What is randori & what is competition?
The first thing to note is that randori is not actually the sport or competition.
Randori ho means methods of training for the 'free-play'. In our normal classes we utilise this system of training in the second part of the class. It is divided into various stages and trains the most vital skills required by an Aikidoka. These are the ability to avoid an attack, parry it, to be able to respond with Aikido technique and finally, if the attacker resists the defensive move, the ability to follow up with another technique. These are the stages of tai sabaki, tegatna no bogyo, kakari geiko and hikitate geiko respectively. The final level that can be trained at club level is randori keiko which means free play practice and is the culmination of the previous stages. It is a method by which both Aikidoka can improve all elements of their Aikido skills without actually competing. These stages can be practiced by anyone and do not constitute sport. Although all of these stages are essential skills if one wishes to test ones skills in the sports arena.
There are two types of competition in Sport Aikido (Aikido kyogi).
The first is embu which, as already stated, is the demonstration of kata to a panel of judges. Two pairs of Aikidoka demonstrate the kata at the same time and are scored to determine the winner. It is based on both the skills of both the tori (the person doing Aikido technique) and the uke (the person who attacks but then receives the Aikido technique). There are several categories pairs can enter for Embu.
The second is the natural progression of randori keiko and is shiai, or competition bouts. In shiai, Tomiki Kenji devised a system based on the defence against a tanto (replica knife), since Aikido is heavily based in weapons work. The defending Aikidoka or Toshu (lit. empty handed) has one and a half minutes to defend against the opponent who is trying to strike their mid torso area with the tanto. They must attempt to apply Aikido techniques and are scored in a similar way to Judo in the fact that they gain points if they manage to break balance, apply an almost clean technique or are given a full score for a perfect technique. If the opponent manages to strike cleanly they also score a point. The tanto is then swapped over for the second half of the bout. Tomiki felt this type of training very beneficial for developing certain fundamental skills which he felt could not be learned by training with co-operative partners only (as in kata). He also saw it as the only way one could test ones skills fully, whilst retaining safety. Not all Aikidoka feel it is for them initially but often through the progressive stages of randori ho they may feel ready to try it as their Aikido skills develop.
Matt Houlton, 3rd Dan
15th October 2005