AN THE DYNAMIC SPHERE

by A. Westbrook and O. Ratti illustrations by O. Ratti

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GUY A,A, DOUCET E-MAil AODRESS; SUYDOU@ATlCANADA,CA (IN SMALL lEITERS)

Aikido

and the Dynamic Sphere

An Illustrated Introduction

by A. Westbrook and O. Ratti Illustrations by O. Ratti

TUTTLE PUBLISHING Boston· Rutland, Vermont· Tokyo

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To Master Morihei l: ye:-:hiba who did not believe his

aikid» was for a n y particular individual. elite or nation

-·hut for the whole human family.

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Table of Contents

ACKNO\'('LEDGMENTS PREFACE 11

UST OF CHARTS 13 WHAT IS AIKIDO? 17

Defense in Aikido· The "Centre" and "Ki" . The Strategy of Neutral. ization . The Potential of Aikido

Il THE FOUNDATIONS OF AIKIDO 29

The Founder. xfain Sources of Formation and Inspiration. The ~1artial Arts. The i·EthLCSl' of Defense

nr ORGA.'iIZATION 35

The Hier~rchy. Promotion· The Lnifoi m· The Practice Hal! • The Mat • Etiquette and Classes

IV THE PRACTICE OF AIKIDO 45

The Theory of Attack . Physical Factor' . Dynamic Factor, . Technical Factors· The Unified Power of Attack

V THE THEORY OF DEFENSE 61

The Process: of Defense and Its Factm-s > The I riner Factors: the Role of the Mind • The Principle of Centralization. The Principle of Ex- ! tension. The Principle of Leading Control. The Principle of Spheri- I city. Circuits of Neutralization . Spirals and Semi .. Spirals of Neutral- ; izaiion . The Dynamic Sphere. Fusion and Special Exercises. I

vr THE PHYSICAL PREPARA nON 113

Preliminary Exercises Suppleness. Basic Exercises: Coordinaticn . Rolls and Somersaults

\"U THE POSTURE AND MOTIOr-; OF DEFENSE 143

Stages and U nity of the Aikido Process of Defense . The Posture· The Monon

vru THE BASIC TECHNIQUES OF NEUTRALIZATION 159

General Recommendations· Immobihzarions • Projections. Combinations

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Acknowledgments

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10 ACK"OWLEO<J\!E"ITS

aikido practitioners with whom they were privileged to practice in the L'nited Stat-es} Franc-e, and Italy, and to those students at aJl levels of development who willingly cooperated in the testing and refining of [he authors' theories on the tatami in dojo all over the world.

Last) but certainly not least, we wish to express our appreciation to the members of the Editorial and Design departments of the Charles E. Tuttle Company for their patient and painstaking efforts IJn behalf of Aikido and the D_inamu 5'ph(re.

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Preface

I~ ORDER to be ccnsi-t cnr and have an;- significance wh.usoever, a bookany book-c-musr bav- a purpo:-:,e aud a system [Dr adl.ir·\jllt; dld[ purpose. The primary purpose efAih'tit} a!;11 the Dvnamic Sjdurt >. to widen and deepen knO'i\kdgc of d!i~ Di:;(lpli:w of Cocrdinruion. I.:11he authors cstimadon, the art of aikido cnnta.ns valuable directives for ht'lping mill! in his struggle ~lg<lin"l tl»- ,t~(··!Jlci predicament rcprc-cnt-d !A that dispersive .aud

dispersed) concliticn I)f phvsio-Iunr-tionul and lack ,j/, ccordina.

lion which can undcrrrine rli\,' \U) Ir.undauon of h;~ pn::ort;dity.

and.c-r-vrruu.rllv hi .. -uure \\TLl.lxin,t.;. Tid) an "j;( (ontain" an rrhic.rl message. a reason wl-v . .rs v.el! <IS a me-ans of halnJc)nlli:1g tl.at rhara r u-r and r.iar personalir, in the -plu-rc of superior dcve.oprnen and of coordinatjag it ',I ith thr- C\,:j \'dCt: conduct of' man-e-in l-is mdi- idual mche, In his xocicrv, in hi" world.

Such d. pu:-p0:-'t" ,~j{~\\'e ... er. brrause olits verv depth ar.d extension. i3 extremelv rlifficult nor irnpcssiblc) to achie ve in ;1, single bock. Aikido, in fact, rests upon r-uhur.rl ioundanons drawn from the life of Japan in partirula r, and .vsia in gU'lCral. Its t heorv is complex and i-s practice extremely varied-bOlh replete '.,,'Hb unexplored possibilities. ,\t bcsr, then: "hal \\"C han: svstemaucallv g~:~HTed together here call serve oulv .. IS an irurodur-ion to the subject.

Aikido ronsisrs of. .md ?l1ay be ,,:;stn.-~;uicil.lJ: approachr;t as, theery and prac:ice. \ -O!UlTIV -, cocld be devoted cntire-lv to either, and ~nrhnll,g'ir;" -0 borh (tho I:Hblil_lgraph;. [f(!l1rl at till' eucl ot ·_iii, book indicates l1 \":I~Y barr beginr:ins{l. \i"(- « cre tonrd tc· c onsidct ,d~:"'!!wr _h{-!1,J 'JJld !It,. D_'1i,z1i;i~: Sf'ltell' should conccrnr.n r pl.ltll.1.-rih on l1h' furmer - the hi"l_ory, pJdnsophy. erhical 1 u-otivacions of [he ar". r:!t.-Ol" ~il0111d Uta} rnore <;PI(' iCed!\ with it~ pr.1C! ice, i i.,.'_. it'; u-chrucuev. {"x,'rric;J'~_ ar.d -u a.ccirs.

\\"t: d-cid .. d· finally in lit\ '~,r 01 ttu' second possibilio , and h...!h consequcnrlv uom- v ct v cit',,'ph into tilt' prurt ic r- of aikido, takinu grcdl pain, l U dr'uronstr.ne dHIJl1f{iJ rxammaticn u! l uur retr- ('fJlldt.l of act n.rl tcvlmiques. exercises, and Sll ,ucg-i.:':>.\\ hat rhr-ir tl)('[:n-(~1 ical motivations tire (or should be).

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12 PREFAClo.

hoping that the image of an action or the action itself mar prove to be worth the proverbial "thousand words."

As to the system adopted, \\ c would propose that there are two equally valid ways of approaching any experience-both 'With their positive and negative aspects, ln the East, the general tendency historically has been that of approaching it as a totality, as an indivisible entity whose hidden laws must be [{dt intuitively and followed absolutely if the desired result is to be obtained. There is, of course, a tacit acceptance of order and therefore, implicitly, a system of some son; but the emphasis is upon leaping into the experience with both feef-as into a pond-and sinking or swimming as the case may be.

In the \Vest: analysis plus the ability to project abstractions have been largely responsible for ihe advances (and the horrors) of Wescern civilization. However, in the West, the pervading theme is beginning to be: "\Ve have progressed from primitive and unself-conscious participarion to analytical thinking and an appreciation of awareness on the individual level-s-new, finally, let us move onward toward synthesis ana unity on a higher and more. truly humane level.'

In the East: on the other hand) [hey began with {he idea of unity accepted a priori-an acceptance which was to be largely responsible for the w enders and the tragedies of their civilization. But with the coming of industrialization, Asia of necessity began to respond to the analytical resonances buried just beneath the surface of that word. In Asia too, however, it is. only a matter of time before [here will be a move- toward blending the original and largely unexamined totality with the ne- . vlv acquired tradition of analysis-gravitating, as in the. West, coward a higher and more consciously constructed unity.

In {his book} we, being \Vestcrner~, have analyzed and systematized the practice of aikido, always keeping in m.ind the ultimate unity of the art and hoping that the method we have devised will help to introduce other Westerners ro this marvelous Discipline of Coordination.

And, as we-although steeped in Western ways-learned aikido by studying with many Japanese instructors, so we hope that it may prove enlightening for readers in {he Orient to catch a glimpse of their an as seen through Western eyes.

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List of Charts and Tables

CHARTS

CHAPTER .3

6 Categories and Ranks of the Aikido Hicrarchv 7 Hombu Dojo Grading System

8 Requirements for Promotion -:"\e\'" York The Uniform

10 The Practice Holl

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CHAPTER 2:

Main Sources of Formation and Inspiration Major Armed Martial Arts

3 Major Unarmed Martial Arts

4 Major Schools of Martial Am; The Ethics of Defense in Comba-

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30 31 32 33 34

38 39 40

CHAPTER 4

11 The Practice of Aikido

12 "L'ncontrolled" Xeuu'alizations Affecting the Physical Factors of an

Attack -

13 "Controlled" Neutralizations Affecting the Functional Factors of an

Attack

14 Motion, Resistance. Control

15 Guiding the Merion of Convergence 16 Directions of Aggressive Convergence 17 Basic Holds.

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52 53 54 55 :56

18 Basic Blo<0.'"5

57 5i 59 60

19 Basic Com hi nations

20 Aggressive Coordination of Power 21 Inner and Outer Lin-its of Power

CHAf'TER 5

22 The Theorv of Defense

23 The Prl.'lce.:s of Defense and h~ Factors

24 The Process of Defense: Stage" and Q(lalitie~ 25 The Process of Defense

26 Aggressive Solicirarion

61 62 63 65 66

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14 LIST OF CHARTS ,.:..ND TABLES

27 The Process of Defense: Stages and Factors 28 The Lnncr Factors: the Role of the Mind 29 Centralization

30 Coordination

31 Types of ;;ki"

32 The POWel" of UPA

33 The Points. of Control of liPA

TABLES

The Ba'31;,_~ Techniques of Xeutralization

Examples ofBasic Techniques of Xeutralizarion Itlustrated

66 68 71 i9 8.5 88 88

161 162

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Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere

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CHAPTER

I

What is Aikido?

EMERGl x o from a long period of obscurity in the East-a-during which time ir was familiar onlv w rclativc!v restricted circles-aikido has been called one of the most :mbtle and ;IIophisticJ.tcd I.Jf the martial arts, and -··-at its hig;\er l~vt'ls-an effecuve discipline for the dcvclopru-nt , inlegl auon. and uriiizaricn ! of al,I ma.n's powers, phvsical and: mental (spirirual ). . _ 1

What may appear a; fir.st glance [Q be a unique method for efficir-m lv de- j fending yourself agdin;)( an; lorrn or r-, pe of auac k '\ ill reveal ilseif under 1 careful scrutinv to be not only an effective tucrbod ofself-defense derived [rom i .japanese Bujuuu (v.arrior arts}; in addition .anel this i~ lht: element '.·;l.icl1 interests mall) wllrl are !-!!'<Ingt'"r£ to thl' nadiriona! doj<;. ot pracuce hall~i1_ is a Discipline ofCoordinaricn, a wav ot -trt-narhening the ruind and bodv. of, fusing lhf' inrliv iduals phvsu-al and rnf'ntal-pow(fs' so that he or she \\111 emerge as a more n.dly intcgrat • ed h.unan h!:ing. The word, in fac t , means. "method or way {dol [OJ the Coordination or Llar ruonv [I'll] of J\IulLal £n('f'~:, Or Spirit [k!J,"

) . "'''"', J" I merh od

- , THE DY 1'\,nIH Tl.e narticular mJ.~l.~lorihci Uye-

18 "'""" .vxr , ", ".,,__ J to

developed D: which he referrec _ shiba in Japan bines practical self] as "aikido' co':,,' taken from SI,\'or~, defense ruovcmc ;;' "uju"", aikijutsu and spear fighl1~,:,:>, J 'more esoteric :nd other anuen.", ':r',-",[h an form, of rho: mi,n::.!,\~ first mor::c~~

I phasis from the .:' haracieristic e r practice upon a Ie, and action, o • t: '1 of Ihoug 1 rg\' Crntra,1ZatlC!t. of mental erie .:'

d the extension _ _ eh an m ..

an ,',' tl13l makes this su

or ,

triguing an.

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It is a unique method of self-defense equally adapreble lO and effecric c against a single attac-ker or several. The prart ic .. section of this book (Chapters IV-IX) is devoted to explanations and illusrrarions of" the particular methods employed to achieve these often spectacular n-suhs-. and 1(1 .u-hiove them, moreover, in a manner w hich make" aikido practice possible fopeople of all ages and hot h sexes.

But wh v do we say that aikido i;; unique? Almovt c'.·er~ neartia l an can claim to be an efficient me-am, of self-defense .ind many can be ."afd~ practiced by old and young alike. BOh" docs. aikido diner from nll thr- others:' The difference lies in the essential motivations and ch.u-arteristir. effccr-, which identify irs practice .• and the early 3! \\1::'11 as. continuing emphasis placed upon them,

These include the following:

1. Aikido, purely in its practical application, is an arr of ~cll~dffC'nse it i:; entirely reflexive, and related crhicaflv to defense- against JI: unprovoked attack. There is no attack in aikido. When the techniques are applied by aikidoists who have achieved a certain degree of nLI.3((_'ry in the an. they will leave no serious injun' In their wake. I

2. There is ,the t.:)nstanll'cfl'rCl,lct' l(: the ha,o, (l,r a man's ··CC1I1J'f'·. (i.j?" center o_f gravitv). a~ The POJ1l1 of concentration of ('.':(·r~y; there ,15 t!.WI predominance of refer-ences to k!, or "Inner Eo-rgv. . as the pa rr iculnr f?r~: of ~nprgy t~ be employed. Finaily, d,!cre is tlw inten-st ing ~Ol;-I sibilirv ol expanding tilesr l'on('~pr!i and ihC'1I rek-v (1;1,(, to area-, !Jut'ldej the comparativelv restricted world of the rna rt ia] ,I~-[~, 1

3. There is the charactcrisuc stratcgv (i.e .. moveuu-m e, di~-pl~t(\>:lll'rlt~i techniq ucs) peculiar to the an, and tht, emphasis upon ::ir('Ul.~1 ity nl~ "sphcrrr itv" III the application ,-d' that SilJ.\t;~y.

\\'e will enlarge UPOIJ rhesc three categories in some der.ril in the p<.lgt''' -he t follow, as ' .... -cll :1S upon tilt appiir-ation of aikido training pl{Jgr,tTll<' in Ihe· interest of phvsirul fitness,

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Defense ill lliliido

.\~ a sdj~dll~n'(' ;1r1, aikido u-couruzcs :h,{ (Ilk individual ;H(,trb,'c: b', dJ"!(Jl.Lc.' hJS tlu: riO:->H (e.nd , of roursc, lI"IEljy ill'; ins.inctiv« ur2:(';' tLo defend La:1,dC ;'._!;5;_:ifl~t thut ,~g!!T!~~<;ioll,

Uti! liO~t will I'f' ddf-nd !limsrli') 1: h wii! cP!knd UDOI" Lhe- uP~:n:;~ of hi" pt'r~l)n;:.i (il\do~nwfli. rr J r- L- .~li!1 ()/1 a prinn uve lct:rL-~n'C::[~tny and cr

1),,1' j'·!,ht \,-ilcEv 1',Or('!l it\(_·m:('rJ'o ely): (r'JITI de])! hs '-I!

In' rlky cLlt~·:-.i!:, inflict 'iU!CHT d.lm;1~I_' hr- (;'11 upon "tiW ruorc T'.ldl;.-- ·>i the ",rlf-dt"~~Il,':.t· ar-s. u-. r1',1\ cold.h.ocrkdi-: pr(;(t'nl 10 r,('(H1bly inlLre it nut :!tll.1~d) kill his atu:,ckn,

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hov-t-ver. a n unjust and violent ,tggn'~hitlll CHl be .mc dt'~IJlI:, with dernonstr.rbt- -omroi on:" a.l t!'!l~ :::;p('n~ oLl\~~~(k ant: ,,(':~~ns(' ~(. d~Jt effc..tve sell-defense b,l,_plnn, possibl-' without the uecessiiv f:j" l!Lfli"'ling serious injury upon ill! hggr;:""rJl'.

In 01,11C1" ',\Ol'o:J;, aiki.io s;rr'~ ti"l,,: WI1 .. 1 should and must derend voursclf and suppli-, Y0li \~-irlJ an ~"'\_t('c;;i\,~ pr~c,;f"'{' th.u \\lli enable you t~J do 50 ,dth opum.un o:'HiC('IK\', Ell' aikick. :~1S0 savs that yell must [w re<;p(_)n:;ible for nor intiictin.;;; .iun. l'~,~<!;-\ ,J;Uli.\t;I' ~.Jr-()n your dtta,·kcr. He i~ still Dprr~~ting on ,.1 h)\u,~I' leve-l. Y"'P. a~vr-,' (D ~~ superior lcvc! \,b"ft, vour proven aoiiirv , wellf'<~IIl,'d "df-, onndenc.-, ann rcfiuem-nr cfrt:'d1piqll~'_ ',\ ill ~~lll'\\- you 10 defend \:;lH~,:.~f\Yirh 111 rcq")rtir!i!. ,I,' "!I_' b1Ut;11 mdhod~ so ol n-n '<lm~ht as h'~ilill1:Ht' L.;;C; us ,,1 v+t-d-tcusc.

Thi" ('uOfini[f'h more diflir .»: .md rhr rctorc rr or-. ~(!plli'HiC;lt!'d (oncl'p! (-I ~,'li~d€'k!l"':'. aucl !~-J' L'I r rr-Iativr- {I,)!llro: \\ hi, I -nus- o- c:I_·\..[0f',·d in order t< (f.iflt.:nld~ achieve s~;h aim:"! [1) the pr.:1.ctiCF' {,[, :nmhJ', hecorru-s t h(' tt'e;_tin_g- 21' ,I'H! 1fT a .vcloped ;.lLdn p-nuna.irv "lld l tic' e\ idrrn t-, ('xi~H'rlP' It ' . .i.crr-to 'f:, III LfJ \"(.1'\ mc.ucne utribu t ol to rtf \I (.'I~i "clr iense-" t hru ;11).;i(h din"",; l'rl ~}1 ~l'- -uhcr rr cO; I~t, ;lrb, Thic clilf"ft·nc,' 1.; grJ.pLic~~Jj~ ex.irninr-d in the scc.r ious o l thi, Lt,nk concernr-c- v.ith 1i1-: t'llh~'i nt Ih~ art (Clld]1!n 1 r ,)11([ Chapu-. :\).

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\VHAT IS .-\IKIDO: 21

The "Centre" and "Ki"

\Vest\i.'ilrd frorn (h.,: Orient nave come many (ales ofstranq- forms of'po\\(~r ----of strengd. hkl' that ot "massed v .... ind or water" s\\eeplng cvrrvthing avvav betore it. Thia po a e r has been called by manv names, but the one that appears most oflcn in tr-t-se JITGU!1E', especia.lv in J<tpan, is kr and Ll:.t: scat of dW.I PCoIv,c'r is said :{J 0<:: tilt' ham, i)r Centre,

Almost 31l,)flLe man.ial arts :u some point in -heir development mention this power and lil'~ vanout menus b, which it may be developed, It [-': held 10 be "Intrinsic Energv '\ or "Inner Energv" and possessed by everyone ai. ihough developer' i '~!n~Ci(Ju51:. by udy a few.

The- seat of this encrgv, tl;c hara, or Centre, is a point approx imatelv two 1 inches helm.' the navel. Thi , corresponds roughly Lo the physical balance ] point of a man s a ... naromv W:111"h we in the \Vest call hi') center of gravity,

In aikido, tht' emphasis upon this balance point and this Inner Energy (as j diffcrenriared from pure.y ohvsical, muscular energy) .is the verv (ore and! lcdesrone of the n~t:l.hnd ., 0..;

\Ve an" f.rcc d .vith c ert.dn l.ifficuities in attempting to explain and define: this power according t 0 gcn~1:ally accepted Western rcrrninology. I t is mcnta l ] 3S opposed co p~'·.:sicai:md yet more than mental in the restricted) Occidental i sense of "mental pm\er"-alth(jugb \Vestern psychology does speak of "will ! power," the '\\iH ;0 1i"'I'~" ere, all u.spects ofau itudrs and mental impulses

.. vhie h , .vlulc msubstanual, (,01:'1 nevertheless produce concrete physical results.

l~y far {he musr sl'rioli\ ubst acl- "0 .. my discussion of the particular suengm I referred to in aikido ,.5. 1:/ 15 Ihe" -tricr division which \\'estern terminology lHiu<llly mak ev b-r ..... .c en what is n.ema! and what is physical-; ben v -ecn the

)

mind and the body. Hut of whar use is the mind and its reasoning, direct ina PO\\TfS without the bodv to an a nd carry out its decisions? .vnd of;\dlh, use is ~hf' body wi thou t unv ~\·t'l-all c-onscious control and direction? The mind and tltr' body arc nor separate ruut ies ; thr mind j" p.Ll"( or tinct contained within the' body. Tilt.' closer unitv of mind and bodv-c-t h- fusion of Ih6C t',\( functions {direction and acrionj-. seems to C(JInt closest to <In ncceprable

\Ve<:;fcrn vx planntion (If the strange which aikidoisrs ColL 11. 1 t car; 1)('

demonstraied quire convir.cingfv b~. to the pheuomcncu c:iled the

"unbendable arm" ,t~ \yell .:IS 10 many others.

