Re: Does Atemi have to work
Again we face the ambiguity of "work".
If I were facing someone who means to do me harm. If escaping and avoiding are not an option, knocking him out quickly is the best thing for both of us (as I will find him assistance while he is asleep).
If atemi does this, then it worked, but that doesn't mean it's the only thing it can work at. If he just lets me go, or runs away, my atemi worked. If he falls down, or gets discouraged my atemi worked. If he is unbalanced and this enables me to throw him, then my atemi worked.
Effective atemi does all of these things, that is why it's in the forms. You should learn to throw fast powerful strikes. You should also learn to deliver your atemi with various common weapons. once you can deliver effective atemi you can use it as you see fit.