The subtle art of Aikido requires one to entice the opponent’s attack in such a way that it becomes possible to anticipate it, guide it and identify its weakness.
On page 4 of his book Budō, O Sensei writes that one must "welcome the enemy", that one must "concentrate all the opponent’s strength along the very path of our martial advantage, and grasp its rhythm".
He also writes on page 5: "When the opponent seeks to strike, one must first provoke in them that very desire to strike, then let them give themselves over to it." One could say in the same way: when the opponent seeks to push, one must first provoke in them that very desire to push, then let them give themselves over to it.
The subtle art of Aikido requires inciting the opponent’s attack in such a way that it becomes possible to anticipate it, guide it, identify its weakness—which is "the point of the opponent’s inner dissatisfaction", as O Sensei also writes—and then to fulfil that attack with what it lacks.
This is difficult to understand, and can only be acquired through practising the technical exercises offered by Aikido, of which the one shown in the video is merely a somewhat original, yet quite telling, example:
The study and observance of rhythm, and in particular breathing rhythm, are essential for the correct execution of these exercises.