\\'hat do \',e me.cI11J exactlv, b\ this "fusion" otmiud and btKly? \\-rli, if you

havt' t"-~'r tried unsuccessfully lei open.1 tin~ {-igllth- clcscd Iisr, ~ou \\ ill

have cncounu-n-d <II' example of this. fUSlN1. bab;' is relaxed and oh-

viouslv nut suainiug u: n-aist you-,!tc may nor even seem to bf' ;l\. ... .arc ofyrJU -c-but J~iH liulc fisr remain, ,Jo)I~(L Sinn' ;l habv re spond, insrinc uvelv U) it" environmcru , there ~':I kndl: an~ v-puracion between prrccption and reaction, or bervvre-n die m.ntal and r lu- phY$iniL But <'IS \It' gnJ'\ utU!'t and develop our rational poi-ere, \\(' find, e~p('ci3.11y in \Y/:,slfTn I ultures. a \\'irltning o~-dl(, gap between the mind and i!:t' bodv . ~I nouceab!e hesitation bt't\\'f"cn decision and anion, lr is as if tlu- mind iil to rr vicw , decide:" ,1:1d then le-ave till' boch 10 carry OIl! [he phvsir.il iltti\it~, Ch:pClldillg solely up()n the muscle ;)0\\"1 whir h can be gt'ner;s[t'd.

Rut if titi.:;. g;,_lp can be brid!,),·t."d, the result \1 ill br' ,l clost-r unuv of mind .u-d bodv, "nth tilt." qrf'n~th, d.-rivion. ;md dirr-rriou of die mind EO'l,in_t!. directly and \',idi(: :1 mrcrrupuou r lu ough all the chann-ts ,ljFl n,:(J;]U Ib recesses (If lhe- tJ(l.j~

'1'h('1:. ,,<; ,\-~ 11\)'1" lil ·iw ;'~'E ricu: on "Op,,'fd(lt,rui (Cll<lplt'r \"

Since the rl)lrc g('!It'I~rf'd bv thc use of rl», bodv a", ,I ''I \\illlw ~re.lH'l

than that cbrain.rblr by t'lrplo\',u!.' ;tn~ of its parts -ep.rratclv ,i,("., .un:-. le~", .uc.), so "ill the forc c re<,Ltlung from t:1C usr of the mind .uicl both as a tU[J_lit~ be grt"<1!t'l than that rr-a liz.able by s hr.ir -cpnrmc crnplovrnem

--

)

WHc\ T is :\[KIDO J 23

Many scholars and pracvuior.ers of ri.e mart i.rl 3US, '-13 weh as monks anc; medical men have spoken of and demonstrated this Inner EnerWI ,~nd Il<;_ ofttimes almost unbelievable rs-sulrs of its development and US!'_

One frequentlv rnentior.ed method of dcvelopicg t l.is Inner En''J"g;, is b\ the regular practice of d.~'I'P or abdominal brc.uhing. since ki is held «:1 be closely connected '''.;it b brearhmg and hag indeed even been called th' ,. brearh of life," (A method similar to lhat recommended bv Mr. Tohci for br<:"wh-

ing practice is included in Cha?rr:c \T.) ,

Every beginner who steps on the- mar in an aikido doy; S.OQE cncoume-rs examples or Inner Energy. The most common among' them is the exen j<:l knov,u as the "unbendable arm" he is told to extend hi, ,H!11 1:::1 front vfhiill :-l,_,<!hth inclined so dun it describes d shallow half-circle extending Iorvv.u-d, with iris fingers outstretched, Then he' is told to relax, not to tense his muscles, and to

Concentrate upon a point beyond his extended fingq·tips the \\'~tH In

front of him, or the orhcr side of that ",'all. Someone will try to bend his

arm. If he has grasped the idea of "mental extension" and does nol. r esist muscularly, his arm \, ill not bend. The authors he .... e seen rbi, C(!l1':Tct<: demonstration of (he extension of mental or Inner Enerrv man'. nines. .md thrresult is al ... "ays thr- same: regar-dies:;: of how slight or i:lck:ng "in f'1U~( I,· pDHf"I an indi~:idu.al may be: th~ ~xtcnd{'d arm canuoc bl.lwm. _ _ _' __ "

The unbendable arm IS, however, mo-e than JUs; J srauc cx~unjJk' ol mental projection. ft j, a basic concept rct.ued [0 the pr;H_t~i t- ot .ukidc . 'll~d thus W motion on the m;:I,L In fact, Mr. Tol-e: S;t\~ that ifa )llJcknr doe- 1"1'_-'1 keep his unbendable arm, he will nut be able "to perform l1il' t~'<hniqu('s properly .. -\ note explaining this in derail is to be' Iou:rd irnrnrciLl!l"l} I"H.·;",~'Jl:1~ (he illustrations and cvp.an.nions of the terhr:Lqut:~Ck .. pter \'111 .

There are manv other tur-thod s of t:V'fi'I"in~ and testina '11l~ ll"I'[,L1 "extension" OT "projccnon .1r:.:::1 these an' out nned In d .. -tau In t l ~"C{!'I!L In; Basic Exercises.

It might be posvibk t~, link t!«: tdca ol tlu- tram, «r Centre. muo. (Ios(''' I, what Westerners kno« .l<;.\ m.m', ce-nter orgta\ ir> the spot \dlt'rc his \\cigh[

rnH :1('.-'; irs conc crurarion and ba.nncr-. (llhit'ving t-quihbrium ocuvccn the ccrur.d and llpper anatomy above and (he supponina a rchiterturr- of his hips and legs below. ~lr. 'Tohei f';'I~e(i:L \ \"-"if1'.:' again .md aaain t~Jat YUH canno "keep onr: pt:int or "la~ cenu-alizt-d (and di~IS b, able to extend <10(': utilize vo.tr ~I, «r luuer Euergy) Ullk.,.., vou kr-e p vour hal aruc.

1; migbt also he possible to approximate and expand upon (he idea of' Inner Encrg-. i11 terms ofrecem drvclopm-nr, in the field of psvchologv in the \\'('51. but thiv J11l~;'t lead U" teo t:H aficlc , and untcrrunarelv re~pal'rh undertaken in d-'I" general are a in the \\ c'l ita": not bern extensive enough or concerun.ied enc.rg). to pro\ ide us \\ itl- exact p.:tT·;.·dleh. '\'e ",ill, however d ivuss t be Cent re iifH.1 ~:i' in more tldai! in othe-r stet ions nf [his book, rlrav, iClg leanl;. upon Eastern SOU["(TS- (ella.p{t! \.\.

The Strategy of Neuhalization

Although certain general movements and terhnical applications evident in rhc art have been dra .. v n from sword and spear fighring as vcr-ll as from various ancient ~Ch00h of juj msu and aihj!J.i511 thr-v have been expanded and developed with certain unique additions and modificauons made so (hat the stratcgv characteristic cfaikido today (i.e . the movements, displace. menis, and tccl.niqucs j cannot (,J.~ily be confused with any other method

or art.

The

mcthodolocv of .rikido (,()1:"i"'b, more precivlv 0 of dvnarni. evasion, f'.\tt'f'_~j(jn, ana renrralizat ion, vbir-h are the Ioun-

movements

dation for more techni..ai arnons of n('I),tra:ilatic'!1 PI .he form of tbc now L1010U.<.; techniques of immobiliz a.ion and or projecuon . their nurnhet in combinanon is almost unlimited.

Th, r.?:,~neral principles rulina t ht appi.ca.ion of hot h tilf'~{, S!.i'E:r~,; of thf' ;;;Ir~\trl!\. rile dvnami.' fir o-e pararo-v , and tho ir-( hni-.«! or conclusive ar. many , but rhos-. of circular'itv (~phl'ricJl':'l, cont ro! and extension of POWfI predominate in au abv-Iurc sense.

fn aikido dlt' purp(J~t' of this prac ucul training is to replace ccrt ain instinc - rive responses (such as dashing direcrfv into or against another person's

)

force} with ot+rr-r , rnr.re subrl« <1Od refined instinctiv e r(:;pOIJ"C';' (suc h 'h evadina it du ect .ut.n k dl:nmt as Si.,nn:"" it is 1.1l1u'-hul .. nd [Len diE"eli!'!.!, l,l guiding it a\\ av [ron. you}.

Of course) bt~-f(n.':' unclen~lkir:g .t n v jWt1gT:ln, surl: ;,i~ aikido tr.nninu, d'd rational intc-llr-rrual t.u-uiri-s \nll be used to rcvicvv rht, pl·"1gralll unrl -t udv its elements. Thus a man \\iJi decide afrr-r due i.f)r'._",ldClJ.::on. \dv,:rb-~' en nOI to pursue lb~ prolSram rln~ further. 13u~ (JnL!' 1111- dt'li..;j'lTi ]_.~~ b-en la kcn and aikido ILlining ((.-nH1WL:t'~. [hc!: the irruru-dia-. pl<!.Ciii-;t! Inc.! in ,"it,\\ is 10 obliterate ccr-am inherent 1)1 acquired response- .. md n-pl.« c uum \' iJ, others mure sclec.uvc find les-, primitiv.

For make 00 n1i5t,1kr:'~\\'ben eventv overrake You :-:uddcnly (a~ thcv rna~ if you are vncxpo.tcdlv ar.ackeci) it vvill no! be ?()<:slhlc W pause. ,_-omi(k, decide, J.l1U then ac t , You -nuvr roe:\ct ll1~l!Il(L\d~. BUl hc>\\ \.,i~l \'Al. :H'iHt, and what kind ofinstinctive responses will vou exhibit"

This. will depend almost enure+ upon -he diligenc \\ th "'fi!rI1 ',-0;1 I,,\\{ applied vourv-If to vo;u aikido tr.unir.a because. d~ is tr n- of ,'-BY .md all artv. no profi~icncy in r\;c practiral perfurtnanc.e of' n-o ... -erncnr-. 0:' 1I· ... l;lLiq:JI,~ i~ possib.e v ii hout com.nucus. prcgr~nlilr~d P' ':jqilf' of l!lI' varruus n.nvemc Ill':>. etc This tr.nning is undertaken in the same spir ir in ',\ '-;ich one _lttrfl':p[~ 1(' learn to -ki, to tvpe, or to pL1'. piano. The ideal, ~-l~ indicatcd :-.ttiO\·(') i~ to go beyond r.cchniquc 50 !lld! after rrpr-arcd C\:POWfr' if; J.lki{j" .r.nu.ne method'S vour expt-ricncc . arrual!v bccornr n.nr of \!~U. rh,._ ere pre· gramrned 1111( ym;r psj c he rhctr(lUgLl~ <:1;_11 ~()l' nc !o;h£cr t!l1nk (d tllenl .l' separate move-ments 0:' trrhniq ur s. And of (C,tll'Sf' 11(' one ncr l-arned I_n j1",I[he piano h~ disLIJ~'iins CUI:'!'.lkrs ;wd rla-t. (f·mpu::,jljc'lJ'i, bUI or.lv il\

phy~ica.l application LO mr nt.rllv pr0sr;tn~, !f you ;11': Ii: ~'r"'"It'd

in a Iusi..n "I' rhe- ... 11 t:IH,~h (,I' Ij ino IJ,_·"h. ,,1i\1 il~,hl Ilf(J['ll):,k! .>i i] {

(annul funrnon ;1, optimum d1i('\~'n\_\ unlc- ... hr-ti- TJ;\lh ;~n' ". pi :1 ..,1,j,,::\ working orrh-t .

)

26 .'''~IDn A:<D 'Ill! J)Y"<.',\llC ,PEERr

The Potential of Aikido

Aikido training function') on rrcnv lcvc!s, since the ultimate aim for individu,tll is his development and menta llv , and

It has been noted Plt'v:(;-)usly [hat the practice of aikido is dl;)racterizt?d b~, a panicul.u sphericity of anic,n and smoot h rxtensiou .)1 high dcgn:f' of main rcsuu : fluid.

move!rlenrs 'Ivhich

fOUTI of rigiGi~y,

cienc. as ,-L supcrict art -c-aikidu ha : ,-ittraCled ,;\~hl,:_'les of all peJ'9 .. iasions \d1O have r._,und [1 L1 met hen for irnproviuz their roordinanun, reI1(:xfs, tirning, and gcner<1i This h~dudn etc, vvho find the e-cercises and rnoverur.nts to be an (x(cHrm [orrn of condir.oning, (Of SpCCidJ interest l') then! is the conccpr of" extension which is so funciarru:.'llc.l1 to the-ir n:~?(:nl'\;e

spor-ts or arts.)

"

,\mong the C'.11]t}{'U· Jf':-'lI!t~ nfl't'guld,[ pracrirc Ii ;,\i~I(:O rxvrr isc'x will be ,! noliceablc improvr-meut in '(lUI gt:f:e~';ll health, cvirh \p('("i~'tl ::,;np}l~l'-;J'; I!PO'l respiration and circ ul.u.icn. The prat-uce of .rudomum l blt':ithinQ" \\ ,Il oh~ viuusly influence rhe de\c':(Jpn~-:::'nl ofrh(' former: i.Lile {h,' r crrul.n ex('f( Ii(" 'II rhe joint- ~nd tl.<".bo,d\ ~~ ~I \\L.:Jk ~\'ill prnrno~:. 110(' l;ltlt_·~,_ '~'~H' irnp:\l\{'!l1Cnt in rec;.p.!.t"<-lUOIl ann C"]lTUJ,U.l()1l to unn, ~\ II ,1::()'.'. the blu,,(1 ,0 hr;ni; If{'sh material more r~ipldJ.. ;ad ;"Q't.i,u-j·. to all the organs ()i di(' »odv. "hill: a rhe sarne l1IlW heJpilH! to K(,CP vr-in , and :trl('rivs tree Itutn .:]rrgQn1::( ~::l,-ill'L;d~ and LFt} deposit .... whic h nl_,,~!Jt othcrv.i-e bu.id up,

In rilr' sec-ond :5tn5L a:-i a pr.n ticr- cr ntr-rcd cpon rlx- r-dnr-uon. eiiminarron and or sublimariou ot mcntn. V n-ions. aikido prcr .. id--, PJ:J\c~ Cli !I:t~ ti·r ~Im accun1uladon oi I";ur:l "mrnr.r l dcbri-" rbrOLL";h ~h{' pr~'_nit,·· rd tilt' .,r'o;--JH' eXCl'C15!':; and leI hniquvs , lhe USll<l.lJy rda\ed, guud~h;.j;'n(_ji't~d ~-t[jllfi"plw]'c of an aikido d(ljrl i -. in racr, ,1.q_iJ..iop- {'(.Jitl,l,s,t [0 t l.c- diliul':. innnee. [jgidl~ controlled at ruo-plu-re l~\pi(al of lhc prac.ice of so m.uiv {Jrll\'r ruaru.rl an c, The authors' person:!. (':-;;Pt'[>::tc('~ inc ludo rrlir-f r.l in-omnia .md the disappcaran('c ora sdicrW ulcrr run.lition \,.hich had developed Pl'iUi 1,(\ I;~'gitlnin;-~ aikido practice.

Ofcourse. ,w~ regular p:l\""irai ac'r iv irv H'i!1 ~r('atly iu.urovr (.m(":~ g-;_-n.o:r;j phvsical r-ondirinn, but ph:.~il-al nIllC;-;'i :1'-. an end in itself call ht-c i!n:t bfJrin;.: and cvcr.ru .. dly be redur-d to J t ircvonn- -ou.i-»- ·,\l---i\·h .uo-t rwopk '\IU abandon sooner or later

The possibilitu-, ofai kido t[ awing, !Jm,,'t'vC'L .1ft" so var.rd ann d. [[l~m(: -uch application ot beth IW"JHal and pl.ysical PO',\tr5 lhu one r.m cnnnnue practicing the an mddi.niu:ly \\.-id,)OlH r-ver fecling: :h,ir he has learned l'\{'f\ thing aikido could teach h:_II1, :1f)1 acccmph-br-d all thin he- could.

-

')

)

CHAPTER II

The Foundations of Aikido

The Founder

A.TKfDO w as founded hy \Lt"l,er .\forihe: L'yeshiba. He dt-v-lcp-d .md svu;he. sized it from various other runrtia. ap,) -vluch be learned as a young ntnn. His practica l expf:"ricnct' in I b[~s\~ arts i-, oct' of rill' richest and most

of any sensei .vlanv or the arts and rcchniq ur's which arc- Iour-d

aikido dare in lact . more rl.an 7en vc-ars to the tin-e (,f lb.' G('nji unci

Heike regimes, .\ number of the ma,.,UTS und-r ,dlOI"'l \L,_st-'T lrycshh~'

studied died without other disciple .

.. ;udics ilrrcug ot'u-rs

.kusnbuio

2.

China, and ~'[a~.kl" Uvcsbi ha Ul11~dj'm;"Hh 1~~:1~r) as (\1C' vear in 1'.h.i:..:t hi~ :h1.15 jar un-

sati.sfied search for ,1 r o ~'.luii}ll~ed r o t':lf_' n-urtinl arts C;:';.111I:;'

to an end. or rather to

plored fU;'ciwr bv him, and bv ttcdC'd in bicnding rhe . m;ln ial arts' he

meor tlu-

in accor'danc r '.'. itl, of t:'(·'le erhic s.

In 1927 bis or prarric c hait, \'.,h riovcd to unu-upnlitrn Lokvc. Hl~

mttfwd aroused in {he }~lg-!It:~{ "itcle5. He ti-lw,;-ln unril \\ en-id \\':H 1'1

ernpllcd his d,)]o or 1\" most promising pupils.

There was a tr"mpClult'y ban on .snv inatrucriou in mjlitaf) ,)l'tS (f9V)_\ hut

29

\.,itli A';,l;;~ ru-d in

30 "KIDu \\ iJ

lilain Sources of Formation and Inspiration

l n tilt (iJdt; 'xi;((tt [dllf\\"~, \'~f~, find .u. oi rhc 1'n2..1n -ourcee

[urn:d-tio"n inspuation i_;-q:U(':1 b-. ~la:;tt:'r C ~.:~~')h!·~):t in rkYt.'k'pin~ the ar t

aikido.

L '\L\l:\ "(JeRCT.:' OF lCm"I.·\TIO'; \:\D l'iSf'IR:\TIO:'<

R I:; 1 T'

I(\\"\:!) in

)

The Marlial JIrts

Since tI~c n.art.al J-, fJ; H:l ~;] i--f'll ',1' ,I, • "f !_l, 'I!. ,!

marion of th-: rer hruqucs. (:., ·-!~'!'tl:~,' .PJ..j'l; ,-t- I'

',-' lfJi-,f'{ .11,':,"!

!mdng charts examples I)~ -he '1:,,;sr ln~,( 'T.!Y , .... t arts and their major :,(hc..-,j;;

2. xr \JOR .\R.'-U:D .\1 \ldL\L .IRT'

~.)r

t1 14: ~,r-

I

---t, .. _

''''/.,

)

anC;c',d t. 1/'.

. .. ,-''_'

lU.~·.I'

'-¥i.

