Words of Wisdom

Cutting vs Blocking

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 21:46:29 +1000

To those who have only been exposed to empty handed martial arts, or those just taking their first steps into the journey that is aikido, the concept of 'cutting' may seem somewhat foreign.
How can I 'cut' someone with my blunt hand or fist?
Blocking or trying to grab seems to make much more sense when attempting to intercept an incoming attack with one's hand. Unfortunately, blocking results in fixation with the offending arm or leg and it makes the defender oblivious to other limbs and dangers. Blocking or catching also implies stopping which is reflected by both parties - attacker and defender.
The attack is stopped, and the defender stops the attack. In both cases, the mind also is momentarily stopped as the situation is evaluated.
In aikido, a feeling of 'cutting' is attained through the imaginary extension of one's own limbs. This imaginary blade is by its nature strongly tied to one's mind, and is not affected by the physical world. The blade can easily slice through an attacker and be guided back around for a secondary cut, or even continue on to an another attacker.
The important benefit of this approach, is that the mind remains supple and active. It is more easily able to deal with the changing situation. Furthermore, a cut is more easily directed through the attack's centre, where the attack can be defined as the totality of the attacking arm, through to the power generation from the ground.
In practice, the imaginary blade slices through an attacker, and the arm from which it extends intercepts the incoming fist to deflect and simultaneously create openings for further action. Cutting through the attack takes the opponent off-balance and keeps the entire attacker, or multiple attackers in focus.
The concept of cutting through and beyond the physical form is synonymous to mentally focussing behind a target when punching to generate greater power and can be seen in most martial arts.
Training in this relies on a good solid attack. In advanced combat an arm may purposely go limp or change its course and can be used to bait a reaction from an opponent. However until you can consistently deal with a solid simple attack there is no need to progress to more complex sparring.

Stillness in Randori

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 11:26:43 +1000

While an aikidoka may perform admirably in a one on one situation, as soon as it comes to randori, techniques seem to be thrown out the window. Execution becomes sloppy and almost panicked.
The trick is to see the truth of the situation you are in and re-frame it in a way which gives you a solution to your situation and hence drive your action in a positive way.
When you centre yourself and observe all the attackers at once, it is easier to see them as a single attacker coming at you repeatedly. Use stillness in randori to find this calmness. When you are mentally calm, you will find that techniques tend to arise spontaneously depending on the situation.
Stillness will also provide a clear target for your opponents. Although on its surface this sounds undesirable, it actually promotes cleaner easier to read attacks. Your opponents will come at you without the hesitation and defensive mindset which can render aikido techniques ineffective.
To execute the techniques you will naturally have to move. This will create a contrast between stillness and movement which will disrupt your attackers rhythm. Just as we use the contrasts between up and down, or big and small within our techniques. These manifestations of yin and yang both within each technique and between them creates the dynamic spirals which collect, control and toss our opponents left and right.
As an aid to finding stillness adopt a narrow stance. It is centralises one's balance, it also enables one to transition from stillness to large movements more easily.
Using stillness in randori is something that takes practice and much inner development. Through perseverance and training you will acquire an immovable samurai spirit to face fierce attacks and stand one's ground.

Connectedness

Fri, 6 May 2011 22:57:00 +1000

Out of all the planets and solar systems in the universe, by some amazing coincidence, a chance of one from many billions, we happen to be on the same one.
Even more amazing... we have been both gifted with life. Rather than being a drop of water, a pebble, a grain of sand or countless other things, we are both something alive. Out of all the trillions of objects on this planet, let alone the universe; we are both selected to be a part of that tiny subset of living things.
We are both human. We could have been one of any millions of types of life. Bacteria, plants, insects, animals, yet by some miracle we are both human.
If you thought that was amazing, consider the age of the universe. I can't even begin to gasp how many seconds have passed since its origin... is there even a number big enough for that? Somehow, we happen to share this same instant in time.
So... you have decided to strike me. We now take up the same square meter of space in the entire vastness of the universe as each other. We are so close that we are almost indistinguishable as two bodies.
How can you not consider us connected, related, and intimately bonded... a brother. In fact, it feels near impossible to consider us anything else but part of the one and same thing.
We are so connected, your limbs, your force, your intention, your anger are all mine to use. What ever gave you the idea to try and attack me?

