Aikido - Smother uke, snuff out the attack... like O-Sensei does!

See Morihei Ueshiba in action: aikidojournal.c...
Smother uke, snuff out the attack... like O-Sensei does!
One of the characteristics of Morihei Ueshiba's technique is his unique ability to seize the initiative from the start of the encounter. In other words, it is Morihei's action as nage that triggers uke to react. The result is that uke's response is weak and cannot really be considered an attack at all.
This has profound implications strategically, and is one of the traits that sets the Founder's aikido apart from most of his students. The vast majority of aikidoka -- including most instructors -- respond to uke's attack when executing techniques. This may be possible when the attacks are slow paced and prearranged. However, in an actual situation, nage is likely to be overcome by the speed and ferocity of a violent attack for which he is totally unprepared. Let's look at this film footage of Morihei Ueshiba from 1955.