,

\',

--...:.~ . ~--,-- ._

L \1 \)OR SCHOOL" 01 :,L\RTL\L .\RT~

The "Ethics" of Defense

But :F jJnh-:I!,,'d .n Chan L p(ll!~' Jfl, self .. detense ac('urr,lllg trl \L;~rn

Lveshiba-, n:l·tho,1 llhl"1 r r.mplv ,.,';\11 certain ethical ilnptra'l\(''',

'Fl-e-e .ur- 11.;11\\ Cind .,dllplrx; I)- '-1111 jJJrrH,,,f") \\r have :.11"\ I ... ~'[I Ch~!n

5: page ~q. II 'J' Ij-il~ illu-r.au-, tlie b,t~il difft'J('llu',; in .. ~nl\_!ih Vll::l' ct selfdefense,

In b.s chtn t. eac h ')<.111(1 repr'-'~r:H~ .ut crhical Icvcl of combat lhe level rifles <15 \',-.- pnXt··:'d (':011 Pau-l _\ r:1rr).lli,b Panel D.

l n Panel A. t:1(' man on the left. " v it;;OUl prov oca tinn and C'1 bisuwn :tltt::.-

arivc, ::ut~!l'ks 'itt' ulllCl 1i1aD kills him. Erhir allv, this is the IO\I,C<;l cr!h.;,

four lcvcls -. LU1F\)\('kt'd b the form or ,1 dirc.r aL7~1(k

In Pane! Ii. 1 he muu {lJ1 lefr hclS llO~ cliie c-lv .t.tr ac ked dH' U' [,0"1" man.

but he bas p;-o'\.okf.'d theottser }]l,\11 to ;:..uad .. him. It may h:;;\"(' been an obvious provoc.uion, <uch ,1;:' an ii1sul!~ng remark or the tr.ore subtle prm,_,(i;.tion ora C0lEU;:PU.1(lUS .. m itude. ln either case, when the other man is invited to attack .nid dr.ev sr: !n' j" killed. \\'Lilc !ht_~ hrst mart is not ~UlhyollauncJl!ng tlw actual cua., k , h.' "."' ~'(><;TJ')n:<:hL._~ fer lnl:i~~ng ~.;l:: other man to c u.ack. Tt.e ris onlv a ,JLiCk ~,r difference e rhic.illv br':_)\-{:en Punel _-\ ant: Panel B.

J u Panel C. ill !I1J.T\ dte kf\ n-:i;b'~r .ruucks nor provokes the otlwr map

.. 0 a nack. Bur .. hen ~l!Ll\_J.CU t.c dl"'rencb him .. self in J. .... i;.bjeni~·,· H'.Jj_H;i'~. i.c., he take-, { . .n "f n;11~ "number O!1t'." .nd the (Jth<:>!' mail i'~ killr.c! (II' a- h--':::-'. scriouslv ~!I:urtd Ltl.icdlv. th i ... is.1 mort: .n-tr-. ~ih-,~' action t l.an rh·od.n .\\"('. Tilt rr .. en ~~ilJ ... j .nd :-12, '.\ ,<.; in IW \'-:.1\. l"""po:: .... ibic tr» £1,,- .u,» k. nc.tln-r dirCt:l1~ nor -ndircc-I v. Hr, man n-r of dcfcr.sc , LO\'\t'\TL \\hik' IF ItnLing 1",,~ fr(l1n p')';.sible harm, n ... suhcd in die dec.ruction of another man. _\s \8U (iJ!1 sce , the result ill ~t11 \.hrt~t:' Pa ncls- \, HI ariel C-is idc nrical . a ur.m i.,. blL·cl

in Pa-u-l J\ have the uh imate in ethical self-defense. Xeither auacking

nor V'oH,king an atrack , tl.c man on the defend." himsetfir. such a \\'~\y,

su.'ll skill and cc.r.rrol ~'-D( thr attacket ncr killed. III this case he is

no e"HT' seriously injm-d.

This last and hight'5i level i" the goat of all aikido self-defense arts. It rcskill: the result of intensive TllaC,IC(' of dll': technical means I)f defense

thrfoundcr Master l-}:c~hib,\. But It requires more than th.u. It rc-quires au .ohiGd inu-nt ir-n. ~-\ man most sincerely de-ire [0 defend himself

\',ir.llUi_ll!mrtin~ He must he ",·.-eli on .he wa, towr.rc int.egration of

mir:d and of pb:.-sjr;.d means and ethical motives.

He will often - pt-act.ced various other disciplines.

and mcditat.on ere common means in the East lO this

intc'grJ_tion (thes- and other disciplines employed in the 'Vest),

\~ we Ibn' z,\~en then, at thi<; ethicallevel aikido cIEcrgcs as a Discipline of Coordinarion, whrrt' a man develops his O',~ II coordinauou ofmind and bod} or pnrtncrs to develop [heirs as well.

art of aikido then bet-o-nes a hartuonious interact icr Master l\(~hiba's inte-ntion via trans\VCH as \\ ell) into vital and active

34 AIKIDO ,\:\D THE D\'NX\UC SPHERF

h:_ghE:"t 'Hocks cd conduct:

