Re: Poll: How helpful is feeling techniques in learning aikido for you?
By feeling, I assume you mean having it done to you?
If so, then yes. I feel it is quite important.
You can't, logically, know how to apply any martial principle or technique without knowing how it feels to be at the receiving end first.
In my school we practice the same two techniques and a few of their variations for a few months straight, then move on to two others for a few months, etc... Strange, I know, but it actually seems to be a superior method of training. We get plenty of practice on each technique and I seem to progress much faster due to that.