Uchikomi is not Randori
Arg. I keep working on my Makikomi (because I have decided that I am better off getting fairly good at one move that sucking at all of them), and it gets frustrating. By biggest frustration: It’s really tough ot make Uchikomi’s feel like Randori.
Basically, when you’re doing fit-ins, or Uchikomi’s, the other person tends to stand there and let you do it. With a makikomi this makes the move devastating. If someone is standing straight up it’s almost impossible NOT to hit a good Osoto Makikomi. So, I spend time working on the move, and smashing people down on a crash pad.
Then it’s time for Randori. Guess what? It doesn’t work that way anymore. People keep their feet back much further in Randori than they tend to when you work on fit-ins. Maybe I just need to have my partner stand more “realistic” during our Uchikomis? I’m not sure.
What have you done to make your Uchikomis be more than just some perfect-world fairy tale move?
Another problem wit the Makikomi is that Randori should not be at full strength… you’re practicing… you don’t want to hurt people. Well, the Maki gets thrown hard, or it don’t work. I struggle on this a bit.
I will continue to practice and share my experiences. Any insights appreciated!
Its best to practise Uchi komi and Nage Komi on the move. You and your partner move around and then you move in for your technique when the timing is right. Of course, your partner must allow you to practise and not fight back at this stage.
By practising like this you shall devlop timing, positioning and shall learn when its best to apply the makikomi.
I always used Makikomi only as a follow up technique to a previous failed one like harai goshi. I was never able to perform it as the initial throw.
As with all pure learning techniques, there is a requirement for defender to execute the technique based upon a series of moves structured for the attacker to execute.
If the attacker deviates from the set attack fitted to the activity, the defender can no longer execute the technique strictly and will need to modify or change the technique to suite the modified attack.
This can be useful for understanding subtle changes in techniques when attacks are altered, but it is useless in strict learning of a particular technique, the attack must be structured or it tends to invalidate a the technique.
Marks and Grandmaster, thanks to both of you for chiming in!
Saturday during practice I worked wit much of what you are talking about here Mark, more of a fluid, moving Uchi komi, rather than just a “stand there while I hit this 50 times” sort of Uchi komi. It made a big difference. Basically, we would take turns attacking (not a full throw, jsut a fit-in), as we circled. One person would go, then the other. As the defender you did not know what throw the attacker intended.
I found this wroked very well, and was a better simulation of reality.
Also, good points Grandmaster… there is a time to work on variations, and to be dynamic, but there is alos a time to refine the movements and get them right before we try to apply them. Good points.