J

THE ETHICS OF DEIT.l'\SS J:1 CO\,rBAT

Pancl .',

Par.el ;}

"

~~~1/

:;l}: ~_

)

CHAPTER III

Organization

The Hierarchy

THE I-ilERt\RCHTCAI. structure of aikido follows su hst antiallv 1 he rankine svste n. adopted by almost all the other major martial arts. Till' stude nrs of lIlt' ~\Ti arc divided into {',\'(l r.llegur:(~s: one inc !Iiding students of Lu rank. and :hc other including students of dan rank.

The catcgcrv of k)'u rank embraces students of aikido \\ h« have nct v c t .nrained the sr.n us of dau, and rhus :l?.vt" no! yet -r-c eived the-ir blark belt. According to their degree of experience, J.~ illustrated in Ch.1J r b, pagL 36, they are subdiv idcd into ranks w lric.h usuall-, begin \Aith rL:' r-ank of bth {the- lowest} and progress upward ro the rank 01 l st ~)"U. In :-1)fl1(' .ukido

all students below [be rank of l st dan (J!wdfln) wear ~\ hire belts over i heir

uniforms regardless of their k__ru in other tJub~, however, various

colored belts are used 10 denote the l~vu. ranks, <IS in the o!h"r mcrtial

The ca.tegOJ) of dan ranking embraces t.tusc studenrs of aikido h he have her-r; awarded their alack belrs .. '\ccnrding to [heir experience rind prufiricnc.v, they are :lIS0 subdivided into ranks which progress upward fn,rn l ct {sltodan] LO 9th dan /kudan] and above.

The founder nlt hc an dud his son, according to j apcnesc custom, arc ,lbt)vC the Tanking svste rn T!rc -mdencs -vho hold dan rank. n-om 1<::, ·1'"/.'1 upv .. ard. wear the blat. k belt over (hcirmibrms :5i) and undei the div ided skin :)1" trousers (lt~kamaJ inherited from the samurai who wore it vv Lile practi-ini; hrmar.ial ar-ts. There are some clubs. however, whe-re- ... dl st udem s. rq':'d'dks:} of caregorv or rank. wrar [hi .... ha.~rWFi; as do studcm-, ol .J;lp,t!W~(, a-cher-, (k_)!J.·/o'/J J;'l.p,~nf'St~ rt:'n(in~ -kendtl , etc.

arts.

35

)

36 AIKIDO .'\"'11 THr 1)'\"\.--\\11(' SPHERE.

G. CHEGORILS ."-:"D R.,\:'\KS Of THf:. AIKIf)O HIEk.\RC:HY

I rhf' ~ I'll :-Ina _

:11(' d;;lj

Cl('.·gon :;111(: ~' - its l'i~llks

L-~ __ i

i

r---

r.uik nl ['\ I:w

I ;U1K 0[' :,)(1 /"'l!i,~:;-----I

____ ,_. , __ -I

\\hil" oi brown b-h

_______ black belt "wi heli.wlIl'!

,,'

Promotion

)

There arc three ba-ic methods of conferr ing c Iass ur rank:

1) examitrauon-e-Icr t-ach kl:U class and for eJ.ch. :fUJi r.ank, the-n" nrc

win pr('ci~t' requirements pertaining' to hours prd(ticcc!. n'rluiiqur-s mastered. etc.. ~\ hicl. rn.nr be fi.Ifilled. Hovvev er, ti:e:-:c t'I~c:.llirrm~:!ll:~ may differ according to lilt' 10jO. Folln\.,:ir:g .irv n',-r; tJ.bk~ one L:'L:lg [he requirement'- for promotion up to and .ncludinz -. 1(' rank of shodon as posted for \:\.;;.ml:1;:Hic'n:-: in Ycv, York in the :5!)!-int; ot .')1).3: ihe other ourlinins; the requirerr enrs at Hornbu Dojo in J"1.ku, JD October, 196-1.

2) honorary- for tcuuihutions to tilt' immdurtion and _!lromnrinTl of aikido.

3) combination of examin.uior .md ilOn(ll ;lIY-fine supplrnu-ruinc' h: ocher.

01-'"1'10:,\\[. rECH:\l{2.Cr.~+

- HO\lIlL DOJO GR.\IJ!\"r; S\"\TE,r

EXA~r. FOR PRERE(2_ChITE 3\SlC

GRADE OF: FOR EX.\'\l: TE(f-I:\'TQ .. L T:"" ...

+0 hours prac ric c- standinv : ;':(11,,/1 I{II"I jhih,~ :'«1';", sncoen act. .. ; i'-i~!i '!G('·. ,fI'lINI") ucla i_l_·.i:v(_,"itling:· i;',A:~'u h

11< hi Tlil-~l 0 1.1)

Uthl ·.tl'li.;:'l r o ;lh,)'''~;

Znd k_ru

60 iiour- P!3.(ll(:!;" same as. above

after obta.ning

3ni -\.HI

lSI ';':\11 GU 1~0~lrs pra-t.c- <arne as above after obtaining

Znd ~"I .

;hodoll

(1st grade black bck , nidan

(2nd arade ,

same .]." <l.lx)_" p\o.~ :,_m;~, don 'knit:"

techLlql~[

sandan

(Srd grade'

2 v-ars after

same ,l~ ab()~·,' plus lar-hi do,'- ;$horr!

tf'"chnicj"H,.

• irimi (mrll)r~) and /t!J..nll f~ira) w heu a~p!~cabl'"

as abov- plu ,''1/:",-/ :t·.,., m.u:

)

38 A1KIDO .'-\XD THE lJ\'X.'\\l1(' SPHERF

8. KLQl'IRE.\IEc.:TS 1-0R PRO~IOTfO:\ ,Ell" YORK

-hn

2,

+.

'h!

Lfl-g-Ji,dJ cqu.va.enn '1 ~.l!thn~'i· _~y~If'!1:1 •

urne- lil PI(:\lOi,J., prllCr~Ce re'lUlf':t1 ;

.rtt , no ~ j " proj

ar t. no. I', ., imm

~;(tHHr c e.ensicc '-Chi:llW:'r \-,

I -l r. uuchzcd b ... · nrt-n. no. l. 60

an. In. 13 ll:.1.': hour-

<ttl Ii

''''" I

«n 1+ n-urral.zed h~ proj

18

_. ,jv"f't"· t '

i,,-,J:,,'; il"hi hwl'!, "<1(<' 1.

'f L,!:/

.~), a t t. roo;

'li,<,\!n

I. ~.

1:0:':",

;"11,,:,)/ ;l"/,:,'

ch,-, re-I hnl~Ui'~ ~b:,'''.'' above I

1 lu

fl"~ "',

I

'ul:!( llwul.:ai:zQi b) lIO.:?

\ flu. +

<.I~'. uu. 1-1· inlrn I

an. no. 1 nroj. I

b,,' 111Un. fLO. I no. J n.o. IJ

rcchmques ,I'YJ·.\n pfus-

!I"<' .... :,t\'h· ill{dlL;, rour tree S!vho j·,J/,.j'''1

Iree ~t~.It" ;"Iil"ill-~~ kr- 1<- lip!" -,vi", ;Hr;~I!_q ar rra-d auack

In f'<l'b. ',a~':. q-,.-., flo1nlb'"f<lfltou!"s l)kr,·d tor til.,

;J.l '.Lddiul}!a\ a.rld:tirm tr, t l-n-

"l.t'. rht,y are Ih e: t"or" nurnncr i,t hours corn-

-

ORG,I"IZ,\ []O'\ 39

The Uniform

As sho\,'n in the illustratiors. the uniform worn by aikido st. J,-Ill, doe's LO! differ Sllb'ifantia!iy [rom the uniform adopn-d hy otber nnnual .mssu h ,l"judo or karate. This uniform, worn by evervonc, ionw:,p: of ~l j.-·~d.;'\ :mcl pants with an appropriate be lr (w:1ite) black. or ('oiored,ccorciillf; 1.(' Tanh. and-or the custom 0[' the individual d(jj'1~"

In connectioll w ith the tying 01',:1::- be!c, ti-e pt ocr-durr- i~ rl,,· ,,'1)\,' ;-1'" tl;~: thar.n aikido II h purr:)(\~c>, point cd )"(-It-r(,I1((" fI',] th.it uf aikido.

tim: rankin~: (black hrJ.t.

adopted by most' murvia] arts, ~'\il h rbe worn 10\\' on the hips in order to creat e a concentration on the tiara which

Students of aikido \,110 have divided skirt called a ![{lkama-,-~u~u;dty ~)iad, Thi:'i .ntirle. \\'hi(~l is ,d;o use-d

'[he

9. THE C,rFOR~1

in the martial art s of kcndo and ing of the hal.ama also 10\\ on centralization and adds a ccrt am on the mat.

h'J5 ";-0;'1) by 'bt~ -arrur ,I. Til!' -ec urinrrc.tses that ~11()II_'sald k·t"iinl!' of bcautv ;{1 iJ:c fll'lfor:rallC(' ,,{ aikid-

/~f)'\

" '\ \ ,_I r-'_

' I -'

~I-:t~

/' I- 1\

U '_\ f

~~'

, ,

jacket

J) , -
/f'-~
J4 ;-'iI 1\ \l i \ '\
,-t-~~ , \' \ ' , \ j, \
./
G::\J I'\., "·,,,I ",I
r;' ~', ':(T
I \ ,i[r'"~'''r Y' , "
,; 1\ \ IIY if
I /~ \ \ \ I
<~ 1)\ 1_-
Jf t~ T ".' --
tying paJlt~ aH3.;;i<ng ben )

.... 1

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• "~'pr(l":1 IIJ-'.,II , i'j'"'..:.a, .... .1.1.... .,.~: II .. r ~ I'i tJ .......... llrh hJ:JJ. "

.........

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t... ...... .....r~11II1 rll"~ ... I· -.- "I'~ 1I·~I".a .. I,) .I~" .. I r·II(IIY~I·" •• 1

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)

42 ,\iKIDO A~D THE Dyr-;A:\UC SPHERE

.~~\ : /l/'-;r

I \f

. LI/.

~ ,,'1/

.~(1~Vl' Ci"YI,-

\

I

l -

"

The- student will wait for t he instructor and employ i:is lime probably by

pcrforminz light calisthenics or rhe basic f"XCrCiSf5, if these are nor performed (:Llrim~; the insu-urrors class, He r:lay also sit down, relax, and perform the special cxcn.iscs lor the d;_~\dGpr'H:nt of the Inner Factors of the an. A~ the r imc <1 ppl oaches for the beginning of the class, die student ~~ ill sit in sri:a in line with -ne other students, and in the (T1SWI11ary place.

Seiza

The silting position is called sei;::.a and it is ,tfhleved by withdr-av .. :ing the it:'fI foot liaif a pat-r-. placiuu the left knee on the mat with ioes bent, but with the body anc head kept erect. The right foot is then wirhdrawn and placed close LO lhe left, with the big roes crossing or touching each other. The hips, of course. [tuvc been 10',\"('1'cd so that the bodv \\cighl will sctrle on the inside 01 your heels.

The hands should be placed lightJy on vuur thighs, palms downward. with 1 he fingors either turned inward sligln.« 01 curled into a ball-fist. The dist.tnce maintained bcrwt-en the knees should be approximarely that v-hich could he O<T!.lpit:d hy TWO fists.

the vaviar ions in this posture vvill affec-t only [he pcsinous 1][ th: leas and [eeL It is per-missihh-. tb-rcfcrc, to keep the teet crossed. ur rest one on each sidf'---a" shown 111 the iiuo mtion-c-or sitting alwavs with the spine kept <:;traig~H. -:)ut \\,ith tlu- legs crossed in front of you, adopt the style popular in India.

One f;;CS from thr j-c:.:.'J. position by rr:n:I'sing the above pror-r-ss. Ttvstudent w ill 1':11:-(' his hips. bendinsr his roes « nh their lips on the mat. He' v ... ill raise his right knee fir"-l and pbn' his right foot near the lr-ft. knee. Then IIf> wi.ll raise the Icfc knee and place his left foot alongside the right one, Tbr- entire movement is performed smoothly and quickly.

)

)

URG_;:.;1 z:U W\ 43

The instructor usually sits in Irorn of [h,_. rlass, and--:.l1rning- 111'< back so that h(> and the stude-nts nrc facing in the saruc dire-don ({h;lt or rh- A:,tml;a") -he hill signal. usu.dlv hv clapping his hands. ,\t thi.:' ~;gnal !I'h' «ho.e class win perform the ceremonial b-rw from the ~ittin~ posuion.

Zarei

The ceremonial bo\\ in rhe s(;.k nr.:arei starts from the 5/:-£.;:a posture, The palms of tilt' hands are placed on the taiatm at a cii"lan("I' of «hour G inches in front uf your knees. the flnger~ pointing inward. Tile c1:i.:''i[ i-, he-m [01\\ a rd. as in rusuret, at an angle of 30 d-grces. with the r'lbO\'-' "liglrly apar-. The head shot:ld not bend so :.1'1 to couch the milt! but should be kept in li!F' with the trunk of d1C bod;', and the hps should not be raised fr-om thr mar. bur should maint a.n their contact with the heels.

The instructor will then tur-n, face his students and rtpt;11 ;_hf' which

is returned bv f hem. The insu ucror "'lll usually then ri:)C and begir.. rLc basic exercise, oi--, if these havr- already been performed under the

of ad van red stud-rus-e-he \\1.11 proceed ~o iHlI'ilra~(' and e-xplain the strategy emplov cd in aikido.

Usually, an incrruc.tor will 5-110\\" a technique of ncur-al.zarion applied against a specified form of attack, while the students remain seated in .wi.:,7.. At his signal. they will bov- (0 him, stand up, and select a pt.triner [both per-

)

44 ,-\IKIDO \).;D THE DY!\-A,\UC 5PHER£

an inrrcductotv ri!,lIirei) and Pl'i1Ct1ct the technique wi.h that partnr r.

instructor claps his bands, \\ ill sit clown azair: ..

Ai the end uf thr- class. L1lC instructor flap his hands and then sir down

The cami:o, He and Lis students \\'ill be» in -:am' toward the which he 'sill turn and how again to his students, who will The class: is rhus dismissed. ,,1111 a "thank you" from the stu-

dents.

CHAPTER IV

The Practice of Aikido

As "\"1::: ~L>\V}. said. aikido canbe many t:lin!{s to man: people. depending '!PC>B the degree (:1' their personal development. 1 r can be ar; efficient an of ~1,Jldefense. aimed ar rH~tltr<l.lizlJlg any possible torrn of .. rttack r.rr it, hight'l lev e-l-, it can become a Discipline of Coordination, a conrinuing. eyer expanding method \\ hen b~ a m(_\11 works toward that fusion of nund and bodv discussed earlier. IT can bVCOIlH', Jmally.,~ ph:llo'lop!r; ofinr cgrauun, of a uarrnonioue blending of m-in \\ ir i1 man- of men \\ ith their em ir uruucnt . Ail {.l thr sc aims can be ~ILhjt",TrI thrtrug'l: it , pracuc-.

And tl-is p-a-nice {'()n<,,~~ vi .J. disuncuve series t·f mO\{'lh:I:TS. ernbudicd in t lu- techniques of neut ralizauon-, each c~lpHhle of deflecting or rcdircrrinc any aucmptcd attack, whether launcheri by II single nun Or' several. This, O~- COLlfSt-, l~ in a,~curd~~n('t' \l."i[~l .he first out lin,> of alkide, i.c.. an r-Hertiv.' means ofseff-dcfcn-c derived fh!)11 '" sophistic.ued bl-nding and adaptation (\" ith judicious additions) of n.anv nt ar tial art -vsrems, based upon e rbical considera tions contained in Eastern rdi~lOus-

and philosophir.r! thour!u .

As. indicated in Chart 1';', page ~7, liovo-vcr. the prZlclit::' I" not bae-d solely upon 2. rhoro.rvh klll)\\-kdge and ma."t(TY of the ,l:ktd(-, rr-c hmque-, n;' »euu-ahzutica tlu-msclvrs. but also upon an cquallv rbQroug!J b:lli!;;Jril~' \\:~h all lype~ and fUl J'.~. or possible cln~,t"-in ",C{ordanc(" w.th : h' ancient japancsc axiom th;u "T'Iu- Vrry tust :'t'qu~)Ilt' for d!~[('!1~!' is to b10\1. rhe uldny.·'>i<

E\C'llW.rlllYJ t.u'cugh a better unde-standing of the ituerrelari-m of faWi{'cffer-t , action-rr-,« r.on. Sltli('il~tti;_,n-rc"pun:;('. «n the pr.rctical 'wlJ-defe!l~t' level

AtJ

l~S'l/J!'1

% stll /'

.

,

45

)

46 A1KlDO A:;\:D THE DY.r-~Al\HC SPHERF

(resulting from regular praciin~ olrhe art), the vtudr-nt will a deeper undcrstand.ing 01' the relationship and

[:1CLOrS in hi~ .-!~ :1 ....... -hole , hevond Lll(' cornparativclv

to develop of these domain (jf

the

The practice then is the \,\;1)-' along \\ hich ,1 man can procee-d from the basic, urilitarian considrration of learning an efficient means of self; defense · ... -hich will follc)\"o certain lines, H) the "high

Discipline or Courdinarion aimed (it

the harmonizing or

or al-

However. structured:

ternates+-not an an on G! resulring in destruction. individual or \1 hnlesaie.

The practice of the art, then. based upon a series of carcfullv

movements anti Z!(~tra:('g;cally linked, whir-It arc or can be- actual responses -I) various forms of aggression Or attack. The dramatic and vital effectiveness of this strategic activity) in fact, is perhap- the most immediately imprcs. 'ii,-e clement of the art, as anyone who 11<'.:-. witnessed J. skilled

ol

the art, is the urtark-c-that auemprcd dynamic intrusion which

tr alizr-d by one or more aikido recnruoues

Tbis is because the a nar k tilt' \.cry eleme-u s which an aikido

tween the i.l?grcssor and tl"." d-fender. we will outline IXT(: a hr ief theory of atr.ack fcilooed by a theor v of de-tense \.,./:I1'h , •• ill explore ihe ways. and means of guiding any form of .utcrnprcd violence into a harmless Circuit of _\ieulraliz arion-c-alwavs in a manner rypical of, and in accordance with, the erlrical pr-inc-iples of dJC art.

:;
Z
/ -'
~
z
»<
z
- /

:; -:::

= =~H

::::
::::';
:5
'" z ~ -
;;: "
z:
~ ;c - _.rI_~

:-::: ~:;

:r. ~~

)

"-=:

1~·~

)

48 A[KIJ)O .\XD THE J)YXA\fIC SPHERE

The Theory of Attack

\ er:,' f(",\' nun-rial <'IfP, have- ana.vzed the various forms of ph, ical ag~ e're~sion--:hl' attack. and its pos-ible slrdFgi('~: ,-H1J basic for-ms-. as thor(/ug-ld\,' and acr-ur-uely as aikido.

An auack i<; dcfinr-d here as an unjustified, unprov oktd anempt to d('stn)~ or injure another person, Dr evr-n interfere \\ irh his fret-don- of <,rt\CH"I. The-e m.o- be a <:ingie man attacking or st:\'t'r2J men-c-aikido tc-hmques in panlcular, and strategies ~n general. can be adapted to either cv-nrualitv. ln this book; we will be mainlv outlining technique .. i'lpplicd de lensively against J:1 nnack launched by a single man (singular a uack) since there are numerous basic techniques ·.d:ic!t should be explained :1UU illustrated here and £0 rnancombinations, some of which ruu .. { also be discussed. '\-e will. however, also include a f('h examples of defense :lga:nst multiple attack (plural .urackj.

:,lany clifierr-m cleme-ns are blended togE't:v::r to produce an attack. Multiple factors, some apparent and some so subtle .. JS to esc-ape the notice of al! but [he most dis- • .erning spectator. are fused in the act 1.0 actually give' ~h<IP(, and recognixablc form (t) an aggression.

\U·::,' .. \L (d~,.. 1l):~~IH, It)

C'\IFff.n PO''':I:R 01 .l.IIACf..: (Li',\1

/

! C'\CTI0~,-\L

/

,

\Vc must. however. examine these elerneru- separarl"l\ b~'f;:;rf' \'''' ran conelder their fusion in <1 unified and cohere-Ill form of attack. Gcncrallv. these factors fall into ~\'\O classes: Inner FaULt'S (menr.il p .... ~'(hQlr).s-iG'll/ and Outer Factors (phvsica. fimftlona·;).

The psvcholcgical factors ofanv attack p-ovidc thf' hJ.d;~;njund '.Hld,t.>1tlTlt; for r he attempted aggrn\:O!1. Tnc,e inc lude- lh· ..... villrc har:n." th- to'~\! (II partial. connrii t rnen t to the' ~:1flicting of pain and or injlir) , This. .nrention rnav 'be conveyed by a threatening altitude or gesture; it may, on rhe other hand, only be revealed ..r -he moment when a pf'r~""'n actaallv launcl-es hi .. a-tack. In man: rases) the r hrc.ne ning glance (of' g'(>:o)tw'(' is sufficient to lircrallv frighten LLe intended victim in tu submission, and to par-alvze hi, '1.\ ill and 01 reflexes ')(1 thal he is utterly unable to defend himself efficienrl y.

)

PRACT!CE OF AlKtOO 49

Physical Factors

The physica! factors of an J.tt;::·:-k ,,1"(: represe-nted by tIle' parts of a mans body rha: he car. VK' as n.t-ura c cnpcns in an uuarm-d aua..k. Ir; 2ddiEon, of course, art' those dcadl~ cXtCD'l.;CIl;', ofhi~ <tggres.si',-t' ir.stinct a ,;\\Olrl, stave) a knife, .I gun.

(:XUTE: Ir, ibi~ b(u'k, we vcill be dealine rnainlv o ith aikido techniques nneutralization <'11{<1in'-l unarmed form, 01' a~gn:"~ICllL although we \.>,;1i inc-lude several exa-nple ... j defense aaaiu-: armed .H~ar;'_!. T~e field of defense againer unarmed atiack-, however. ix ~(I \ ,,\~,l thar \\-i;'" cannot ever- (O"'~'T i: adecuatelv in rhl' bonk, but mu-,'; co-n.n.t ,xll";:,dn'~ ">1::1 outhr.inv t lu bavic te-chniques ofneut-ali-

