Putting a little realism in it...

In last night's class, I had my black belt guys working on various techniques from the Kumi Uchi hold (the classic judo starting hold - one hand lapel, the other on the elbow). I had them first practice just getting the Kumi Uchi on a backpeddling uke, so they really had to put intent on securing a good hold. This was valuable, since most of the time Kumi Uchi is learned as a static, walk up and gently grab them attitude. Once they got proficient at getting the hold on, then we worked on some responses to this hold. This included a third person coming in from the flank with a sucker punch to the held person's head. This led into controlling the space and balance of both attackers while moving out of their 'control space' and into the outer spaces around the Kumi Uchi hold. If balance was not taken on either attacker, the attackers were allowed to continue with another attack or re-establish the Kumi Uchi hold.

This led into working with responding against just the Kumi Uchi by being able to draw a concealed knife from their waistband. If the Kumi Uchi was employed correctly, the control of the shoulder and opposite elbow made it difficult to just reach down and draw the knife. But, if they moved correctly, they had relative freedom of movement and could draw the knife in a way that the holding opponent couldn't see or feel. Then, they were allowed to stab or cut as they wished.

This led into an ura version, where the person doing the Kumi Uchi now had to adapt and evade the knife attack. They first were told to try and prevent the knife draw with the Kumi Uchi hold, which essentially made them commit to the holding attack. This made it realistic in having to evac the hold and evade the knife, but since they couldn't see the knife, they had to 'feel' the change and the knife attack. Once they got it, the taijutsu opened up and they really went after each other! It was great to see it and the whole thing carried incredibly realistic energy to it. They even cranked it up a notch and tried to really stab or cut each other with intent. Every point in the technique was a blur as to who the uke and tori were, since each phase for each person was about trying to really control the other's actions. They made many mistakes and were stabbed and cut (hypothetically, of course) at various points, but still kept going. This was an important point I discussed at the end of class - most knife victims suffer many, many cuts and stab wounds and still fight, still live. So, just because they get stabbed or cut doesn't mean the technique is over. Same for the attacker, too. Just because they may score a cut or stab doesn't mean they stop.

There were other things we did, which continued in the same format. What was most valuable wasn't the things they did correctly - it was the making of mistakes, the exploration of possible solutions and having the right spirit to keep going. That attitude, to me, is the most powerful of all techniques and something that will carry them farther in their martial arts path than anything else. It's not something I can teach, only inspire them to discover for themselves. Yet, without it, they would never be true budoka, real martial artists, no matter how much they train.