Pain

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 23:57:26 +1000

If you have ever trained in the martial arts, it is generally accepted that there is some sort of pain involved. At a very basic level, there is the pain inflicted on your attacker, or the pain of pushing yourself to the limit. The fear of pain is in some cases the very reason that people avoid exploring the martial arts.
The reality is that pain is a natural and essential part of our lives. It comes through the heart ache of broken relationships, through stubbed toes and burnt fingers. These are things that are generally considered as negative and to be avoided.
Pain also visits us in the form spicy foods, sad movies, and from simply growing up. These are the same sensations, but observed from a different perspective, and without the negative connotations.
Pain is a simply one of many sensations which can be interpreted or associated with something. Unfortunately it is often interpreted as bad and something to be avoided. Trying to avoid pain is to remove the spice from your life, and a futile exercise in any case.
If you can accept that pain is part and parcel of living, then you can take the steps to associate it with the positive and destroy the shackles which may have been hindering you from a full, and experience rich life.
Pain can be tackled on two fronts, both of which compliment each other.
Firstly, by linking pain to growth, progress, cleansing and success it will take on a different flavour. Next time you feel the burn from a hard run, imagine your body being cleansed of pollutants, sense your muscles growing and your fat burning. Whenever you are emotionally pained, feel it hammering your spirit, strengthening and purifying it like a sword. You will find that in the future you will look for and enjoy the pain as it will be a sign of your progress and success.
You can also change your physical experience of this sensation through meditation and contemplation. If you take the time to delve deep, feel and really experience the pain you will realise that it is not very different to the warmth you feel from glorious sunshine or the sensations you get from being tickled. You can test this on yourself with a pinch - close your eyes, go deep into the sensation, objectively observe it and I am sure that you will agree.
Pain may have been one of the barriers to your success in many aspects of your life. Fear of pain in relationships, physical exercise, tasty foods, financial losses, can all leave you working below your optimal ability. Simply by turning the way you look at things upon its head can have you living a life in directions you never thought possible.

Self Victory

Sat, 5 Mar 2011 01:31:06 +1100

We are our most ardent and intimate critic and that is a good thing. We are the only ones equipped with both the insight, and driving force which can shape our progress and development as humans.
To guide our growth on the path most beneficial to ourselves and in fact the world, it is important to recognise the concept of self victory.
In a fight, is the victory in that you defeated your opponent, or is it in that you were unmoved by your victory and felt no need to boast and brag? In defeat, is the true defeat that you were physically overcome or was it that you were not aware of your surroundings, or the very fact that you were goaded by ego and entered into a battle you could not win in the first place? Or is it in how you dealt with your defeat?
If we focus on the outcome of a particular battle, we will forever chase the person who is in better condition than us, has learnt more techniques than us, or had more experience than us. All our study and learning is directed by someone else. It will have limited application and benefit - possibly for a technique that our opponent may never use again. Essentially, we are studying to become a better opponent for someone else, and not for reasons to benefit ourselves.
To achieve self victory means studying the general technical and "soft" skills which help us be stronger, faster, learn better, help us stay calm and use everything at our disposal when we need it. All our efforts should be focussed on bettering ourselves, relative to ourselves and hence ensuring that the rewards will be ours. As long as our training and self-criticism is relative to us, we will be able to grow organically and naturally according to the values that we hold true.
Someone else may give you criticism, but until you deeply accept and understand the problem as your own it will remain a symptom to be covered or hidden with superficial learnings. This acceptance allows you to relate the criticism to yourself, and ensure that your growth is according to your values, and representative of who you are.
We cannot attain true victory until we have faced the depth of an issue in our heart.
Self-victory can be attained each instant of the day. Each second we can remain centred and live in our strongest state we are achieving true victory. Each time we recognise a failing in ourselves, either through self-assessment or external criticism, we have an opportunity for self-victory. These opportunities must be embraced enthusiastically, as growth and change is the essence of new experiences and the true ambrosia of life.