zarion and some Io-ms 'If the advanced pracrice. 1

In mmll_1i11it<l~·iJ.r.. me.hods of sclf-detensc, the- priu-e targets of any deren''''' I an' the physical far-tors the au arkcr"s both (Chau 12, page 50). In aikido, I hcwcvet-, tl1f:' str.uegv of defense is centered mainlv upon the Lmction.u factors (jf an attack; i.e.. the '.\';1;: in ~,,'hi(h lhf),K' physical wcapl'pn:>: arc brine empluyed,

In fact, the men- :1 person concentrates his defensive acrions upon rhose physical Factors. the less ccnrrollcd, or oit.i . his «rmeg-, i, considered it) 0(', sinr-e tw should be neuu'alizing the iJg~ff'c.;si\t~ ncticn. Any aikido srratcg\ of defense, in [11 t, is qualified and classified aC(':')n!im:;: to:

I, n.c tlu orv nt ph,,-.;ical injurv vc hir-h, 1;1 cbcdicnc c -o [ht' {'lh:cll principlr-s !It /11(' au , requtrev that t\w studenr r"'''U{'u thr "u.u.ir.d

inrcurirv cf hj~ oppone ms .maroruv, and •

2. lhe thriJl""~ ,t ph~)IC:d p.ur. \"0"1',(1 _:~~i~n~ nnlv <J subsidi.u v a nc. ~ rempor.uv imponano- HI t l: ~ infhrow.; :'Jt pain .n the P:-'O((,"5'; of ueu- I tr,J!lll111{ an atr ar-k. .e.d furtl.r-r rcImc- ,t-lrdeiC-n.';'c' 111 ,I parricul.ulv ' oil.i m~11H1eL

)

50 .\[KffJO p,.\'D THE DYXX\CC SPHERE

lln'ohing the enru-e anatonr,

involving parr.cuter clements

12. "l'i\CC);\TROLL£.IT :-iEl'TR.\LiL\ TIO:-iS AFFF.CTISG THE PHYSiC.\L FACTORS OF Af\ .\TL\'C;K

-

)

)

PRALTfCE UF \IK!:JO 51

The theorv of phy~lCal iuiur y i, bused upon rhf ouviou- ~,tnl!:ULl! lirnit a , tions (Jf J. man's bod). An arm GIn be ovistcd only . .:() tar before- i- ',\iJl break. So much prl"ssure- can be applied <lgaimr i.l spin- before II v, ill It 'h'k, I HHkiing serious injury or. ;-.l1lyone"-- mc.ud.na all 'l.ua,r_-ku--i- q_'Il~i,ri~'!"I'd ';uuciki" and an indication (It' lark or centre! and skil!"jnu.' ~l ~\l;lt-~'10r -( I ,iff'g''; can accomplish the desired result. i.e.. ncutralic.uion otlJ:l,' ,i·r~\I~. ,~nd efficient self-defense \\ n hout rcscrrinz to ~uch ((m~p~tcl[Fek p' in Jll\ i_'-

means.

The theory of phvsical pain gC,e-::\ f\ell nne step Iurthcr dnd in~iq.s th.n .inv pain felt during the application of an aikido tf:'citlllquc---ij"lh:l[ TcduiyLl(, i" being applied properly- ~ should be momenrarv onlv. III [art, d-I!,' b(,"t !cJ(L'.'r::;

ronnnuuilv admonish their students neve-r [0 ,u;:lin':.~ t1w 1'_liEt~,

but merely to e:.,aggnare Lh~' ncr mai cXlf'll:",lOll,'d bclov, . :\11;' pui rs

Ielt if) t r ansirorv and onlv i.uended to l'n(lliT~l(' the compk-ion fJ/" a P~HU( t.i,u technique of neun-aliaation. Fhc pr('!(lil,jliTY of thi- "[:-3.tci{~, is obvious pain acts as a \\<Irnin~ signa! and ,:~-tuS:t'~ a nun either [(J s~iili'-I~ ;1g-a:I1"t the pain or attempt lO elude it in some ,~;~~. ouvh a stiffening: or ar:cmp, If) escape on rhc pan of an attacker the moment ~\flU applied dlC -cvcrc prrc-urc of a "static strategy \\u111d make the application of d parurular

more difficult. 1 n aikido at its b-sr, a lmost brfon' rh- attar kr-r IT~lEt\..'~

has happened, his a-rack has been ncu rralizr-tl, q rirklv and ciC'<u-:l.,:,

Even in the ancient martial art- merely defending (-,n~'~f:lf ',\ ~!! \\a~ not ,~ admired as was the ability to defend oneseh ,,-nil the same <'Ilirit"ncy~ out ... ~ Ith such control and power that the 0ppO:ltlll .utacke- was Iefl su h-tauualf unharmed, CH_"n if greatly chagrined. These :-1:'fS were q ua lificcl as "r·:\fn·mel) difficult," "~highly sophisricated," "esoteric," and cv r-nruallv (an,{, ro be

linked no! so much to the martial ofpar-icular combat encounters a~

to religion, philosophy 1 or t lu- higher of n.an 's existence.

But most martial arts were -and most have remained highlv prar ncal and subjective. The aim was to achie .. c :1:, close 10 perfect-en <is ?o&sihle in c}p_ particular method or merl.oci- beina studied. and even if nor e.ctuuilv attacking, nevertheless to destrov the enemy as quickly ;i_Z pr-ssibir with ;1 wr-l lprepared counterattack.

In aikidn, howcver, !hrollgn the skilled r-mplovnu-nt of \LS c;:uf'fuil) structured techniques of neutralization, it is no: on]" po-s.iblc. 11 i~ 3:"I,uall) imperative. to exercise such control over the entire prnlC'SS ofaucck <.wtl d~fi.'me that both wlll merge into one smooth exercis> of circu!a: di~pe:rs.:oll (:f an aggre<;sivt motion ac ttun in:o nothing:H's:" .. vud as vee uav- IlOI('d, thi , dispersion is UJ be- ,vhin I'd bv ;ifdr;c 1lpUC. the '{o rn.tion.rlitv" ot I;lt' n.nur,« weapons a elan employs. i.e.. Ule \-\a) in \\ hi\ l. II, :.l~'''' haud-. crtr.s. k,;, ;_;:~O bod} to attack (Chan (3) r<.t.,:?": 52). Then-fore. In cnv aikido ;,.u-,ltr'o;~,< ~Ii tht: three classes offacro.s uf any att ack p"y{-lIulogi'aL pl!Y":(,d~, funn!t.na: -v-Lhe last wil' be rile most importaor.

)

52 \[KIDO .-.I,.:"D THE DY~,\/I.tlL Sf'HERE

13,'CO:\TROLLED" :\Ell [{\UL\ TIU:\~ ,\H f,CTL\C THL FLSCTlO:\,\L f',\C.TORS or .vx -\ I L'\CK

Itl-"e;[V'!l1.{ rbe r-m.n-

PR \CTICE OF AlKIDe 53

Dynamic Factors

In any attack there v ill be two stages: first, 1~{, dvnarnic stage- ofgef1cn( motion toward vou, around you. etc.; second. [he technical stage \\ l.ich con. sists of rI:e particular form the attack will a-sumc-c-punch, kick. slap. ere The dynamic ,stage involves what \\r> c::d! a n-otion of convergence. i.c., the attacker must close rhe distance berv.r-en himself and h~~ intended [.uge! ._you .. and the particular part of vour body he intends to push. hn , or k:_;i..:. Even if hf is cornparariv eiy close .o you. he- srill mus: rake a step o- Jean forward, (wist or turn, in order to be in position to attack.

A defensive aikido suategv begins tile moment a would-be au.acke:- rakes ~t step toward you or turns agg-ressively in yOUI' direction. His initial motion (movement) in itsclfcont ains -he [anon you \..-iU use to neutralize- the action ofanark which hill spring I.\'irh explosive fnnT from th • at rnotirm of ccnvcrgenet. The most important dynamic factor to be reckoned with in cl('\'ck'piIH!, your defense will 1)\ 1l1t~ dynamic momentum generated bv your at tac kers initial motion-s-irs speed and irs direction.

The dynamic momentum of convergence i~ represented by the amount or force generated lJ\ dlf' motion of convergence. The hunan bach in motion tends 10 become r xtremeiv easy to maneuver and irs vertical srnbilitv !!reath reduced b~ any dynamic inerr i.t. lf )"f..ll! push ,1. man -t.mdinc still. braun'!: himself you vill meet J. definite resistance. The same- push, howe-vel. cr eve-n a Jesser one (In approximately the same direction) i" that man is in monon. can send l-im Hying.

This dvnamic morn-nrurr; is. closely related {Q the speed ofiilf" inir.ial motion of convergence, As shown in Chan 14} the faster a man moves, trw' lcscontrol he has over his movements ann [he easier it is W unbalance linn. Con. versclv, (he more 51u\d) he D'U)\TS: the mort' control he has and the harder it will be to unbalance him.

14, ~!OTIO!'\, RES[ST,.\:\CL, CO:\TROJ.

1--

cOEFrrcIL'\T m ('Ol:.FFIClE'\T or

\-ERTl(:AL '-;l.-\BILlTY \ LRTIT o\L \l(iI'[[ rf\

)

54 AIKIDO ·\:'IiD THE DY::\:-\)'lIt ":;PHI·RI-

The factor ofdirection must he added LO rlte dynamic momentum and the" speed ol rhe ;lgijrcssivc mot ion ofconvergence, because it is of the utmost importance that you never met! that dynamic momentum head un-c nevcr cla ... h \\1(11 or nppos_(~ it directly and frontallv. You mi~ht enlarge upon that d~ na mic momentum fronrallv \\ ir.h ;1 maneuver ',\ hich would extend vour opponent's attack beyond the- point where: he can maintain his balance, buusuallv you will guide his motion of con';ergence from the side, curving it slighrl: and adding a certain amount of your own fort-e (dynamic force) to his already ex,j,gger~ted movement. rhus depriving him /_If control over his motion and bl'l[lging him into :1 condition of unb ... dance and dccenrralized, dispersed power (Chart L>).

There art' two main t'fPC's of convergence an a uat ker may employ: <;t:~i.igh{ (frontal and direrr i: and c-ircular (~p~r3; closing in upon you), BCJrh c au actually be used in your (}\YTI strateg) of detensc-s-in Ll("~ '.,"ill heronif' its foundai ion : i.e., his motion will provide ~ou wuh (:"10<;(' fac-tor-, ~ ... .lU need to gam control over your auackers move-ments ttuough their "cmplificnuon" and ihe n lead him into onr d rlu- aikido Circuit- of Xeutralization (Chan 16, P,-H!;t~ 55 :1.

13. GClDr:\C; THE ~[OTIO:\ OF <O\YERGE:\CE

exaggerating dvnemic intcnia

, apprnxinw'_f'l~ ~b. sa me- ~'I"'n ('IT

eopp'l:,i'lg

vr auc ine-ria Ircntaliv

-

)

PRArTIC E OF A1 KIDO 55

.6. DIRECTlO'\S OF .\GGRESS!\ E CO,\\"LRGF.'\CE

Technical ractors

The second stage oLlr.y -tggre-;sion- if it is <1.1Io\'.'ec1 to dcvr-lup rhar b,f-b qualified as "technical bee a use rt deals with the specific \\_ly in \dnd1 a rn..n may uttack you. Specific ac-tions of attack arc sencrallv clas-ificd in aikido practice within -hrcr groups: unarme-d attacks: nr ned attar-ks ; and com hinations of armed and unarmcd art ac ks.

Unarmed Attacks

Aikido has subdivided the unarmed forms of att ack in-c three main (:1- visions: twelve attacks consisting primarily q!, a hold (Cha::'1 11. page 56'\: three attacks employing blows (Chart 1 a, pag!' -J 7); and a scri-s uf (0I11bmalions resulting from the use of' a blc« and a hnld {Chart 19~ p<'lgi' j 7 r-

STACE OF ACTIO;';;S?F.C [FIC ATT,\CJ\.

--

)

rh: L!:C.l group 1';lI1~!'IS mainlv {!f,1 hoki, i.r-. gfJ."3pmg :Hrani!ling;. 1!11- n~(;bilizin;;. erc.. "\';'Jo:-~~ prnnarv purpose j;; W pj,r.tlyzF' or delav your o-fcnsi v e

rrsc tio» f~Jr 'fit' length of'tin-> [tel subdue you. Thr~ ~HC

considered prclimioar. sr{'p'~ U);'\:;ll"C: au ~lcb: a '0:0\"

~)C'd,(~ps .1 deflniuv- (hokt.'. wnich \~iJI put you .rr the absolute mert.v {'f an .utack-r. Thcs- . ;l:d" art nn ther -'l.w:ifwd a s eitr,r-! "Ironta. ' or "r'orsal." i.c from b-und. Tiw 'l)S1t?1l1 Cd'lL('ntific;,:uotl "domed h~ lilt" authors. i\lth .Jdpant>~r· names und Lnl.;.-;l1<;lt -quivalr-ms. is im-ludc-d in the char: \. bir!1 tollcws.

'1;.'1'1 'i 1.

('ll.:,' /','/--- or.i-· hand I ok'. {.J~)P'j"li" ~ltk

r;.'illl.I,:." 1.:,/{2.'i;<j---,_'n,,· han I nc rl on

rwo-ha sh.».. ~U''i

17. B.\~ If HOLD,

l.,..c,

•' 1\;:,~

., - -- -~ ,;.' -"--,-.-.

Dcm .... ,\L

o-hmd

',f'-i';:': H

1,1b<.,;.·,-

u hind I

11

I."i!' 'I l.iEi-, ",I

-.

11

1'1 l·;.\

arm ih~.d II bebu.d

--

)

)

The second srcup of unarmed auar ks includes a direct »unc., 01 bhl"\, a {'hnppin~(ut nith [he knife~eC:gt' cfthe hand, ~l 'These attar ks are Laiher ;;,uhc.iyir1ect into t wn main blows aimed at ~'(lUI: Uppr'l bodv (d'x he .d. the vhrcat. Inc chest '.\ il~·rht·, directl'. from il:e from or rircularlv fi-om tb(",,:(k~ [[1\" sevoud class indlH::fr'S those blow~ aimed at tht cemer=-or lower pans of yOll~- bOGY, Chart IH. illustrates {hc:::.c bkl\'-'i rgiv ing -hcir respective numbers <.i~ \...-ll. ~\S 11-(;':; JJ~-IJnesr and E:'\tJ,Ii'i.h n.nucs).

1- -

7 jab. C"':

G R

j._"lu.,', j

() !,':IN b:

\\ to (1.<

Fmullv. ella:' ]9 -; i:o,·:'i d ft-'-' examples IJI- ihe -Lird qrcvp or .'I.~t~Hi\." which combine .r h"ld v.uh ~1 )-:-!I)','- \um~'('['i and drscripuor- ,U{, ,lisu giv-n.

I. H);;{-l ,.. t)·:_!r ... ,\'
,
17 I, r . .1 t [)c,·:t!
~ .. ~,: ))1, " i\
IHf,,,), rc, HI Il r-al
bl-«, \' ; ~ r b!O'.1 j j ....

')

58 UKIDO ""D THE DY".UJIL Spm.R'

Arnled Attacks

The armed auack, uuludcd in I his second gl1.iUp JX(' div ided into two cias-es. The first c.lasv includes ancient forms 0f..it;gn"l5iun inherited from the' martial past c! JJP<Hl and its art') of combat. Tl.e techniques 01 neutralizadon developed b~ most ancient martial .. ut- we-re- geared (0 the neutralization of attacks in which wrapom (the sword and i he spear in p.uticular ) pla.y\'d a determinant rolr .. Aikido techniques of defense arc ofrf'n employed against auacks using.J bohhcn or }!J (stick or 5:3\"f) be-C;lUSC thr coordination required 10 control a <;tr:Hfgy of defense' against such au irnpr essrve physjca.l rxecnsion 01 an a nackets personalitv is of tnc higlwst degree. These (01 mil art !O be found 111 the udvanrcd practice of aikido.

The second cL_.5~ includes modern techniques nt armed aggicssion employing firearms, knives, ell. The practice oflorrns of defense '-H{ainst such «narks h. ;)1,,0 understundabf rather adv.uu e-d .md complex, and really necessitates :1 book In il<;t"lf. In this introdur-rory study of aikido. limitations of space and the vast held '\ hie-it must be covered pr-t mir us to gi\ e fjnl~ a fc\\ r x.unplr-s of .slle!l dt'fc nsivc n-un-atiant ions.

The Unified Power of Attack

In conclusion. the importance ofthe far-mrs of att ack t he :.1ggrC...:siH irueurion. the motion of rouvrt geuc'e- nr-c r he spr-cifir J;,t,1( k~-·-('an be expressed in a single concept. dlf" "L' nified PO\ .. er of the Auack' (U P:\). "·-\U of these factors will be fused into thar s.~Hgutar. intense. and d~tngt'lou5 sn-eam of a.ggre~sion which results \ v hen a man auacks UJD.lI;" without reservation. Theaikido doctrine refers tc. this Jggres~i\'c conccn.rarion of all a man's PC\\T!S,_ factor:" and features in .m auack as "aggressive 1:1·' or "your opponent's ki/·

This <.:ggrc~~i"'t" coordination of power has definite limits of concenu.uion within ~\ hich its dangerous porcntialuv will be at its rna-dmum. Outside those limns. a man'< capacit-, to do d<1t!l;lf4t' Hill (kcr("il~(" considerablv, until his aggressive coordination vanishes compl-u-lv, leavinu him highl~ vulnerable and his motionaction cornpararivelv cas) ro maneuver. The exumples in the rhar ts which f0l10',\ (Ch.m s 2() and 21' illusrr.ne this more fully.

--

)

o

u:' CP.\

PRACTI( L OF .\fKlDO 59

:~\

----------K tctrget ;

t :'~

,~

\t;ln~~ __

~___.....- p"'f1t:' f..l·,O;1 raov. or en~i(demcr.1 hol-t

) )

21. 1\\l.iZ \\!) 01 Tf.R: [\[]T'> Uf 1'1 )\\Fl{

hit

..

)

CHAPTER V

The Theory of Defense

'. IlIF TIH.<iRY 01 1J1.1T"\~)

'--r,:o,

THE PH..)( r..., .... ("i .\iKl:Yi [lU L> ~l _A\[) i;.., }·\(T(:·D_';"

LI·-I',':'r

61

)

62 \ihmU -\\.'1) Til}: rn'!'A:\I[C SPHI RV

2.>' HIE PROCESS OF DEH,I\SC .\,:'\!J ITS FACTORS

":.OLlC LTATIl ,'''-

P.FH.CE['TiO:\

F\ \LL'\T1U:\" DECI~lO~

\fE:-\T'-\L

PHY"..I(-,-Ft'\'CTfO"i_\[.

Evr uv proc£'"'' of (kfcll:-il' \\ iii '-Or.~I~1 of rhree sta~C"s: perception, evaluationdn isior., .1~ld rr-arrion. .vud the cflec rivcuc-s of anv defensive strJ.ll'g~ will depend Jargely I:VI!1 r hr- t trr;e- .J!)';\:, b-tween he first ink~ing that an arrack ma~ be imninet.t. and \OIL[ defencive rcncuon. l n aikido the strategic aim il: to rvain and «-finc vour faculties ro surl: JTl extent that pcrccpnon, eva.uanon-decision, and r.acuon will become almost simultaneous.

In. {lit' fl~~' :'\.ll:C ofper. ('t-"ajr;J, 1"';1 ,he IT)'1 obvious ~:;':1,rjricd k-vei, we IT":lV ~~y <r.mconc p.:'r_'p;'1)"1IHtO .iu.« L o- i.e.u h'1l11 .t: ... be ,~p!lr[)J.dlc~, or feel the ,).:~u21, ph""icl! I:GliC!.\:[ (,f ~1 '11,fiel. tJn the subiunina: and m.n c difficult {I' define v-nsotial tev.'l. ,,'T ~,:n :11:tt '.\1: "~nl"'f '''':Uf1kihm!.;- " ... i thcu t heing con-s.Ious of 'wein.; or hr"dl"ln:..l, an ~ tLin;_,: n«:n.» itl~. \'..1 nl"\ I."] thde<.:.. -ense or KilO\" Iha' somcthing h wronu.

THEORY en DrfF~SF 63

rh.n cf evaluation-deci .. ion. duo vcriou , dj~l~:(,!li" of .m atHH k r.rc rill" amotu.t of ir, dvnamic nuuoentur». thr "Pr"'c[1, the dirt'uiona:~d a Jt'Li;';l(,J1 i._ !L:lk von.r-rnins i l-e m('~~trpr 'i 'I iatr- 'I.', 1-:1i,_1i'

to apply, '

The third and final ~t'H!t· is th.u of r enction. The decision ';c\}mt.~ to l:h' via the- mntion .u-uon of a specific aikido -rrhnique of ncuuahz anon.

A'i 1St'" have nor-d. L(I-'\f"'t~;, these three pcn.cpucn, t:'. cluarion ,

decision; and rc.v-ion-c o ill be so c lo-r-lv ,lnd", nc.u lv :;,il!lldtar,-.'l)ll~

in an advanced alkido~tl'iHegy (hat (hey v.ill iJPp('.:~r ,b ')!:L' Thh of _'r_;<rrw i'~ the immediate, ql'zttegic goal of yUUI' Ir.ljnm~,

Keeping rhis criterion in mind , cnv proo-ss of defense «lit ,tCCOI dm;,:h ~k qualified ;.t, ncrrual {posn ivr) or abnormal (ncg,Hl\,(,

of deft:Jbl" prmn'(h 'XnOf)lLly anc culminan-s in 1h(: e!tt('liy( of all aunck. The abnormal (or negar ivr I pn)(Y.;." \\'111 hI" '.nl' ',\ hi! l r ' vl.rbir , either Ia ult y perception poor judgment. or an incutficu-nr rr~lIliu:J- .rud does not result in d«: desired neuuahz.uion.

:\'UR\j \1 Pfi',l:I\I-

in tlk normal precess of any defense, perception hill be lnuh particular dt une and tlw 3M"!\(' rime. In ctlu-r «crd- itvou are

-·~f>Ler:d

:\;.·,-,llt'IW ... ·,

l Pf.R('fPTI()'

parncular V1ncenll,;,v::d,

2+. THE

I PROCESS Of DCfE)lSE:

ST."GE~ .';'\Il QU,,\UTJES

II E\\LLXno,· Drc ISiO,\

111 RF-\('TTO'\

-i;i.ld'·'_!;___;_at· ~rr·.)!\~ (-'~

6-1 \IRIDO :\::\D THE fJY:<.,\[\fiL SPHERE

\

vou wit! be aware of t he e-ntire r-oom a ncl its cements, while rcmainina alert to the motionsactions of rh.: within t hat room. This i'l pf)~sihk,

-hI" -ccond SL1gc of ~I normal dcn-Jc-p ')!T":l:,nthh c.nd :3-';, .t n.u ural

