The art of not standing in the way of an incoming strike
In short: In Aikido, the most effective way to handle an attack is often to simply let it pass. Rather than meeting force with force, practitioners focus on moving off-line to avoid the impact entirely, turning a direct confrontation into a fluid, dynamic evasion.
The fundamental principle of Aikido defense is to avoid a static confrontation. When faced with an attack, the goal is not to stand your ground or attempt to block the strike head-on. Instead, the practitioner seeks to move off-line, either forward or backward, allowing the energy of the strike to pass by without direct contact. This avoids the danger of trying to catch or stop an attack that is already in motion. The practitioner must avoid the mistake of backing up to catch the strike or moving directly into its path. Success depends on maintaining a dynamic state rather than remaining in a static position.
There are three primary strikes to master: Shomen uchi, Yokomenuchi, and Tsuki. A vertical downward blow aimed at the crown defines Shomen uchi. When both participants lead with their right feet during Ihanee, the aggressor needs to advance to reduce space. Yokomenuchi is a strike to the side of the head. In this variation, the attacker steps forward with the opposite foot, bringing the hand straight up above the head before swinging it around to the side. During Shomen uchi, the attacker and defender are in Ihanee, meaning both lead with the same foot. For Yokomenuchi, the attacker specifically targets the defender's leading side.
The third basic strike, Tsuki, is a punch directed at the stomach. Like the head strikes, the defender should avoid meeting this punch head-on. One can choose to move toward the Ura side (the back side) or the Imote side to evade the blow. The overarching strategy across all these movements is to advance and meet the attack before it gains strength, or to move off-line so the strike misses its target entirely. When facing a Tsuki, the defender can move toward the Imote side for evasion. The objective is to intercept the strike before it reaches full power.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to Do Shomen, Yokomen & Tsuki | Aikido Lessons
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