Always remember a primary goal of practice: to develop in one's self an alternative reaction when faced with conflict or violence so that one can diffuse violence, not escalate it. An aikidoka must become comfortable with conflict and violence and in the act of diffusing it. This does not mean one should seek out or instigate conflict. If no choice is given and violence or conflict is inevitable, one must face that conflict with a calm, clear mind (mushin - "empty mind", in Japanese) to successfully diffuse it. Letting emotion (anger, fear, etc) get the best of you will do nothing but escalate the conflict, something nobody truly wants.
Always remember that strength allows peace to be a choice. Choosing a peaceful resolution to a conflict from a position of strength allows you to target your enemy's attitude, not his body or his life. This is very important to remember.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Blend
As is the key with all Aikido techniques, stealing the attackers balance by accepting the attack and allowing them to overextend is how you develop softness of technique. If you find that you are struggling against the weight or strength of your partner, then you are not going "deep" enough, ie. you are not accepting the attack deeply and blending with the attack deep enough. This shallow reaction is natural in the beginning. Do not let it frustrate you. Just become aware of it and focus on entering deeply almost to the point of exaggeration. This will help you naturally embody a deep blend with your opponent.
Mushin
Takuan Soho, the famous Japanese Zen master describes mushin this way in his book, "The Unfettered Mind" :
"The mind must always be in the state of 'flowing,' for when it stops anywhere that means the flow is interrupted and it is this interruption that is injurious to the well-being of the mind. In the case of the swordsman, it means death. When the swordsman stands against his opponent, he is not to think of the opponent, nor of himself, nor of his enemy's sword movements. He just stands there with his sword which, forgetful of all technique, is ready only to follow the dictates of the subconscious. The man has effaced himself as the wielder of the sword. When he strikes, it is not the man but the sword in the hand of the man's subconscious that strikes."
Ego chains (or "fetters" in Takuan-san's words) the mind when faced with an enemy. Ego desires self-preservation and thus is the root of fear. Fear stops the natural flow of the mind and impedes the actions that result from that natural flow. In extreme situations, this can result in a paralysis of fear and ultimately can result in death under some circumstances. A more benign example is "stage fright". Some people become paralyzed with fear when they have to speak in front of a crowd. Why is that? Because they are afraid of being negatively judged and critiqued by fellow human beings. The exact same thing can happen in combat or under any kid of stress. Very few of us can rise to the occasion. Most of us fall to our level of training when faced with a stressful situation. In Aikido, we look to raise our level of training so we do not fall as far.
Ego drives and is the root of this paralyzing fear. Eliminate the ego and the fear is gone. This is done through cultivating mushin everyday.
"The mind must always be in the state of 'flowing,' for when it stops anywhere that means the flow is interrupted and it is this interruption that is injurious to the well-being of the mind. In the case of the swordsman, it means death. When the swordsman stands against his opponent, he is not to think of the opponent, nor of himself, nor of his enemy's sword movements. He just stands there with his sword which, forgetful of all technique, is ready only to follow the dictates of the subconscious. The man has effaced himself as the wielder of the sword. When he strikes, it is not the man but the sword in the hand of the man's subconscious that strikes."
Ego chains (or "fetters" in Takuan-san's words) the mind when faced with an enemy. Ego desires self-preservation and thus is the root of fear. Fear stops the natural flow of the mind and impedes the actions that result from that natural flow. In extreme situations, this can result in a paralysis of fear and ultimately can result in death under some circumstances. A more benign example is "stage fright". Some people become paralyzed with fear when they have to speak in front of a crowd. Why is that? Because they are afraid of being negatively judged and critiqued by fellow human beings. The exact same thing can happen in combat or under any kid of stress. Very few of us can rise to the occasion. Most of us fall to our level of training when faced with a stressful situation. In Aikido, we look to raise our level of training so we do not fall as far.
Ego drives and is the root of this paralyzing fear. Eliminate the ego and the fear is gone. This is done through cultivating mushin everyday.
Contemplation
An important part of your daily practice (or kieko in Japanese) is contemplation and meditation. One should reflect daily on one's life and how one is living it. It is also important to reflect on death and how one will face it. Death will come to us all. It does not discriminate. It does not matter how we die. What does matter is how we face death. One should be able to face death with mushin (empty mind) and the courage and comfort that comes with mushin. Most people regard death with fear and speak about it in hushed tones if they even speak about it at all. This does nothing to but mystify death and make it something that seems outside of our ability to understand and face.
You may not be able to control how and when you die, but you can certainly control how you will face it when it comes. Reflect long and deep on this and any fear of death you have will evaporate.
You may not be able to control how and when you die, but you can certainly control how you will face it when it comes. Reflect long and deep on this and any fear of death you have will evaporate.
