Why Ikkyo Backfires When You Do It On Someone

Ikkyo is usually the first technique students learn, which is exactly why almost everyone assumes it's the simplest. After 45 years of practicing, teaching, and taking ukemi for it from partners at every level, I can tell you it's the opposite.

In this episode I get into what separates a jammed, cranked version of ikkyo from the version that feels like the floor disappearing under your feet, including a couple of stories from taking ukemi at a very high level, the mindset shift that happens when you stop thinking about doing a technique "on" someone, and the almost-invisible pause that separates advanced ukemi from everything else.

I also talk about what I actually look for when I'm watching students train ikkyo, and why getting off your own mat and training with people well above your rank is one of the fastest ways to feel the difference for yourself.

Thanks for training with me this week.

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