Balance breaks
I seem to recall some discussion once upon a time regarding the regular balance break (from #3 on) and what the pros and cons were about stepping more sideways instead of in a forward, shearing angle. Anybody know what the verdict was? The question came up in morning class, and I couldn't remember...
My $0.02.
The initial breaking action should be a forward stepping action with a sideways evasive component, resulting in a diagonal step like the first movement of the walking kata. This idea is based on we are closing with uke, and when the attack comes we are already involved in a stepping action. This is most easily seen if we start a few paces apart, walk toward each other, and uke springs the attack.
However, if we bypass this idea we open other avenues. For example, if we start from a static position we have all movement options available: forward, backward, sideways, vertical. If you're caught in the middle of the "monkey dance" with an attacker posturing and all the other get ready stuff.... if you see it coming you have other options. This presents a easier situation to deal with, in my opinion, because there are a lot more options on the table. Things like de-fusing the situation before it goes physical. In the initial scenario there is no opportunity for de-escalation; it's game on and you're caught in the midst of a stepping action.
Now, once the breaking action is made, I still like a little forward component as we go into motion. I start moving down the line of uke's arm, which oftentimes is a perpendicular line to his feet. Once uke is in motion, then I can begin with circular motion.
forward step is allowed to vector off in the resultant tangent caused by the convergence of the two centers-- how wide the vector (how much sideways action) is depends on the the mass and energy of the two centers relative to one another and the timing of the contact/evasion-- sometimes you get a tight shear-sometimes more splaying out-- in either case you want to use your back foot closing to adjust to position you correctly (roughly square) relative to the outside of the ukes arm
It was explained to me that the forward step into the attack is always trained because it is the worst case scenario, the other forms will generate off of it, and it is natural to the instinct of hands up evasion. You find the perfect spot by floating your foot into the attack and letting physics vector you to the correct place, which you cannot reliably plan or calculate on the fly. I know many people who are really good at simulating Aikido without actually letting it happen. I have been finding that the "perfect" off balance (triangulated in front between uke's feet) is almost always less than you expect. Small movements for biggest effect, and ease, letting the physics work for you.
My wife and I have been playing with this. We have come up with some interesting observations. Because she is so small, it is difficult (maybe even dangerous) for her to take the fwd step with a much larger opponent, so she steps more sideways all the time. Since our new guy reminds me alot of Henry, I started playing with the notion as well. If I step fwd, it takes around 2-4 steps to move around the point into a safe location behind his ear. Its like waking around a mountain. If I step more sideways, I end up in a better location, usually 1 sidestep puts me right into the sweet spot behind his ear. Also we have found that, if you just focus on breaking his balance 90 degrees to the line of his feet when he attacks, you almost always take more of a side step during the initial attack.... This usually catches him square to his feet and he always comes into off balance and has to take a step he wasn't planning to take.