'''h,lL bas. happened. anu~lIh, is ! k!! if II r-ilSl"( ~tlld sperin liz ed rra ininu kJ.::-: reduced the span of ti rnc b::"tHten perce pricn and cvaluaucn.der ision That this ~tJ.gr- of [he prete!'."3 'JI" defense has berume unconscious. bod}

having been trained to re,lct if: a wav to 3_ ccrt.dn t .. P'" ofstimulus.

to a certain of attack. a condiuoned

reflex: and re'3pons{', almost s.imuhaur-cus Wilh

Here, of course, we highcsi levels of aikido. stage of cvaluauon-dccision ,,·ill be

rion between [he attack

media-e. consistent, and powerful.

It -vill be spr;_:-ific -vhen \·0·'_1 select the p.uuc ular at-ack. All aikido ieclmiques motions and actions of attack. And ,,0::1(; are mo-e

in to cerr un [':p(~~ of cLU;_lC._ An atr ac-, trorn br-hir,d. [')1

\\-j;l neun alizcd \3\ rlu of dcG nvivr rl'c:u::iquc pdl

t icularlv neared to that lUI rn oJ_ suitable to (L frontal attack.

It: will be immediate or instnntaneous when yOUi' reaction !) ~I) ~',\'ift t ha r

you 'lpply .,

)

(If ncu rrulizntiun \';bi~r ;hr aunck is still c1evt'loping, of 1):(' pract ice even before an attack hcl~ been Elily

ITfF.ORY OF DFTEl\SE 65

launched .

. .\ p()'iiriv,' reaction will I'll' conoetrnr or cot1,Q,1IIt1 i.e., it v.ill b(;("orlle~o much a pa:t ofvour rx-rsonalitv that au cffu-icm dr-tcns.ve rcartion \\;.11 bt,COlT.(- the rule L1t~'l!'r rn.m the r vrr-pr.ion. when and ifyou should nt" iUt<h_kt::d,

A pn"it.\-c rcac-r ion. {inall y , \\lli be p0\ v erful \,h.C1 it conr ains suffir-ienr r-en, tr~ljzed cnrT~y l_U t untrol the ern ire process urdd~·me from b!-f!tnnin;,;: rr vnu . This control i:;. cv icktl("d by tl». fluid slufring Irom one c.frn-ive ~tr;ut'g:" I_(J another if nf(t;'Ssa;\-. b\ cHirit'flt defense ;tgaimt an attack l.u.nchcd b\' one man or sev e-r al mr-n , ~;:.nd fn. the calm ,inr1 comrr.llcd m.muer in v luch vour

defensive 5lr~Hi'~\ \~'i!l h(' dccctopcd and concluded. '

25. TH L PROCESS Of DLfDiSr

/

<, \

\

ag_~rr"~IVI:" sclicitauo-.

-r to:

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)

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• I.

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, '.11,·1,1, ,:, •

•. .JI"..~

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......... -.-~- -.._

.... -. .. ~

,_

)

)

68 AIKIDO A.:-.;D THI: nYXA:.nc. SPI-lElu

of

,,,",.,,,",.,, In" v_-dl improved,

of the ~(Ud{>I11. ', ill develop and mature. 11;(:' rest j..; an illusion

nf

n(",f~~~;lr) (c:urat_lon \I-hi-dl wdJ make the

From [he vcrv bcginrting of aikido cre arinu dh:~ prope!' mental condition

ofmind and

-:ill t-enon and conpossible.

then. ('tnpha;;,)s IS UpOH

an cflccrive defense.

28. THE 1:\?\ER F.·\CTORS: THE ROLE OF THE .\llM)

r.xrcxsrox

\

\

TI:H_ l)i\ER FAC1 ()R~ OF

A1KTDC;. D£Fr.:-':SE

,:PHI~Rl(_:rn

I'hc mind lead- r he

and again durir;g

his

of ymE'

In corub,o . dl<_' n.ind n1\.[.~t c ont: 01 (h.:;' pr(l<:~'~s of cidpl1w_' tcot» tlte /1l(:,nWHr an d~gTcs5ion is perceived ro the moment -vhr n ,( re.rcnon .ns, \I'hile ch.l.nnclinz J. particular rc pc llflOli.dl, coordinan-d l'nt:lgy n [1." aprU:PIi<ttt

directiun. ' ,

In anal~l",jfle: tlus process ofconuol and Llf' [} pc nfcnvr l{'. l"c{;:ntyl .c, .11)0\ (',

four basic principles emerge. TiWSt, a re .

J, Ttl!":" prini'ir1r il centraliz arion ;1, The principle of extension

3, The principle Jne~dll:g lun:rA -I, T~1t· principle fJf spi.ericitv

The Principle of Centralization

;\s soon .l~ \GU "t::"p on the mat in <In rcJ!I(,tk,'\, ""ikirh -1(1/0, yr;ll h'JJ b. encour.urcd 10 .tcquir- and devr-Iop, rhrouc! ,·Ipprop'-l;tt:.:' L'>:rH·i~t'S. ,1 :t'!,rn.~: of stable • ent-alizauo» U[ ~ OU!' \\'flt)It"' boinu in r he 11)\)('1 .ibd. '!lll.'11 Tijj .... h ll1·, arru which c'on cspcnds to 1\ 'tat \\·f;.tf'rnt"r, knnw <1~ ,I .nan '.;;' ({'JOf"] (;' I!,I;lI.·ity." or rl» .<.pnr »Lerc vour \\('igLl rt<1(heo; it'- u.axuuuru c on. cn-r.uion .md bal;IIKI~. ~ichi(,\I"S >'(jui:ibr\llfH b;"l',\f't'n I he cnn-al ,I(:d upper clIl:HQlll'. above. :1:lCl t1h' ~',lpp''_':;lin..;, .uchin-ctun' 'Jf ~'{}ur k;l!:~ hr_,](lI.'" Tl.rs art-a.

I

I

I

clcv.uion o hic h al.ocv- Will to .~l,wd crect and maintain an upright p;;"n.ilT<.itltllitl<.i.[:' and with t: )H:> par..tive ea ,c.

FUJIIl tha t r-ur-r n!'clt:'''';uion arsr! surr !Q\<~ 1)1 -our cvn-

g-round.

Known in jap;l:1 cenerallv ,b .4GFI" this Centre (;[ unific.u ion ;II':':! \:Ol, • dtnation is more Si)('(lfic2..l!~' -dcndfi-d ill aikiciu U'lT:1lf,olug\ .1..~lelk(j

("one point' K.. Tohci ). juri cl">il','i:.; 'ande-: "or-m-um. :::.. l. \ ',;J-dJ,I/. \\'"(.' refer to it simply ;t") !ht' '<Crnrre.

\\'c speak of L't'IJlI .Iizaticu in t l ]',\'.'",r abdc-mcn. Lli- 1'-; one (Jf (!')f_' 111(1"[ basic tcci)IJIC;UC'-; or aikido and must be masn-rcd d ,ny real pn'lJ("::.~ i, (I) ,"I(' made, un t hc -ua r or uti Hq"H'\(':, ji i.~ J. h:'('.It;ICU(,~ ,l dr-vn c a rorrn Lr! training or d isr-iplinc, lFJ( "HI end in n.scll I t has <IS in Imal arrn the .v.hicv (I'WIll ot total coordinauou and harmonv !J!' mind and held;', d man dod men, of »t.in

)

70 AIK1DO A"\,D THE l)'\''."'A~nC SPHERE

and his cnvircnmenr [now expanded tf) include the whole universe). In sum, by following this di-ciptine 0= initiallv conscious. centralization in the lower abdomen. a poinr cal) be reached \\ here centraliz.u ion becomes automatic ana unconscious. where \-OlJ w ill not "think ccnrrnlization" j ou w.H be c-nrralized.

This Centre will be used as a uni[)ing device ;0 til(' difficult prnc('ss. of co· ordinanug the whole range of your PU\\(''i''' and possibilities. II hill b- used in f'l;wb~ish:ng a stable platform of unitrcarion and independence from which yrm mav operate in full conuo.. f{'I'lling to a rul r(Jping '.\lth your rcaluv. c omba-, or an aggn''isor,

Your training in beccminr and ulrimatcly in being ccn nalized will involve your personality totally, both within ,1I1d without. \,\'e ,\ill, therefore, speak 0: a subjective form of cenu-alization-c-involviug your person.ditv alone C'Re: centralized within! f.:,"('p OLe Pciru!"): and of an objective form of centraliz a tion which I,dll expand to include your external realit , ----(' 'Be 111 the 'Centre' of the ,1('£10n) of thr- Technique.").

TI-i;; imeresucg concept of centralization is well known in the Orient and amazingly comprehensive. lis dlmcr.sion- range from the cosmic or universal where rhc Cenu-c i~ idemiticd ~\'it!j the idea 01 order, harmony, and total integration in the ba!;\n{,(' of opposirr-s, to the human and personal, 'v'. here it is seen as t hr halanc c point of your perscualitv, tlte unified basis of your indrvidu alirv and particular character /'wt' Chart 24) p .. lge 71),

Both the co s m:r and tht' human dimensions of thr- concepr. !1(;\\"'.'{'!, arc closelv identified. m.,n being' an inu-gr al pJrI. of r re.nion. TI!:' true and cllencomp~l<;~ing Centre, accorriirc to Ea5H'f11 pbdmnph;, is the same for both [be gt'nl"~'l\~ and the particular. fur thr universe and for man. Thl" is under<cored in rnanv J apanese talr-s of t !li' \\ ise nun \ ... ·h" l.ve- in harmony \\ it}: i.imse-;i and wi rh nature. Separauon of man fi'om tkl.! icicmuv v-irl, 'lit:' univcrs-:, alienation 01 man hom m .. m . ;1.nd finally. a rn.m", [f'C'ling Uf;1 spli; within him-e-lf ,tH" conviden-d to be the result of p3.yln~ roo much attention to the surface diOtn.:nct'~. tf) the (k~t,li]s of lite. This complr-tcly ign,)!'(.·s the underiying idcnruv of a ll life, tilt" basil "oneness" of i t s essence.

29. CC:\TR.\UZ.\TIO:\

OBJEC rJ\ L

,(,cial ([h, Othe' rn::.n;

72 xrxtno AND THr. DY:\ '\~IIC "PHf:.R£

..,.

')

------;.

--~-

--

Man. even nunconscioustv, seeks to find a Centre, In \Yesiern psvcholog y \'.-1;" say thru Ire is "goal-directed" or "goaiTmorlva(rd," He is considered tv be fun .. ltoning properly only c-hen he is working toward a specific goal ur goals. If he hii::- no ~oals, he has no "life" in the social sense of the word, since !1(" is existing merely as all animals do, in response to certain basic iife-preser ving instincts (It'rritlJfY, food. Sf'X, etc): but not as man docs} or should, In other words, it is not enough for man to ask ';110\\"> - he also seeks to 1..00\\1 ",\ hv."

Howrv cr, even if he is striv ing ~O\\ arc a goal (a.crually doing, moving), he may Lave selected the wrong goal for himsr-lf.Fl heretore, the problem is twofold' first he must be provide-d with t l.c ins-ruction and guidance, with !:'H" "education" in the most cornp-ehensive sense of tilt' word, ,,, hich "ill enable him to select the proper goals for himself'; then he must be encouraged to strive toward that goal: an actual precess of dciug , of bcccming. And even then he must maintain a certain objcctivitv, a rena in balance or independent Centre so l!l~H he can pursue Ius goals without becoming rotahy immersed in them. One man may play mJ.ll)_' parts. but only if he remains flexible, only if he develops and maintains his Centre .

. Asia has many schools of thought devoted solely to the- search for and development of rhe Centre (harag(i/. The t onccpt, however. has been adopted b)- many other schools of lhought and action (such as [he martial artv] as u means (if ar hieving' c.hcr mort prac tical ends,

'in [US sense it ~1<,'lS he-n inrorpor ated into almost all the arrs of lLf' Orient v.Le rever perIormence and nut mer, l-, r outempletion is e3· senrial. in the. martia! arts it became a Centre (If srabilitv and pO\\t:'r lor the specific purpose of conrrclling {he reulir y 01 curnhat ,

)

rH£QRY OF DLfF"\SF 73

In a comparaeivelv specialized and nercssarilv limitr-d book "1)(11 ,t~ -dlt<;, it is impossible to examine the general tbcorv oft;1I; Centre in both the.: cul-ure of Asia and in the nurr rial arts, in great detail. \\i' r-an ()I)LY out line the appl ications of this concept to the art of aikido, lwping to 4-nL-l.rge upon both thf Cenrre (hara, and intrinsic, inner. cr total encrg;" (itl) in another book.

Subjective Centralization

Centralization is intended :0 fcrtbc: the urufiration and coordination of all of your povcers-c-memal, pl.vsic.d. and func tional - .sc t l.at yours will become a truly coordinated perscr.alitv

The effecrs of this "inner" ceru r ali-a-iun, acrotdina to the dor t-ine of aikido! will be evident. In {he mental dimension. all of your PO\\ r-rs of pcrcf"ptinn, of evaluation and decision) and of rea.rion will he hcightfI1f.d and sharpened as a result of this fusion. You "hill find yourself ~e~ing. u:1drl'5-unding. responding v-nh cxrraordinarv r-lar itc and iruensiry.

)

.....

)

Tl',{ "r h-ar \'iSiCI~" i ;)f~'~:'lldt· l)f'1.'H;~1 e-fcc ive CeTIT;-lil/"ril 1 <l;l~ ,_!.S i . . sc n-e-n ~Ki\\eUl v ci: and. the often CO!lfus:l'I!. ci1:H'lrblEg sequence cf. n:n7~ LH:-._'cmp,Hl:.'mg .1 tt) I~.nn of l\)Inb~,t-""lLL;t .I~ J -.' I r-v nc •. l-.n pur.:[- in i:1(' sum-u. _ ~in_L' ,'_lIow~ you jtj ;-.1( LJUhid(_· an-I l~dk., itho.n CI_itHi::~1U,t11: inn rruptinr\",!1l!~1 il I:) "hu(, acvav the 1ll(),;,qU,.\(F<.:",.

C':~Hr-l;i7.a1_;on, I_hr-ll''-~1n'. 1,:CIW;1d"pw!g " of rdCI!'I"~(" ," ru \'

?l.Jl,;'ULj':._ froru \\h;di ~0U c.u: ;c'.\!":'ci,j·.1 mon (. fortr; d,(;n::rtil fn, r

,\cn!~ ,-;r;d O' .. -cr ',r;~lf:.clL

Bu '-[11:'11 \ibif:l\l v uv-c-i.. ',' ;1_ c-lear und,T:;r,IlLllll.!.£; u- tle na.ur«. ('\_!("IIl, and 'Of1::pk:-,i" (.j'-J i;l\,ClI prchl- In, i;-; in~p_F~ih!( ii' vr ur u.ind '.; cbsc-scd lrv rh.« ptobh-rn. I. I1Jd_hl(' lr. con-id-.r it rli~p';'\'i,i(Jr:~1.rrl\_ ()l~in,{i\ic\ rr-quirrs ~h mud. nnp..- ri~l:_;'!\ J.~ YUU ,',i'l TU'hT, .md r hi s "ill d-p. r.d , 11. {urn upon t he (h'~r~ of nl( nr a! ':ncfepl"J1dnlC" \'~IU h.rv- addc\,d

Ifvou _1'1' C't ,.sp.tble (d-lhti!l'~_llniw{ lh .. rr: -JH~d di-cancr b-tveen vo.ir:-'l_'lf :~nl: evcur-, J:'; i j:('~ unfnJd -lJ~' ('\TO expll';Cl'- around \'01.1. rl.cn rl-c rv t'llt" ','. iL hr'si:-- I., '~:CJ .rinatc ~-0L1 awi \ ,_;:;1 '1"!H_t'ul ',\:1J tLnpp:::II ~Ir "l ul-rr rA~I(,:1 \',H,I~ jUdt'TF~ tl(l{ flJ 1',1; Imdll~' .un-nuon H_:: or h(,(,llnw hvpnottz cri bv dl( . .-c.1.Pf)1'5, t.u If 1hr.'au·:) I:II !"" .etun- ot an ,,::J[)('dlt'nI, '1 ire« Lb the aucietu

l~-ll'T~ .l Il)d/I;J! ;;tl~ (,ricli oro«: "n- onl~, .. \\'!J.~1i vou

II 'I)' -;n~. )II {1, v in-;I :;<'T i-, \(Jji ciktdo -r~\lr~jll!.:.,., l:dli/',:l ill1! !.I:' bl' o-rnrnti-cd. ~I_I r l.; t \dl\ u ;U1C! if a \I'r:l( I I~~~' .u-ut l: -houd IT .. ,_j'n'l.dl' von ,\11' ~), L\~)'~ tt pc cive- it ltci.ld~, H' d{,ldt' _.n,l r-spr-nd «ff __ -cri-:eiv. .u.cl ·fi ,_'-h;.n:lrl <'Ill r.f ,OUT ?O\\':':':' fl)\\d_ld iltc nrutraliz ation ul ilk- :tlI: .. !,Tf~'i;;\(· .o-tion in ,1 I nal, dr-civi -f 11~,Jn!!rl

Chl itv ul' vi-ion, i:1 r u tu. has lVd~' the Iirs: i-, awarc-rc,s. \'-'Iich

--

)

THi,nRY 01 OEi I x-r 75

Awarcncss i~ u-e liY.m·-{.-<tl!!:1 i-f cfTn it\( comb.u )"~~,1c:ir;·,,~. r~l[',:,(i', mdl as ~h.F I;{ the f-ncinrr r:-_lq~fr mcmiou-d in [11t Y.1("l-J,ldl.~I;u,'.; ku!·t <' t;"aH'5Lu·(J by lL. _"<17IJki.i< 11'.r1:. ;lrC' lb- innu«- ,HId Jl_:nt:'d ::: c: of t'Ch.,(' _

don whit I! r lu tilslipbUt'd ond f>:\PCl'l(!KCd mind can aua.n. .

111 nikido pr.ll 'ltT r lu , condition i, bl~; di-:=plJ\ cd \~ lit". an :'I' \\',o:1.:1''''! 'Jr:t; ,i.

uoner fkt;:r,ds h.n-scll four, f.vr . Dr .;,j\ ;UuCkf,~r'i f!,,~ing in ,.~l'_lL hill

[rum C\t'J\' ~tc!f'. in their uudsr. t lu- aikido pnl.u!qoflU ~t'f':.(\"

"sense" ',d!l':::: otu is ;.:.b{J'!1 11) .. llark at anv CI\('n rto-nr-trt. even r r:::q .1',> tacker );;; lu+ind 111:11. .\nd U.l' 1:!-" I'J'llo" l':i b.enru-d ~md()~ill', ',\111 1.1' StraTC~> of ddi'n:<e ih.u Lis rrrcrton- \dn b,- roordmat-d v uh lb" v cnou mr ar ks i,_-(m"ir!!'n-;Jl~ ,\ vho.c. Hi, cur- -r r-l t \1.1 rl.c or .O,dL{"l( .n _'\ av (';~'nph·tt a" r]11_ ,-'lli'lInL~ra:]('~'" '.'<iil p'.'rilJ~\

~--:;::::-~ \~-J

" r

I

'This .gCnCr,l,] ;,~·.\,!n-:·n("'l ;J'lr:'tir~ paruculat ;:,cn,-enl:-_tl)Ci' 1-'1)1 t-' .n 'li-· r.ac k !L:l'> l),~",!, laun: h'd \_r :t morn. n-. cv-rvthin r <"l-:c \1 dL t:ldl in-c tlt~ !'<.ickg-rr;um' bpI \\-iH Of' di-aupear. .... ira-. -. If: -nind v ill .n. H:l'.'~ m.un- ain it_~ nv .. n''rH·~< ,A \Le ,\illl~t' The :n.r~l(1 !. r ar-.«.» I_t!' .ut.tf,~ «iil 1:,(,'11 h.-· "ubj,'clrn H 1!lf it), u-,n] h:;,.l] j~-\" d .1'tU-,1I!'r: 5', !1.,1) t l m i • hi _fid~ 1"[( ~, !' dn,t "d and rW1i1! dJz~,l

1

)

76 .\TK1f;[J ,A~\fJ THL D"r';';.\.\JIC ~1'llI:RE

Tbi- inner r r ntr aliz ation. v.hcn (1lTr'qh understood and tnacticed. ",\Ji produce r crt.un n,iril...c·ablt' -ffo-ts in VOIjJ b\}(l~, i.~., tilt" dcvc+opmem nf In!ar'-l ed ... t~l bil it v .uid relaxed supplcnc«

In aikido. Lk\LnC1' mt:ar.~: vc rtical ;:h~nml-Ilt cf the' hod~ v\Hh i he pn-

-s-ndicul-r .o.i- 0(' gLt\'ir} (Jhn ptcr \ U). and <1 St31t'

;l'!l', ru.untr-nanr c {If a "normal" P('<.!:Ul"{,: 'iuu! pOl~t' hr-twern re;;! and moticr (th'-Tefnr.e.

n adine-s .« maintain OJ)' rr-nu n t« either qa1t".

-\~<nn. \\"{~ are brouaht LUI ~~ tu vour b(vly', CE1:,iITt"It1l ba.ance pom vhic h i" lor .ued in the lower ~l_hdi)nlen, i.e., vuur <e nu-r L:' c:r;,\-jr\

'\Iaillt;dni.n~ vcur ba.aucv 1:( of the Ut.Jl'){J3! important- .. in aikido practic e. \\hf~lt~rr v ou art- simpiv stuudmg <til! or in lull mrtion. Even \111('r; \\'hlrli:'g about (;T1 !h, mar J.." \,I:jf' man .1:" r anli~~lcl attacks. :(id must sc-rk (0 main-am [J,t~ COI';"I'('l pU-iWfI'_ ro k. -p vour b.danrc-. ,0 [hat vcur UPpC!' nnaromv \\111 be in vert .',1] alummcr.: \',.i~h your O"rnlt'r u! gLiyity or Cc nu e .

Therr will. of r.currr-, L,' mr mr-nt , wnen v ou w-Il twi-t , turn, nr b-rsi ~')H~ hcc> as ;,-011 lc;u! " -uonon 0: at tuc k around \-OU a nri ;l\,a~ trorn .rs irr+ndcd nrg-'·1. But alw.;« s , ' .. rpoc l r-tr ph-tion (if sucl. an evasion or Ic.idine mot ion, vor.:- trunk \\i\l be brcuchr back into alumrncur wuh votn Cenlre,

It is .ntcrevrinv it W.'le 1!(",\\- manv la_pa1H'·"!' p!"~(':ill()nerc, I)f Tilt' 3.:-1 l.(nd dWIT h!l>:":; derplv , kl'i'P!l1I_{' h-ir trunk- ~!r:,i~h :,bll r not ri~ld t whcn iLt': "-i~ll 10 k-ad ~!llI1ta,_'k('r 1(,)"\1]. Llr::l"l" rhan bClldinl! over. pretzel fa-hion. -,,-bl(h .vo-tld leave i hetn evucmel-, \. :Ihl.:r.iiiit' to eve-n ;l .,I.~~t! ['~F.h f,t"111 brhrrd.

Thi- ph-'-<;K,_d U'U i~llil.~ttr}l; i, J "COU~t,lI .. 0': ~'._,n:!l:l' Tlu'IP 'lit' ('\"t::l <peci.il r·'i.~'~-C;""iA" tor ;(::: dt-vc.oprnt-nt ("t·t: Cba ptr-r \" ).\nd. nl course-, "'-t,'ll a CUI'~O!-\' g:L.(;cc .u tht~ l-r:r!l:li(jIil'S IJf ncutrulizutiou w.ll rr- r-a! hew important the maiuten.rucc 1)[ correct posture j, (o\ny defenvivc .'Jtr;HI'gy.

Ccmra,izdti(lll in the fewer abdomen. m: .vovcr. r(,~1r('st'IH" a sort of gra\-i[a.tion~d drscenr of vuur body's wt'i¥IH, draining tlu- upper an,H(ltm' of r-ecessive muscular ~~rt"s~ and icaving it cxtrcrnelv supple and rrJhu_' (f~special!Y the O1U5 ... 1("5 of Ihf neck and shuulder" \ -, hich s 0 vfl'"!'! di..;,:)by ihf

first sign.;. of para.vzu.u rigldjt~ . ,

In t ln- urea of "rd<:!xcd supplcncs-." -he litciaturr- .1\;tiL-.bk on aikido ah\{Iy5 etressr-s the importance of relaxauon - in iilCt, this is cnr!~id(,l!'-d nne 01 the basic r eqummeiu- (Of ~U1 eflectivc aikido perfcrrn.mcc.

As )'lr, T, P. Lcgge.n ~JJ.cio, bth don: has ObSC1Ytd in 7};f Jhm!li~t'mn'; q/ Gentlenes», London, 1964, the « crd "rel.s c.uion" as commonlv lbn: md inrer-aretcd in the \\'(':tl ma-, \Y n:.i-;.!('adiBg,

