Category: Kihon Atemi Waza

Gedan Ate

This is a technique typical of Tomiki Aikido practitioners.
There are many versions and of course you will find this technique in other martial arts as well.

The skill of bending over

Bending over the body is a skill that is often used in Tomiki’s Aikido, especially in the Gedan Ate technique.
Unfortunately, when you get older or lazy, bending over becomes more difficult. This sometimes leads to using the body in the wrong way.

Use the body as a harmonica and not as a lever when bending over.

Picture 1 shows where in the body to focus.
Picture 2 shows the correct use as a kind of harmonice, using the waist to bend over.
Picture 3 shows us the use of the hip joints as the focus, which creates a much less efficient use of the body.