A distinction is made between three forms of contact between Tori and Uke:

Without a grip whilst moving

If an attacking movement is made without Uke being able to stabilise his grip, Tori is able to redirect the attacker without making contact, simply by exploiting the attacker’s intention to turn his unsuccessful attempt to grip into a successful one.

Contact between the partners arises through Uke’s intention and Tori’s reaction.

In this form of application, also known as Kigata, aikido techniques are largely executed without physical contact, as the attacker’s movement requires only that they be redirected. With Ma-ai, both the distance and the timing of the initial movement are of great importance.

With a firm grip whilst moving

If Uke is able to stabilise his grip, this places different demands on the execution of the aikido technique.

The stabilised grip leads to a brief stagnation of movement.

By making optimal use of the body’s centre of gravity (Hara), the attacker must also set himself in motion again, meaning that aikido techniques are once more executed from a state of movement. This form of execution is also known as Tanren.

With the handle in position before the movement

Whilst the Kigata and Tanren forms still include initial or entry movements, in Shinken-waza (techniques for real-life situations) these initial movements are shortened or omitted entirely.

In Shinken-waza, the initial or entry movements constitute the actual aikido technique.