Linear vs Circular Movement

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:22:46 +1100

If you have ever seen an aikido demonstration, you will remember it's distinctly flowing and rounded movements. While aikido does incorporate a good balance of linear and circular movements, its ability to blend and keep an opponent off-balance is derived from the latter.
The act of a human walking involves repeatedly losing balance, and regaining it. This is the limitation of our lower limbs which restricts how far we can travel linearly before we are required to take a step and re-establish our balance.
By using circular movements, and occupying the centre of each circle, the aikidoka is able to extend an attacker and force them to travel over a long distance, while remaining relatively still them self. If you examine a circle, it is clear that the circumference of a circle becomes larger as a function of the radius. The aikidoka is therefore able to manipulate forces directed at him/herself through the radius and speed of circular movements.
Another benefit of circular movement is the smoothness it can impart on a force which further disrupts a human's somewhat jerky power train.
During linear movement, the force imparted rises and falls in time with each foot step taken. The footwork involved during circular movements are smaller and quicker, and any gaps in power generation can be also be bridged by altering the radius of the turn. In practice however, a step rarely needs to be taken, as the attacker is required to travel a considerable distance for a 180 degree turn which can be performed by simply pivoting on the balls of the feet.
In order to effectively perform circular movements, the aikidoka must have freedom in the hips, knees and spine. They must also exhibit mental freedom, and allow themselves to constantly shift their gaze and attention. The characteristics of a good aikido practitioner are very similar to those of a Zen master.
I urge that you incorporate into your life other complimentary practices such as meditation, calligraphy, painting, cooking, sculpture and music as did the great masters of the past.

The Artist

Wed, 2 Feb 2011 21:41:45 +1100

art-ist   -noun   One who makes their craft a fine art.
The artist can be differentiated from others by their motivation. While others may do their craft for money, exercise, enjoyment, the artist strives for perfection itself. The artist feels that what they produce is a reflection of themselves, unique and representative of their interpretation of the craft.
O-Sensei's dream was for aikido to bring peace to the world. It was to transform anger and violence into love, and during a time of war reconcile the differences between conflicting nations. While these lofty goals will not necessarily be the same for every martial artist, aikido does encourage goals on similar lines through its community, teachers and philosophy.
To consider oneself as an artist, it is important to go beyond pure physical movements and introduce 'heart' into technique. For those new to aikido, this may still be a foreign concept, but as soon as the basics of a technique have been grasped, it is possible and beneficial to shape your movements using 'emotional content'.
Your instructor can best guide your progress as an artist through what might seem as rather odd practises. You may have already been introduced to some of these, such as emphasis of breath, ki-tests, focus of one's gaze etc. It is a seemingly endless journey, however will provide priceless benefits.

Static vs Dynamic Strength

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 23:35:25 +1100

Isometric (static strength) is greater than dynamic strength and many athletes use isometric exercises to increase their maximal strength at extreme angles. You may have experienced this phenomenon yourself when performing a resistance exercise to exhaustion - eg you are not be able to perform the dynamic motion of a press-up, however you can maintain a static position for an extended period of time.
The aikidoka makes use of isometric strength where possible, and supplements it with dynamic movements of the hip and core muscles.
If the arms are moved laterally or the focus is on throwing, dynamic strength is used. By maintaining rigid arms and using wrist kokyu, the opponent's structure is broken and their balance is disturbed with the minimal amount of dynamic strength.
Looking at the ikkyo technique as an example, most of these movements are ideally performed with straight arms. The initial contact up to grasping the elbow is all about leg power driving up and over the opponent's centre of gravity. The cut-down also uses static strength. The perfect technique, uses hip rotation and straight arms rather than shoulder muscles (a common mistake) to take the attacker off balance. The final pin is performed with body weight, and static strength within the arms.
A similar analysis can be performed on various other techniques such as kote-gaishi and irimi-nage; each uses static strength in the limbs combined with dynamic movements of the body which either open or close the hips relative to the opponent.
Another benefit of static strength is in its interaction with the mind. Kokikiai aikido explores this in its Ki tests. During the unbendable arm exercise, we are taught to keep the mind free and dynamic while the body remains static. Imagery such as water flowing from the fingertips assists us in maintaining this mind and body separation. As soon dynamic strength is used, the mind becomes fixed, and maintaining an unbendable arm becomes impossible.
If you consider these points in your training, and you will be able to tweak your technique and gain insights into the science of effortless power.