In aikido tt'flllino;og) 1 "relaxauon" does ODt m-en ~l (:rdl<l,p_<;~·c1, vcnk. 0:;' comatose condition. but ruher a st.ite or 1l1U3ClII,-!"r pE~l};Jliti' and smooth t1rxibility which permits an -numpa.n-d n sc tiou 1[1 anv dirrr r«.-i, ~-.r rhr fir,;,r indication of an a~~r"5.;,i\ I~ movement.

The authors, tl!rrd(_;r(', prr-fcr to relcr to thi~ condit.on as one (It" "reb xed suppleness," with thr- intem ion (If conv-vinu the ide a of ~~i!\IW~S wit l.out rigidity 01 abnormal mu-rt: lar 1('Tl:.10!I, while ,"\l~(,l S-l!.~.;g('~t inc 1 f':.;ih'n(:y or a Ih-e]), srnoot h re,l(\llll'"'' to rt:'i(Cl whr-n aor{ if n-cess.n-v.

Fer those whc, maint.un ,-h;_'!~ witt-our tens-e-n t l.erc can be no n'ci_(I_:CJn and rh,u te-n-ion rhr-t efiu r- i, the .ndic.u.on of prcpar.dne,«. wr: reET Ii 'hr exarnp!.: '.0 t-eq.r-nrlv cited HI works (Ill th> rnart i.il ar r s, 0: ~t (at S f(,,((U·'H:I If Y0'.l 11a\(' C\tl watrhcd ~-( (',-IL c urled clp iu .1 ball 011 th- li\·ing room n::s or stretched out htZLY ir rl.c sun t~tKil~g <"' nap. Y{)ll will havv noticed rhat it seems as limp <I~ a plrn fluff: dt of n , Hill~c!r'''i drr'~ relaxed, f1(1 tension is evident ill any line of .t - body. and nnl~ .in a lmo-t irupcrccpubk ii-e and fall indicates its bn'<.lthing.

A:)proa t, -h it ,t!:! w,;,~lthiiy 4~ you can in <{11 aucmp: In c atcl- it off gu;,_trd. bend down rve-r :;0 careful!v. and-e-rn thr- verv mome-nt whe-n vour ourstretched hand ix .rbc-n to (.'103t~ upon tlll' arurnal tho rc \\rU hf' 'J. tla:_dl of movement. ThE' nr x t in ... -am that '5dllW (;1' will be on ';~I' other ~idr or the room, calmly Lr~in~f it s p~t\~~,

Another exanplr> I,v!dd~, emploved in eikid-. and "~1 ()thf'r mart ral an : ""fT the Chines. Cla--:c. T'lG T~ Chin'J" quotrri hv ~\Jr, L(,gf!rt( in Ius lluok, T~'t

Dervmstranon {~/ (;""'/1'1;".-,(' is. that IIj li\(' infant vv ll!_,<;c i~ ~uppk ,1 nl! itd!

of 1 if.:, and wnosr- ~np-"rrtLd. bl<:,nciing wi th the C'~};f_'~\ -ci , <l:;:.oundinQ'iy

Hr{)l1~ and ;lin;, ,ill: to break. and Y"'l r~n riqid or lCi',",t'.

Final'v, in relauou \(I furn.ucn.uitv , ::fll:r;.ti,,::;_1,-inl"l w;'} n::'I-uh ill irn-rr-ar.cd P(i'YI'r and t' iIr('\ 1\·t'I\(-"~_ -tuc- In combat the-: c cnrn- ,\\i;i ,)ptra'l' as ,I un.Itcd source 01 mouc.n ar :t .nrom 11:1' p(i\\l-"r 01 })(,[h ..;t""min'i.!; to nfl\\ u pw.n-d frorn tl.c vcrv earth. n ', h-um an inexhausubl.- well. Itl~ i-nn.ccu.ue!v W.,(("able in aikid- th<t\ movcmen- I" '-l \','.1"'1 trcm tllt" 'lip .; ruvclviug v-uu enure body and v uur e nri: pcrso nalirv m the anion.

: ,k.

le'l ,}':)I I 11!1,' Ii "~ !,I' <!J u. .: \'i(

Ii.; , t' J ,1\ ; I 'i.. "_ ~ . j I

r . tu:

Objt~elh'e Ccnrr at+ea rion

1. I> ': c-t" I ~ he

;)I'r ~'_JI ! J, 1. 'H TdeiV helen,'1

I, t ,tJ",1

1'- .

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til'

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rrrrn..-! 1i,\I' i:· U t ·~It -jt I ;!H

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bnt [1 l' Ah~',r\,_\ tW' C;:-l:I!'!' ,·1", dvn.trni: rr: .. h:' ,:!,_lJlQ '."'i;' ~(II,lj

::.trai.J~;-T ",'}!~ "sc it rced ::" "pHi \\ i;l,)l,lt :111' of t 111"

!Tl():i!-l~. fin: Dl ;~ J~ l_\r11""_' - {_i" I'll[ I "hlt Til_

lit' ~;_1h:'r'(!ry.

,!,,'

nvt: 'I

-un-c

The Principle of Extension

vvlnch 1"<,\-; esstncr-. t 111_' pliLn~'-!r:,(

{I-,_" -~, ,

:1,,,, ;~';,t'l ~ i{ r-aoo ~lit.' .1"1">'-

t.tioucr, 1~ {1·v,·",:rIU·,j 1.-, thc ~·lt(,'Jgy_\· m h \nl!U,·t,_~ 1I.f' "'I>

and Char,I(VI;;; .t k.d.. .\ilidn j,(>.:; .s . it, Lt

j " 0 h,-, tho .• l l l~ !-It'

I :1, p;lr:ln'il;~' \, '"

i f:!' ~ II -1': L.. cxt .. ·r:c'_ L. <I. I

1 ')L1C!ht; \

IIr

""" -L.

V

, ,

The pi CSC;IC!' or kl

ck mr nsrra l cd aikido d:)'t,'

thc wav it can be ('::-,:n:df·(~ ,~ vcrv (inC~' cf c··st', ',)I pra.(-tio.! dC1l10L~I.Lll~Oll'i.

these. .he most pop"lcuh ptr~c.,~~i\·l' i~ t.hat ol r hr- unbendaolr «rm

ill rhe iutrcdur <.)J'. CIJ:lPVT, The of an u nlxndab.e i1Pl1 is, ::L\1

\"LcI.! the <;111rl1"rH .. a pu'snfn1 c""'lK~~ntr~'1t:c'E (i' C"ln~c;ol_j:mt';;'~ a"lci

~~ncrf:!: \\;thi~l d!,' Conn-c. iu ';]7" lIHUT,[ of uruoovahiht v .

:'c1';':S of aikido \, "l\the ~,,!TH' rnucctu r: ... nru:

~H\cl un 'free pov,:er tn T,nl inn,

Here ~\'I: favd '-I' iLL !.lIt;; fJioh-

~~a.~- .

--..,.,..._--~,- .»

"

t_,,\ ),\

.r--~, .. ,,_ .. ___..-',

If. h(.\~-'-·\r'L

of df~.llf:r.g 'Ii:;', '2:n("r~'~ !if P(l,';'l'T

of

1,

In t",. d-«s. If b.v,,·, ('1 l~e T.\lJI.k~

,y,kg' LU1l:;ri. he-iu:': \\'ltl a! d

mlin>rd. tl.cu i,!:' \,']1 be lnd\ al,j;-.- I_I~ "flow kl."

0:: extend that tl!ngy.

It should Lil' rr-rucmbcrcd hO\AT\:.:r, tnat _),l, f._rjj\)id('n~d spccihcally <i.)

energy, -s r-rr.pk.yed U,(' _i':' Cr Y: ~ <11.:i T( I 11,'::' r.> r

ncmrali/c ;111 a?t~rr:'ssiun. ptoiuor.c liarn.on-, ,', '1'~)iJ'l' '" ~1f., t' ~'l i

Like anv Other terce. if r a ' -,,- llli';'1PF~I~" tll~· l\ \ pp; t. 1'1';

moral point of vtcw. Th1.'l'eh!re, ~i_:,cng iu dl"'- !Ul Hi'l ri-'f] morally po~i~j\-{, (11' "good b .. :1 ci-unc t.. . r,l: th " ( •• \ Lid, 11 in i,,{ 1 where (like' many of their Co,H·:terp;irt.~ ir, !i"·c' h -:. .r ~Pltl~.\ ILW;rh~'l' n! tn , LJ

an scholars tend to sa this form of ';I:lg"'l:' ,IS \i'l\... ,!:'i 'i(,-dl\_

Ancnnc masters of the rnarti.rl art-. hu ... .,,-n<" v- ho "h(..;1: lee r't.u ,f I', ,r well-developed ki without :1~\ {"lhi,,~d 0,' n:m.~l 1uund,d.iiiI ;,,~!:r\

leashed as a force for terrible d('s{ruc!l(:l~ '·,'·.:'e Y! t v d; "1rr;,1),.t ['f. vl ;1 selecting studcru s since the~ -vcr e Wf.'l! aware ofthe hL 1"1 t,) \" L: " t~1 ; tremendous power could be put.

Tl:i" type of l:nf'rg~ or pov,,-('r 15 referred to (ur;';t.,r']-, .n nLi)~t -', on

the- martial arts and 1:: often culted intrin-ic or 1:"!Ili'f r 1;, (.rn!l'.( L r

chit in China. l:i in J'lpan_i, 1L is usua llv ~k\"t'lup, 'I; .j:f (,n.;,' I s r:,

ciplined piograrus : and once it has ban '-"l.(f-r, rro-d 1. d. !!Jr_;d ~I,"j-t I "extended" in the desired direction. The expr ~.;iun "!"1I:fIt,,; F! il 1'1'

a frequently rerurtins OBe in the lttcruture of u.e !nalll'l1 Jr-~ 1" 1.1 r-r

howeve-r, nrcler t(J use "menta! exte-nsion' !C ;w-:jidH-:·... ~,; USl' 11 1: -, mental projcctit» and thr' g!,f)UP of technique, l_Jf nf'tr-:"ii2,~t:f)1 k : J':;r" "projections. ".1

A" lS true' oi thc concept of haw. 01 Cerl1CC, tl v ... -lui, rho, U:lLf',,( (I

enersS is closely linked ~b('jllg it~ point of maxunun i :«.·Llrri f,

and t"'xtf'n<;ir:m), thf' copcepl or k£ (an he -xpandcd to IUcL,d,. m.. ( ,'['(

the ever expanding l'ntTg~ (If li-e to th- un: -, e-«- as 1 \":~::·tj .. · i.~11 1 <. :!)

iractcd to a convideratics: of the charartcr. per-one lit,. ,11H. \,[,Jj': ) l t, indiv idua! man.

Here. V;C;., rhe authors ca n (_"Ii1Jy :)rJfHy cutlme in r.i] ':\t'l 1! 'd:'

particula-lv <l" rh-v ri'!;:-:U<tl) th,: pn.tct:Cf r.! ~~ik:d(J,..tI It'. d't 1 f ,

ki in de-nth ill. -heu rUOIK'Q"LtDh\- r.n the- (>~HTr -nd ~:,

In .\laster [_;\ ('sh~b1'S ~i,,;·tla\ "lr~. tnis torm {·f UWI 17,} (('H';;,k t .1 i-

the fund.l!u elL.:!, li)(('(' .H ti' a ,ng .l U •. eg" • 'f n·~j!

stan-mcn ;s uf dH taknhlv (k.1r: "~c "::'"-w, aikido '

Thr<; intrinsic ! I{ e nr-rs;v, prc-sc nt p(,:.-'mi,d :-- 1:; f d. n.nl'! 11

an uncoordinated and di"p(,l<;.ed vo-e n)lYl !w u;.i!":,d ~'

hiliLf:-t1\ and f''\lc,u!uL

The task ,..-! d"y('k'ping- h in aikido is f_dhl:r.-i ,t,wuS":, '.j)' ~"'l

.HI1():l.~ ', vlurh ;;.!)(_l;l~-I1!)td }jfra;hi:H; i~, u,te G~ tile :n(-'::'T. rr~l_" 1, qT. 'l I

niQ1!!, of d('t',l III t";lthill~ i~ found in the ';:'~.G(nu .. d« f,lm_l 01 '\ V,~·,~·1 .! /.,. a , \ ... ·i"il .1'" III m.mv {l111f"l" rnarti.i l a rts

The rxercrse oi aij(luL,in;d Lre.u hini! ,1"1 ~!dkhk, i" l;';U,d,} lIn~;,_'(' , 1 1'-

)

82 .-\[KlDO _.\:\:D TIle DY:'\A\rIr: SPHERE

!t 1 i-, arr umulat ed, ill tact. in the Cenu-r-. \\-h-"TC' its ful: coordination is achieved. O} he [1, .... 0 concepts-that o:' tlu- Ccnn e and tha: of uurinsic. inner. 01 total Cr1('rg-y-arc thu., JTai!y onei-. lh· Centre. vn allv arriv r and ever expanding 1.hrUllgh this form O,(T!ZY; the energy, L_lll~ ccurdinan-d and smbi.izec in the Centre (centralized {':1('r~y i. The entire hody of the sLIdr-nt "e:,;'m" I!J lWfcJI1lt' a compact 5011rn" of power, v vithcur undue emphasiUPOTl ir;:c!'.-idktl p~trh of rhat body ZH.'llng O}' prrforminr- en tlleir own. In l!LiGHl.U·xt..b C1.T: also be quali.ied as ":~lob;1" cncrgv, "IOTa! e-cu-usion." 01 "full ccordin.u'ou of powers."

Tl is ~ota:it~, of extension 1S particulmlv evident in n-ny movement of aikidn pracuticmrv on :11-:: Blot, when ihe an is l)cing pracncc d properly, In

fac t, dlL' J,)]HLU:S-t' insn-uc cors with whom v, --e have prartircd have

suc-s-d idt'.'-It" 1ll(l\-iI1Q,: Iiom [he hips or Cr-n:n elrod of hC'll1g \\ hole: ..e.

not pc-rformiuf r-chniqucs h} srrctcnina «ut ;1l1 arm. pldltll~, or pushinz , but LtJWl bv !1JO\ing \\ itb the "dIGIt' buck and im'o;ying it t0lJ!!Y (under tb- mind"s conct-nt rated and c:mtnJll:n~ leadershi-p) in (he acrion.

TowlilY of r-ct.-nsion is also tht i"C<.I-"OIl wh~ 'U aikido pr.tctic t the student i~ rnuJura,!.!,"{'{_l [0 think of his body :-1." a n evtei.sion of his miud, .md his arms and l(og~ ~:S extensions of that bocv, not as ~eflar3.te c.mities.

lhis ii; not "(O';;]Y that ~-our ann .n-d k,~~ will not han" r heir functions.

LUI ra tl.r-r rha. tL(H':t' Ii.nrt ion .. wil. be i!Hl'gratt'd with, and subordinated to lb- ccncr.d unified movement o! the body ;1:' ~I whole. £n'11 ;Jp,_Ht from an:, e~()tc~'ic ((:I~~id('r.:ttimb cf l:i, n :-r:"t'm'" Jogic,d to assume th.!! the- power cf(icientj~ aener .. ued L,\ the '1-: dv usrd <is a ~ingk un.t ;·.ill he grt':ltt'r than that

vc hich could be g'Ctltr,Hfd the u-c of th(" urms and legs alone.

legs {:J.rry your rentralized .inatorn', fr(JD1 pL-H~t

to phu.c : \, ill :<!J;1~p guidt, an OPP(!l:t.'lH; but <15 extensions 01

.H1Ci in accordance with the movement 'If the body as J There' is no

pu::-hing, pulling. or ~,~raini:u; (,[ individuu! li mu-. hut r.nl»r .! wiiir:ing. II!lJiJ'(_i movement \\itJ( ,IVT!:n,ml er-tpha si- l!j10H hip motion.

In aikido pr ac ncc. you w.Il h:-' trained [0 c-crr-nd ~~s we-ll J_;;' mov e from [lit l.ips. Thrcugh tt:e basic t':\('TC;C". YOL1 \l ill be euccuraacd i(' In 71JU, kl

duect ions I,\:hit'h tdr-ntifv t h:

p;1nirllbr W;1.y:-; otu-unaliaing a n TIll~S (he cxu-ns.on ot dcfr-nsiv.

('!HTQ''' ocr omr , auromsuc and cumuu! ;\[1 (' solicitatiou fall ~H~

t .« k) Ifl,!2."!Zr'r ... tt.e- drfcuuve response Iron- tht- Centr-e ot

II ),11"1:: dnd !}[-,'\'J l ' r!C'U-_Jal!/Y lhJ[ it tu-k till(_'U~:lll;t_· t:"xtt'!IS!~lU

'-I! i-'-mr;i;u',~d ··~(dl . aad td Pl}\\'--fr"ll'r1!'n::~

And tha, ::'nnc('rt \: t-onet arn ox-cnsrou uuor-r l!~" t hr- li'liWI){Lhll arm (v·t-i'i·-t-', Iii li) k~~{III' x lr. lr.f.'. -,h~ j,:, (n"'h[~ th,d J! \"_Hi II 111l1111:lill"iJl,

rlus untuudab.c .um .u .rl l l\Ilt""- rn hvr v,o:'r!s, 11 y("-~ d.. not k"fl' voru

t':\.!('fl-"l(dl,(lf):'LH,\ \ (Ill \\'lU be l(l pt-rforrn the lnhnlcl"f"'l (-,JI !fTll)

Thi , t:'~ln('~<"iu!, ~11 IJopllLlI III aikidr. dojo. tcfcr-trfic, both cn cxrr r-isc ,ind

)

THHJRY

in .:

l!J;":'CU~j t 'in H~ I Ij "i I ~ ( ; I

prev tUil~!'nvrc- !'(Hi

Ii"

r.t.mr.d ~1'1; ill 1 ;;l! ' n- sl:~J u-rmt YU

', uno 'I r II

Bd: '\\ .ar rhc J :.:r-,·I· ot :1. r~:'! x (d'.!l,fi ... ,!) [ \ ,I .u.« It

nut i.j'i;l' J:!lC.i\llllil::,! rv.', (1\ .rr. .111

l"l::;,.1 n\i.lr-H~L' ]j It:t",i'..:lIc:i,l-_'" ;)11 not 'L,ll t } "lit ,iL,I~'!:'

I,

'L (If" \"1)'1'

i:~ 11: .. rn ,.r(:'11~ , I. k

1l:';1{ j ("r 1: ;:: '\ 11

! r r ,(

'[I I

!, :1 ' d

1 '

(JAH~lk -.l1H It idal, J {i-N, !

all !.I;llf"- ju-, J'- :' :

'\](:'[ _~ ii' ~t mo- ·--w"; vr.tu and or \d~---

\'tJIP-Pi

--;'d II_! ibc

_!,ll'·1 ,l"'l

iniu. '\ n i\ III

;)iilfh :.: "I ~ Hl I:,

! e H "

lJi':l1 qLl \-'HI h,

:1 )',:. ;" r it

r;;c-ri· cc

l r

,I,

, ['

il!

'1'_' d

ill' ;'!T~' t r

I It li

III,:!

I,

pi \

d (-,IX' Ih, i)1F,"ide

\'j_);

Ii:l I vh tln- 1\ !'1\il)1.

(_l",',

84 AIKIDO .-\::'\D THE DY:\,-\.Ml(, SPHI;:·RF

functionn! PO\\-'Cf"-, '\ hieh he may rel.ur 10 that cond.ricr, or ind{'perid'~r.l awareness surv cvcd in t hr- pr-nciple of o-n-raliza t ion, in the mental din-ensi..n. I: also imp!it"" ;mpcn~[r~1_bili\\"} the imposstbilitv (If an opuonem reachin~ your Centrr either by hlUi'lg it or capturing it in any \~·ay.

Aikido doctrinc often refers to t he irnagt ola "?ri:1g wl.ov- "\.'Jten nO~~'lnf:!; outward arc cr ystal cleat. The moment Ihe OI~;.\\Jrd fiow ceases. rnuGd~, pollut-d water- will nl~~ in, lu-peuct-ab.luv, ihcrrfcre. ~.~ the :,Iciu' part or thai Centre of inclepeoderu contr-ol which \1.'t eucct.mercd on pages 6~j-YI,

ThJS centralized energv also appear~, to be of rhc all-pervading, force-field t\"IJC, as comp.u co with (or opposed to) rb- concenn-ated and sharp form of energy which cut s through ~IlJ opposing target, smashing anyt.hmg in it'i path-'~i form of t!it"rgy cultivated ill m.mv other manial arts, In aikido hOW("\"(T, as in cert a!u ancient martial arts, tnr: emphasis is upon thv unified harmonized pcrsona.ity ana therefore upon centralized i~nrf,!!\'

The ~encr..t: doctrine of [he martia! arts al-e flJl~,rg:f" at ~rf'at knQ;th upon tilt basir dIlerenccs between (he "hard [firm of i: and the "soh" form, Hard kl appears to bf' <har-p and conccnt r.uvd HI ,I rL-Hlg't""r'_-,i.h point ')1' fl:sioli resernbliog tht edge or point of a J.lp<lnf's~ hl idc. A"- cuc h, when used III combat (whether otfensiv elv or dei\~n~h,tl) .!, H. \\111 cut througil the physical target against which it is being directed. It [0; prcdominanrlv s:raigb (direct) ah hough there arc circular forms ofhard ki {theor-y of tuc ~!at'bing ext e nsiun).

-

j

1 -_j _

The very ccncc»t ration or th~1.;, for:u of AI l.l'lL.dly require: tn,u a sing]" anat-imical weapon, i. e., arm, leg. hand, :(-1(')(. rll-;O\\) ctc., Ik crnptoycd to ddi\fl the fcrce of the conccr.rra reel rt:t."rgy.

'\ \\

r>. _;"\

I ",RD \______. -

0"

... //..,. <, Ii

II

son ki, by contrast, appears to be evenly diffused, irrndiaring, and expanding like a huge globe to envelop the target cornplctelv or spin tangentially against it. Here <'lgain "'0,'1." have the image of "massed wind or

water."

This form of e ncrsrv due" not cut through rhe target: it"-';wc:tpS it JIA'a) in a tangf'ntiaL circula:' pattcr n that sends {hat (dr~et -piuning in full centrifugal u-ibalance 01 extends and Slretches it elasticallv in the desired direction. The JifTll~iq,,! nature of this

, ,

86 AIKIDO A?\D THE DYNA}.IIC SPllERF

soft ki implies m-cessarily a tvpicallv circular form of extension as well as the employment of vhe whole body ro produce it.

In aikido, soft hi is tlre desired form, and according LO Masier Uveshiba, it should be craplcyed within the framework 01. d-e natural laws of creation . . Aikido does not. in ether words. 'lIh ncarc :he emplovmer .t of intrinsic or tt_ftal energy in d wav which breaks those laws by seriouslv injuring or deSf!"uyi'1g another man.

A~ noted elsewhere, neutralization in aikido is cernercd lIpnn the aggressivc action. not agains: the personality of the aggres:;or. That neutralization can be achieved with tremendous efiiciency and power to ~pare: against one aggressor or ag~llb[ many; it does not destroy the bridge which, linking -nan to man; permits you to approach the remote or tlhil.d aims or aikido.

Fina lly, lhi" mtrin ... ic ('ntlgy is permanent In the sense rh~lr.likl' the Centre. its extension is "to-ned on . at .1 H timr-s, r:ot onlv during combat, Tbirequisite Implies that the energy developed progrcssivclv through the special.

pzz

)

)

THEORY or D.F.FE:\~F 87 1

ized exercise, of abdominal Lre.uhine and mental conccrndlif)lt iii the .1 CelHn:, extended (':)11\\6CllbIV at flr<;,7, wtf l b',,'comc ;l ?,lrt of your pcr"un':-ilil\ I -a wa) of beinc -r hrouah regular and proper Iv mj't!\ atr-d pr<l(jCt· n:' thr I ~~ill~ I

As is ;iI\'.';1)':> the case. :h(' most dithcult S~i,g( ['-)1 t'H'I you, ~ttJdnlJZ H::d training in aikido -vil! oe (hal of 'la~'mpting tc arhie-ve the proper balanr. and integration brt\'I:(,r'11 ~llbslilnCl' and maniicstarion, spini ,LId acrion-. 1:' and technique. These ,;ccmirnz;Jy ''<'par<lH'' divisions ;.11(" artu.rllv (t!1h" ('05f'lY rdated segment.; of rl.c \\lIi)1,:- (the human \Jfi!l£ sr: i\":ng to bf' an individual who, us Pcricles rlairnrd for tlw tree cmz cn- of .\d~[,lI;;. will br ",thh' to meet {'Yt:l V vanc ry of r-ircurr.stauce with dw grea!.:~t v ersarili-v- -ard with gracl"" ~:,

I The Principle of L~~~~:~I ~I~_n~~~'.k 8, Ltc('I,," HI

The first principle dealt hit! tht' basir cr-u.rulzat io» or your p('r~nn~dil\'1 with its ur.ification : the second prmcrple explained t~lC' ('-:'':hn"irlil ol t'!1('rg\', of ki, flowing outward for rhc purp(y;e of controlling an au ack. The next IWO principles will sp. <"6'.-:- runt e (xd,nh"jusl 11(1'\\' th'll,COntfnj i$ to 1,1' ac!I'e\t"Cll

