The thing is, the mechanics & theories of locks aren't particularly difficult to explain. They aren't really painful for uke, so long as tori is not being malicious with application and release as soon as you tap out. And there are times, like multiple attackers, where doing a controlling sort of lock might not be the best idea. But, there are times when it's a great tool to have (like my nurse friend who placed a poor fellow in kote-gaeshi and twisted on it a bit when he decided to grab her behind).
Perspective from a friend - she teaches a group of kids in an 'economically disadvantaged environment', eg the slums. She calls it Jujutsu, but uses "efficiency of movement, Physics and Kinesiology, some psychology, neuroanatomy and physiology", which came from Tomiki-ryu Aikido. The range is closer, she says, and they have to finish things quick -- throwing people and having them come back at you is not an option. These kids get attacked with knives regularly, and cannot risk a second attack. So for her the locks are not just submission holds, but also CAN BE USED TO DISABLE.
Maybe their throwing skills are just not developed enough to put someone on their heads, but ethically speaking it is probably BETTER to break an arm than to 'allow' the attacker to 'throw himself' on his head and kill him.
We have the incredible resource and benefit of having Judo as a sister art in our dojo , something most aikido schools do not have. The in depth understanding of our instructors with locks and submissions can easily blend our aikido with finishing holds.Many aikido schools and students have to look outside to gain that knowledge and experience. We have an incredible opportunity to grow and fortify our aikido with the expertise we have in our dojo....Looking foward to it....
OK some thoughts on finishes...
We started working the 17 finishing
Level 1 - Maai - Do the throw, and ensure post technique distance. Uke cannot entangle in any way.
Level 2 - standing pin. Try doing the 17 and finishing every technique with a standing pin. Some new thinking required. I think whether you are Judo or Aikido minded this is optimal.
level 3 - kneeling pin. Every pin goes to suwari waza.
level 4 - Entry into newaza from throw.
Then we worked on pinning randori. One player starts with back on the ground, other player standing. We got awesome results. We found the guy on the ground had a pretty good advantage if tori gets into a attack mood. Roles can switch in seconds! I highly recommend this style training. Another drill variation of this we did is to have the standing guy push down on the prone fellow with hands, feet and knees. The prone player escapes without fighting the force and without fighting gravity. Every motion should collapse standing players posture. Aiki in more dimensions!
Some other random thoughts. I am finding pins that allow for driving energy into uke's shoulder- pinning it into the ground seems to be the most effective for non pain pins. Also any time I bring uke's arm above shoulder height, they pin real easy. Pinning them on their belly seems better than pinning on their backs. (maybe Judoka disagree?)
Eric Pearson wrote:Also any time I bring uke's arm above shoulder height, they pin real easy. Pinning them on their belly seems better than pinning on their backs. (maybe Judoka disagree?)
I agree completely. Originally, pinning (osaekomi-waza) in Judo were performed with uke face down. But, this doesn't provide much of an opportunity for him to escape, and thus made competition a bit boring. So, it was changed into its present incarnation. I played with JW Bode, a long-time Aikido & Judo man who operates in a law enforcement setting. I asked him about face down pins and handcuffing techniques, and it was pretty eye opening.