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Not competing It is often said when introducing someone to Aikido that there is no competition and hence no big tournaments and so on. Some Aikidokas I have met understand this but maybe a bit to superficially; the principle of no-competitions has to be a state of mind in and outside the dojo. The implication of this is that one should never try to look better than someone else. Do not brag about yourself and never look down on your partner or for that matter anyone! This is really basic interaction between people! The spirit should always be to help each other on the way and the goal is the way, since no one knows anything to perfection. Two different persons cannot walk the same road and hence each one has to find her own way. AiKIdo The meaning of Aikido is, as you probably know, the road to harmony with the KI. This is essential of Aikido and it is important that it is understood. Learn to feel the Ki and how it flows, where it is strong, weak and so on. All movement should originate from, the Hara, the Ki-centre. Always be aware of where your Hara is and where your partners Hara is. Strength Great strength is not great Ki. Ki is in a way opposite to strength, when you relax your muscles you will not give the Uke a direction where he can use his strength, then all you have to do is redirect your Ki in an appropriate way and the Uke will fall. Please note that it is important to still have contact with the Uke but only in the way a straw of grass has contact with the wind. The two faces of Aikido This is a very delicate subject and there are many different views on this. I will try to explain mine. I see aikido as two parts being one. The goal is that for the Tori, there should not be a difference, but for the Uke it is very much a difference. The first part is that which many practice, the Budo part of being an Uke. This means that the Uke acts in accordance to proper Budo. For instance, taking a stance that is proper, since it will put you in the least danger. I will not go further into this. The second part is the fighting Uke. The fighting Uke has a motive and wants something; it can be anything from a wallet to pulling someone away or striking someone down. From this motive the Uke can generate all the attacks. The Uke also has different roles, often someone who doesn't move in a Budo fashion. Try to act in a stupid way and make the Tori improvise a technique, which originates from that "strange" attack. Doing all this while still doing proper Aikido is truly a great art. To give you an example, if the Uke tries to pull the Tori away toward a wall, the normal reaction would be to pull back. If you are an experienced aikidoka you will probably not have any trouble directing his force to the ground and remain standing. However, trying to do an Ikkyuo or any other normal technique is not trivial. Since the Uke has an absolute direction, relative to the room, one has to become first become the centre and then execute the technique. Other not so practiced attacks are sitting on the stomach of the Tori and choking the Tori. In essence the important thing is that aikido should be both the traditional Budo aikido and the more advanced improvised (takemuso) self-defence aikido. Often when doing the later, one will find that it is easy when using non-aikido techniques but that is not the goal. First be like water, then be like air and at last be like nothing. The Geometry of the circle Aikido is based on circles, and all techniques move in different circles. When studying the circles one has to pay great attention to the most important aspect of a circle, that which makes a circle, a circle, its centre. Try to always know the centre of all circles that you move in, if you don't, how can you know it? The importance of a circle Since the centre of the circle is its most important property, one should always try to be in the centre of the circle. The best is if your Hara is in the centre of the circle. It has to be understood that this is not only a matter of where the geometrical circle is in a technique but also who is in control. To be controlled by others is to put them in the centre. Take the centre and take control. This can be done partly by presence, attitude and self-confidence and partly by using superior technique. Practice both. Also be aware that everything in our life are circles and it is important to remember to be in control, to be in the centre. If you always run to the subway, is it you or the subway that is the centre? Allow the subway to pass and feel that you are the centre. Of course one cannot be in the centre of all circles but try to make it your conscious choice not to make it so, if it is! Sometimes one might run to the subway but be aware that you have made the distinct choice. Pride is worth nothing, protecting your pride is to put the aggressor in the centre. Choose to ignore it. Egoism In a more general way of viewing life one might consider the following: According to Darwin, all organisms are more or less egoistical. When dealing with humans there are two sort of egoism, of which one is called kindness. Short termed egoism is stupid and will get you no-where. Long-term egoism is to give of your self so that you will get the double back. Being kind and helpful makes friends, which are kind and helpful to you! Most people don't like to put it like this but please consider it. More to come... At the top of the iceberg without knowing it, Gustaf Westerlund, e98_gwe@e.kth.se |