The Purpose of Training
Practice of the techniques in aikido has a two-fold purpose: to develop calm-minded martial superiority and to cultivate an extraordinary character. They go hand-in-hand and it is a lifelong process. When on the mat, if you concentrate on cultivating your character by ensuring the safety of your partner and working with them in a spirit of cooperation, martial superiority will spring forth as a natural occurrence.
Tao
Tao is the inexpressible nature of the universe and it's unfolding. Though Tao cannot be expressed in words, it can be understood and its principles can be lived. The Chinese character for Tao shows a person walking along a path. One universal and understandable expression of Tao is that each of us walks along a path in life that is a result of our actions and choices.
In the West, we are raised to believe that, as we walk this path, if we choose to achieve and collect the exceptional things in life, we will become exceptional ourselves and our life will be more meaningful and special in our eyes and in the eyes of others. Eventually, if we follow this philosophy long enough and to its natural conclusion, we come to believe that what we own and achieve defines and validates us as a person. We begin to feel special because of what we have collected and what we have achieved, that we are better than our fellow human beings. This is a trap set by our natural tendencies towards desire. Once caught in it, one's life becomes meaningless and out of control. Look no further than the immense unhappiness that affects many of the stars that populate Hollywood.
"If you think that following Tao is to mount and ride on dragons and cranes, you would be better off walking."*
If you think that life is about achieving great things, you will never reach what you desire. There is no end to want and no end to achievement. There is always something new to have and something new to achieve. At the same time, there is nothing wrong with having what you want and achieving great things as long as it is not used to validate one's self and one's life. Achievement needs to be kept in perspective and not used to make one feel special. "You would be better off walking" amongst your fellow man. Help lift them up and, in so doing, achieve great things together.
Nothing in life is special because all of life is special. Nothing in life is common because all of life is common. Because of this, the special and the common are the same.
To live this way is to express the ultimate principle of Tao and thus to reveal the meaning and purpose of this life.
*From Everyday Tao by Deng Ming-Dao
In the West, we are raised to believe that, as we walk this path, if we choose to achieve and collect the exceptional things in life, we will become exceptional ourselves and our life will be more meaningful and special in our eyes and in the eyes of others. Eventually, if we follow this philosophy long enough and to its natural conclusion, we come to believe that what we own and achieve defines and validates us as a person. We begin to feel special because of what we have collected and what we have achieved, that we are better than our fellow human beings. This is a trap set by our natural tendencies towards desire. Once caught in it, one's life becomes meaningless and out of control. Look no further than the immense unhappiness that affects many of the stars that populate Hollywood.
"If you think that following Tao is to mount and ride on dragons and cranes, you would be better off walking."*
If you think that life is about achieving great things, you will never reach what you desire. There is no end to want and no end to achievement. There is always something new to have and something new to achieve. At the same time, there is nothing wrong with having what you want and achieving great things as long as it is not used to validate one's self and one's life. Achievement needs to be kept in perspective and not used to make one feel special. "You would be better off walking" amongst your fellow man. Help lift them up and, in so doing, achieve great things together.
Nothing in life is special because all of life is special. Nothing in life is common because all of life is common. Because of this, the special and the common are the same.
To live this way is to express the ultimate principle of Tao and thus to reveal the meaning and purpose of this life.
*From Everyday Tao by Deng Ming-Dao
Friday, July 4, 2008
Do Not Mistake Kindness for Weakness
Aikido is a budo based on the establishment of harmony from chaos. This is accomplished through the principle of take musu aiki, the spontaneous and uncontrived harmonious reaction to a situation that successfully diffuses conflict. But many martial artists look at Aikido as a weak martial form due to its primary focus on self-defense, safety, and a desire for a peaceful outcome. It is not "hard" enough and is therefore unrealistic many believe.
But do not mistake Aikido's desire for peace and harmony for a weakness. Yes, aikidoka practice softness of technique. Yes, they desire a peaceful resolution to any conflict. But this does not mean that an aikidoka cannot "go hard" if the situation warrants. And "going hard" in Aikido can be devastating. Just ask any aikidoka who has taken ukemi for their sensei and had a momentary lapse of awareness resulting in a full speed technique execution.
Do not take Aikido's kindness as a weakness. You could end up being unpleasantly surprised.
But do not mistake Aikido's desire for peace and harmony for a weakness. Yes, aikidoka practice softness of technique. Yes, they desire a peaceful resolution to any conflict. But this does not mean that an aikidoka cannot "go hard" if the situation warrants. And "going hard" in Aikido can be devastating. Just ask any aikidoka who has taken ukemi for their sensei and had a momentary lapse of awareness resulting in a full speed technique execution.
Do not take Aikido's kindness as a weakness. You could end up being unpleasantly surprised.
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