Who are you?

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 10:48:08 +1100

If you have attended any Kokikai Aikido seminars before, you would have heard Maruyama Sensei stress the importance of "being natural". This natural state is about identifying who you are physically and mentally. It requires one to strip away the layers created out of fear, ego, anger etc.
It is quite common behaviour to react to an attack by reaching up to meet the blow, or attempting to grasp the incoming arm or leg. Moving like this can result in over extending and exposing yourself to a secondary attack. A seasoned fighter may actually use a fake attack simply to create an opening.
In these situations, your are 'loosing yourself' and are being manipulated by your fears and preconceptions. It is important to identify that these feelings of apprehension are not based on reality, but a manifestation of deep seated fears and experiences.
To discover what is natural for yourself, it is beneficial to discover which muscular tension is necessary to maintain structure and which is not. This process is quite involved and takes prolonged meditation and progressive relaxation to identify which muscles are actually necessary to maintain your posture. Through this study, you will discover the inherent strength of your body provided alignment of its bones and joints.
Meditation will also highlight the internal dialogue which is generally unnecessary and illusionary. Stripping away these tiring thoughts, help bring clarity and freedom to the mind, which is in turn reflected by the body. Someone with a free mind is able to shift where they look, turn their head, rotate the body and move freely - essential for the Aikidoka.
Some may argue that if these thoughts and feelings have always popped up, or if one currently holds their body in a particular manner, this is must be natural. I beg to differ, and suggest that these behaviours are learnt and worn like layers of clothing. They may feel familiar and comforting to the point of necessary, however they are not based on the deep essence of one's being.
These arguments are purely based on ignorance, and once this natural state - the body's strongest state is experienced, anything else feels inefficient and restricted. It is akin to a motorcycle engine which has always been out of tune. To the ignorant rider it is simply how this type of engine runs, however once it has been tweaked the difference is irrevocably better and the rider enlightened.

Authenticity

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:55:47 +1100

Human's are surprisingly preceptive. They can pick up the nuances of a stance, voice or facial expression and subconsciously get a hunch or feeling about someone. In fact, this happens so instinctively that a person will experience emotions and behave in a particular way without attributing their behaviour to another other person.
This skill can be so refined that a particularly perceptive person can seem almost clairvoyant as they predict what others try to do or say. As a martial artist, you may have had a taste of this Jedi-like ability during your training.
It is important therefore to perform aikido in the right state, and do it with authenticity or emotional content. Acting through planning and scheming, can often be detected and countered. Even the most innocuous type of planning such a 'trying' to do a technique translates into muscles tensing and your technique being stopped.
How does one 'do' something without 'trying'? Is such a thing even possible?
By 'trying', I refer to performing an action with a preconceived idea of how to do it. The very fact that the idea of how to perform this action has come to mind is an indication that it is not entirely natural, and the comfort of 'knowing' and control is required. When one has absolute confidence, the action originates from the subconscious and is driven from emotion rather than thought. It also indicates that there is no real driving need or desire to perform the action, and a plan is required to verify its correctness and motivate its progress.
If you are to receive a punch and take the attacker off-balance, as an example. It is very different to perform the action with the intent of taking the attacker off-balance as opposed to pulling the arm to a position 'x', which by your calculations should take the attacker off-balance. Working from intent will auto correct your actions until your opponent is off-balance the goal is achieved. However, if once position 'x' has been attained and the attacker still has his/her balance, there is no further motivation to continue the action and you will be left with an attacker who is still in a strong position.
Actions driven from emotion are also hidden from the observer, and in fact sometimes not even apparent to the one performing the action. You may have probably noticed many a time, where you have automatically performed an action from a desire to have a particular outcome. This is the authenticity which should also be a part of your Aikido, where actions are driven from your desire or want. Where outcomes reflect what you truly and deeply desire.