we should keep Uke as OPPONENT & PARTNER at the same time and I would also concur to this thought as long as Partner thinking remains, so Uke ultimately is still looked after!

It is 100% up to Tori how he/she approaches the situation and overcomes Uke, how he/she subdues his/her partner controlling the balance and using Uke’s momentum to redirect the force towards him/her with the use of Kokyu, Awase, correct posture, good Hanmi (footwork), Mae (distance), triangle/square/circle/spiral movements and practicing in the spirit of ‘One against many’ forming Takemusu Aiki when performing techniques.

I think it is very important when we practice Aikido that we bear a serious responsibility towards our partner whenever you are Tori executing the technique safely.

An advanced Aikidoka should become a role model and set an example and lead the way to show what we mean by ‘looking after’ our Uke. In turn, Uke (who is Aikidoka) will grow feeling what we feel as Tori and should be able to pass on our wisdom, love and this unique approach to any younger generations to come…