In Chan 20. page 59, we 'HiW how all the L:,u,,:wI'; of.1I1 ~Hlc.ck\\(T{, combined in the Unified Pos-er of Au.ick. i.c. vour opponent') force" a~ 21 totality converging upon vcu. \\'c alsu noieri th.u tl113 UP.A '\.\',,::. f'XII'f'lrdy, powerful along itS- direct line (;1' p~H{{'rn uf (On\lTg"'T:(,C', b.n oomparauvely] weak at the outer edges of that direct patlel nor line, <is -vrll a- ht'~'ond :rsj intended func-ional point of impact I as illustrated in Ch.,1C :t;., pJ.g:c 8U, j

Therefore, from rhe '-cry first moment that rei.: perceive an attack. \lhll must control it through all appropriate "teed" which \\'ili direct 115 potcn-' t'ially dangerous and cl]n~ei1tr;Htd lorcc into harmless ch~nrfti<;, ~hi~ .le.~21 rnun be smooth and connnucu- and never in direct npJW'Hlon to 1;1(' JUld'-1 of the arrack. since halting' or H'_li.:"rrupting it would dr-stro- tlu \'(>1';.. rnorru'n-] tu~ you~' aikido defense Sf.f:HCg\ requires. Thi" It'ad \\il: 1..-(\'. celain ,Jdillite1 points of control and cert am precise dimr-nvion-. 1

In ti:le,illll:-itrati{lil~ \"~i(h ±~)llD\", YCl.l wi'. see -h.u th,c pUiIll," ui" coun o! tr:! be established 0\('"1' d:," 1 P.\ a" J7 ('(;!1\eq!(:'.;, upon ynt \\'l!t tlLhrcdt'd ~-,,\ .. .\r·:j the areas where It i" \\("~,-kt~",

Ar. as scurr-e. .e, ~~1 the- poiut of Its Im(!)1En~, or \\~H:"n .t j" ill tnr prt)l..t";;! of dr-, dU[Jillg--iJII!;:r linn! 't"!lt,-~· wheu pulk d

At iB outrr Iimh , he-yond tllf' P~)jIH I")l' its muximum i-xr t'Tl'W)n , ,,'hl.'1(' di,~ ::;ipi.ition (If it, force bot'gim i,tulll wlren pt,;;'rt:'ri .;, c.r

In the rniddre bctv-er-n us inner and outer lin.uc. durJ;Q tht' prllcr'>;s or ('(il!· vergence upon you (:-'fr Ct.ar 33, pal2;e 88 i.

)

88 AIKIDO r\1\:D THF J),"""'\",\\HC SPHERE

32. THE POIIER OF L r.\

: ~-n:f:('d P0~''I?r 'f \n,):,k 1

<)-----

: .nner limit

outer limi:

I a r I

I

I

~

1 1

I Wnerj;:lit I r'-'t:a\-:)

/~

po.ru of irnpar r .verv strung]

I maximum extenu-n'

i //8(P".","UII

;_ T.'RGn)

I 1

of

33. THE. POl'\TS OF CO,TROL OF CP."

n

~,~ _____.. ----.

, ,I. mg

, the

en euner aggre,SIi't' con'H:rg,·c<:e.

)

rHEORY OF DEFL'\SE 89

In all the caves indicated above, (\.:mrol throuch leading i~ ;:t"~!lr('d he blending with and Sou ing wit hin (he d.e:g-=-e,,!,j\.( CO!1\'tr!lI_'"lCC, Uncc :,'OU han' established contact and conu-o! In thi -; "nr-n-abrasjvr-" ma nner. YO'''';' ""iH then be able to direr+ t~l<lt aggressive converucr-cc, ti-}J.l <:.u.:d .. from vithiu into an appropriau- Circuit of Ncutr.iliaation,

Readers familiar with the mar-ia! an, will rccogmac ~H (!lIS point ihe pr.ncrpie of nonresistance tj!J.I which fieur cs SI) prorn.ncru.v in many (if those errs. The principle of leading control is the specif.. .. · finm "dl;dl the pnndplt' ui nonfcSis(anct' assumes in aikido practice,

If you no not establish control thr ouah thts leac;m;; .md :)lend:n~ monon and action as illusuatcd, ~'OU \\ill be COfCn,: to CIH~h directly wir!! the CUJ· centra ted 101'c(' of that attack. 1 L would mean strength direc.lv opposed to strength. force :Tlr"t"tillg lorr e Le-ad on, the exact opposite of an orthodox aikido s:ra.tegy.

"Lead:" In Iact , nor's rot mean "force" in .he plry:;int! .,cl1~,e of pressure, a pull, or a push. If you push <J. n-an suddenly, he \\'ill m-un, t-vr-lv j-usl- back, Grab his hand violenr!v, and he will immedi.uelv uy to vl.ake yuu ofl. An~ direct action taken .1~i:1in~· a ruan will almost mcvirablv rcv.rlt in an equa llv

direct reaction.

This instinctive -cndencv to uvt ar.d rract du-ert!', v-i!l preSent v,"ith

your first 5tumb~if1g bloch wh-:u vou begin ~u pracri«: tlit· art, v,jll

have to lear n 1(} S};Ul when vc.u .)re pu-le-d and to enter when someone pulls yOU~Hl accordance with ~h{' pnu-iple of nonre-istance. a princrpk which can prove much more effective in combat than that of strcruzth or force d1Tt"C:Y opposed 10 an all ackcrs strength or force.

The dimensions of this lead will be simultaneoustv rncural and fur.ciona. (the latter being both dvramic and techr.ical).

For example, vcu will move to evade your opponent's motion of auack. bur evasion I::' cnl- on" of YCY,lr dynamic purposeg: ccntralizati..n for the purpose of apply:ng the appropriate technique of neurralizanon is the other. You will move, in othei words, pr imar ilv because this is hocv ..., (;U will begin to lead vour opponent in:o thl:' desired position, It i, not dmplv to avoid his initial anack.

Against a direct thrust to YOW stotn.ub or lower abdomen. fer example

(whether your opponent ernplovs his list or a knife). will not pill! bar k

?r pull in, mcn-altv or phvsio-functiona'Iv . Thi- onlv draw him on,

Instead you will move in tan~endaUy tcv . ard the onc oming blow, spinning vertically at the same Unto Follcwinv well-defined psychological and dynamic ja\~-5\ such a ip:n .. ,'ill o-nder the target your mid-sec-ion I ('~tr;~mf.'h elusive

as you lead the converuj nu motion ot attack il1"O'..I TJ(: '~'{}U

Professor Tohe-i mov cs if'. and "pn:>;. ben II hv does not touch vour extoended arm (which ha s airr-adv rni,'s('d II"; !,lrgUj \(JU will feel dra"'Tl·fon v -ard

y---

90 \lKJDC) A:\D THE DY:';A\[JC SPIIl-.RI·

and around him; his movement becomes i\ son of suction vou will find exrreinelv difficult to rest-a.

This leading. which is a combin.mon of .nten-k.n (rnenral ) and motion (phvsio-funcrional.. will continue until yL._~U1 Jt:Jtfl<,iyl" strategy has he-ell completed. You \",,;11 http vour opponent's In10.11 movement or attack lii(lll'.JL !t:.1ding him by a t hin dvnaruir thread imo wl.atevcr technique PI neuiraliz ation :) most app-opr-iau- u the circumsranc-s.

This complex combination of psvchologicai and fen: tiOJ\;1! factors (dvnaro.c <HId technical I v, hich work ... inlUH<1i:el)Il"ly -o produce this pr-inc-iple ofieading rr.nnol, will n-ach ;h ltight"~1 ronrcnt ration in those techniques when- \'UO ,~iI~ seem lU move bu-d!), .u all while> under attack ! usuailc in "df·d{·fcnc;t' aaa.insr a sin~de ;iU,:u'ht"l-:'

SI'"\'('r;:\ times the aut he '.~ aucmprecl to hit '\1r. Toher with full mental and physica l conce-ntrut ion upon the pan of his anntomv prr-viouxlv selected

as the rargcr (hi .. rower abdomen, hi", thrnu t or chin, his head, etc.). Evcrv time at the verv moment wbr n ir seemed '--"'(" would surelv hit him, his hand would sudden I:,.' appear as t: out of nowhere, and lead 'tlw onroming blow or punch in such a viray <1" tq exrend il om ane ;,w.:ay from its Intended raruet. usually bringing it back to us. If it number of people attacked him ht' would lead {he aggl'('s"in" morion of one man around hi'i Own h(;dy, .hus cfr:nins a vacuum into \\111(1-; hr- would dJ'3\\ tilt" c-hcr attacker s, only to scud thenSpinnmg away from him an o~s the mat.

obvi~ush '!hi.~ type of corur c.Ied. k;ldir.g: k! jl.: not (,:l':'Y to develop. J! requi::--es -<l prr.fOl.!nd kIHH,.:lpdgt, of d); p~\ThO!'I~ir,11 :lIHi -lvna-nir- h-,,--<; which govern human behav ior: in genera! as wdl as in particular (combat

To demonstrate even more dearly what ;~ TTI(,;1ni by leaning, :\Ir. Toile! ~sktd t he stn)ng,,~t, most powerf .. d members of 0\1;:- rla-,-, let Sl't rhemselve , rn t he firmest position lhn could n1;1nage (stafldiftg;, Then they were told

92 AIKIDO A::-':D THE DYNA "He SPHERE

co runcent rate torallv upon remaining still) rooted to the spot upon which they stood. Even thol!~h their ki was thus flo w :ng downward, a tight mO\-Tmerit of Mr. Tohei", hand lran:ling from [he student's forehead to the back nr his nerk, or a ror aring monon against his cheek, clockwise. brought each 011(' in turn down to the mal. Jlat ou his O!" her back .

. vlr. Tol-ei explained that he bad led l.hdr ki upward from the Iroru to [he hack where thcv had no support or baht nee, and then down.

This Iradic.g ruot.cn l,cirre-nSl\co), if it is to be effective, must never be :11 direct opposition to the motion being led (agllrcc.;sivt:'.l. And once control habeen assured by bleucing -:-OUl le-ad wirh rh( line (If attack; your leading motion will oeve+op slightlv ahead of the' «g-grr~~i\'C mot ion -not so close ato be easily captured, ar: .. d yet not 50 far Jhrad that you will 1m!' control 0\·(,:1' your attacker", dynamic momentum.

In the application ofbasic projection no. I {r..O)~Hi !loge; front a static position. for example, you will allcv your c<p?Ulltr.t to grasp your right wrist with his. right hand. You will net t rv to pull away. but will allow your wrist to remain ill his grasp ~)" you mOH' your body with a spinning motion, h'hiding to his side and slightly ahead of him. At the san-e- time, Y(.iU will extend your captured arm om. taking {he lead a- your hand projcrt- s.lightiy ahead of his grip :.1I1d your pointing finger describes the dynamic pattern in the :IiI v .. -hich will lead 1Oh15 fall.

)

fHEORY Uf. DEFI~,q 93

The example ~i\en above is of the rechn.quc applied from 2. static posidon, It ca n also he applied d~ namicallv: that is. before an opponent c.m secure his hold. But yO\1 must never pull or ~nap your hand away, Ranier. you will move (arm in alieument with your hody) at npp-oximatclv tile same speed and (inii iallv) ttl thc same direction as his original rnorion, keeping slightly ahead of his outstretched Land until fu.l. centralized control has been c)t;::htishnl over his motion, body, He.

A blow may be delivered to your head (attack HU. l S, rh:JI1lfn uchi) , You will pivot and kneel (~0\"'1i, $0 that )ell are facing 111<' same direct-on as vour opponent. Your "Lnn(S) will nrJ{ "block" 1;1 the sense of stopping- his motion. bur. wiil be extended so as to protect vourself At the same time: v ou will guide his motion (via lus wr-ist Of' e v en sleeve ) Ir om (he inside, lead him ill full, circular cvn-ruiou fiJfWard and thcu down, This can be acccrnplisbec almost without iouchina him.

There is no pulling, no dr3gging; tt !s just a smooth, sir-ipk-, circular .ead, synchronized p('ff{'ctiy with your ?ttackj~r'~ own movements. It i~ blended dynamicallv with them and, therefore! almosr unnoticed unril he is in Hight. lie falls, hl~l yel clues not know precisely how he carnr to fall.

The Principle of Sphericity

\\'C' have noted elsew here t.ha t :

l . The 1-:1::'nl<11 .uumde typical of aikido is strongly c cmralieed.

2. The- cncrgv cequircd in aikido is extended outward (eithc:: in a (",)11- densed 01 irradianng form i from the- Centre.

Borh of these pri~1Ciplc,,~tllat of r entralizar ion and tha t or extension-rim'p:~' lld .. • idea of Spht:l icitv f)'[ circul.u-itv in operation. And thi" circul.u-itv will chararn-nzt- ;1)1 iLl";rl!J >;!r:llt'"Q"!n oj Sclf-dctcnsc , n-aardless of 110'\- ~J:gll! or ban\ noticeable that cir..:-,uld.r;ty tllJ.Y he whrn to-hniqur-s an: perfunl~Jl'c.1 by advanced pruct.it ioners of tbe art a! arear <peed The autl.orv rd~T to this general principle (\.-; rhc principle of jphl'fll'Tty.

U,~:lli! the <t'-tJ.ckt-r"s elY'i':P."HC momrururn .t-, uart ot !1'I<:. own "traTeg-:",~

:Ql.t1 II circular+y.

\

rn EOR v or DFI'E:\Sl 95

The records of European martial arts. espcci.ulv those ot !~lt Italian.

HungarL:wJ and Engli'ih f(Being schools also indicate th.rr tl.is p:--irlCi?!,- hdSapplied to strurcgics of combat devised for eithel~.s\.'.'orcl (Jr d;;'.,g_gt'L ;\nd thi~ circuiJr approach is still predominant in the usc 01 the knife among the pL'Qpl~ of the Mediterranean fr-om North Afrlc,i, to Spain, and J.long ihe land ~HC which passes through the Middle Ea.t 10 the Balkans. It. i'l also e, .. ident in the cur\'cd shape of many blades, including the J .Ip;l nese Larano, whe-e errrplovment hy the verv logics of it'S design and st-urtun-, IS based mot t' upon rhl' circular slash chan upon the direct thrust.

The ancient principle of sphericity reached an exceptionally high level cf [unctiunalitv in the Chinese method" of Pa-kua boxing, It was neglected for a t irr;e in favor of the shauering power of the linear thrust so wirielv employed in the derivative schools of karate, in both rhf' Chinese and Japanese versions. _\bn} of I he modern schools of karue seem to be returning liJ (his ancient circular concept.

The principle of sphericity was also basic to the practice of judu at irs highest levels as indicated by the records and films or earl~ demonstrations. This principle was the nucleus ofrh- teaching ofthe late judo Master, KYllZG Mifunc (black belt 10th degree), 'who in order to visualize it for Ill" high. ranking pupils used all actual ball 111 his lessons. (Film Short, Tudo with Master Mifune, Toho Cinema, I ~64,)

It is in the pr-actice of aikido espcciallv that the principle of sphericuy achieves a peak of functional excellence. In this an) in lac, the conc-ept of sphericity almost becomes an absolute.

I I I

96 ,,-IRIDO ,\'\0 THE DY~A\[rc S,Pi-lER1"

Circuits of Neutralization

In ,101 aiki.Io -t rutr-av, ;:1 fun, ~i_iU 11<-\': !.:;,id P)t.r opponent", ag-_gTf,,,j, motion.action into innumerable Circuu s (i::\i":HI,d;7~,\i()!1 which tl,:J\\' around \'(IU!" Centre. Thr-sc circe.irs art' dividr-d inrc tlu cc main groups, COll'i"ting (if h0ri7~mtaL vrrtical. z rtd di;u.!tJn.-d circuits.

I ~ I

Basic Horizontal Circuits

The hor-izonta ; C'fCUi'." ot .\nHL111l:ali.,n Ilocv .ucunri vour Centre ill a circle paralh-l to the ~rf)uncl, They lll.1Y 11m',' from your rig} t side- tu yOLlI' IPll

Dr vice versa.

ThC:'t< circuits a:'~:- lundamcn-a l to aikido in hod: ItS dynamic and technical stJ.g{'~. and arc known as tmkar, "tirning c; pi;'01ing movements."

You will imruedi.uclv r('cogIL7(, these cl.cui.. .1" the most commonlv ernplovcd uiorion, of eva-ion and cemr.dizauon. and thrv \'..-111 also fjg-l~re pr ominrnt.v in many of the .rctnal iechuiques ofncuu-alizaticn.

To gin: ;. ou a p~"lnicJ! r x.unplr cf how rhr-sc circuit- wilt oper;.tlc .u combat, It:l us ccns.der jllt- L.-;;~- c_;f delense aaa.nst ;1 dir-e: thrus ; to ,,'UW !O\\'fT abdomen by .r n r'9pmlf'Lr \\110 i~ c,p.lplo;lnQ cithrr h.s fi::t or ,1 ~~'niF'

_<_

:r:''''jI<'O ';:',;,-.

;,. . ...__. -,

---;:---."

____ -'L-=...__-_._ ...... ---

--

)

TTlF,{)kY 0::- IJt- H "SF

9~ I

. ,

/\5 :;_bf b!C\\- i-. bring dl'!lYt"-"<:-'cL you will nH.,\ e iii toward i: '·'.'T. thougl slighh Ltqg.cl1ti~dh. "pinc;ng d tb.- Si.H)H> lime .ino iJ(\otlnc; Iii;; C"';:l"ll(kd HI';);1<., it pa=c s Lv. Both dl{' spinnina motira: or \OUt' bcr;v .md J11 Jr'_i(!]!'~ nu .. A~lin o! vour Land his. .um will guide lum lI1W Til Ci'."(,I.lI \.tl'n'Ci(Jll

~::'~~~:~1! t~l~l~ ::1: ~\I!~ 1 tutia r;rl~~:::' i{\~t'::~~d~~('~::~ ;.J.:~::: ll;dt~~~};':~~ \l~::~:I(:~'_.IIH;;::~

motion :,( crntr.rl.zauon. LI~ re-ach- .. ~d ih pl)H~l cd rnax.n.ur» drcl"ti\·('nc~". anrl lilt:' pre-sure l~P{IJ'L !lis. ra.uurcd h ud .trm

dOHn untc. t ] r- ut.u.

Basic Vertical Cir('uit~

Tl-c \'nii,a! C:fl"uits of '\(,LHL·~lj/.It:O;l un tlovv around vcc- Ccnu . iu c circle pl'lpnvjic1ll<u [0 tlw ~.r'}und, rrkly Hoc Irorn J!'(JIH t • .! 1('<11', ti-to'lH rear H) fi.\li1t) from t hc iight~idl' u· rll1' :'1 ·dd!·, .md 1)"(;;)1 tl.r- left -id. 10 the rightside.

Tr.esc circuit- ;:tit.: found ,L mur.v u'(hniq<w." d Jl('ll~r;.t1iJ;Jti'}II, :SOn-H' of \\hidl un- llh.~u,l!t'(~ ,ct Ill! u-omont vi onn-lusicn ill r l.e [tJ!I()\\-ing- 1"\_ amplcs.

)

AIKJDO AND THE DYi'\A 'He SPHERE

Basic Diagonal Circuits

The diagonal Circuits of ~"\l"eutrallzrltion flow around your Centre in a circle diagonal to the ground. They may flow on your right side (from front to rear or \ ice versa) and on your left side (from from to rear or vice versa),

These circuits are also embodied in many techniques of neutralization (see illusrr auons on page 99).

Spirals and Semi-Spirals of Neutralization

Your opponent's aggressive strategy, his motion and action of attack, may also be channeled into innumerable spirals and semi-spirals of ncutraliz aticn flo,\'iing around YOU]' Cer.rre. In fan, very seldom will a Circuit of'Xeutralizadon be 2.5 clear and determined as in projection no, 2 because very seldom will vou remain on the same SpOt 'while your arms describe that clear, circular pattern around and above you .

. As compared to the circuits examined above, ;,~")t" spirals and semi-spirals may be' qualified as the e\ ('r-pr;~'sem and leading mov ement of your aikido «ratcgv. (Th{' "Dynamic Spiral" is. actually tlH~ logical extension of the "Dynamic Sphere.") This is because your body, when executing a technique oj neurralization, \.."ill movc-; 'yOI;. will turn or b-nd, thus enlarging upon (;1' revn-ict inu the original circular movement.

The vanety of possible opr-rntinnal spirals, I)f neutralization can only be lutucd ~H In the illusuauous which follow.

These spirals m;1,Y beain from a height and ccscend rapidly to the ~rollnd, 1')1' tlif'~ nl<\~ .. uddeulv plung-e down onlj to risr' with incrcawd momcntu rr; Thcv may be nar-row 01' ample, simple or elaborau- Em in p\'('ry case, like the circuits, they will alv .. .avs enable you 1(1 "hook" all at tar k , drawing it into a vacuum 01' ncutt-aliz.ation.

EX,U'lp!t'~ or LIlt:' semi-spu-a ls arc illnstrated 0:1 page 99f dr-awn from the tmpress.ivc imrnobilization no. 2 which is known ax IllkH',

)

99 THEORY OF D£fE.SSE

The Dynamic Sphere

If vou corn hint' all of those basic circuits and all tIlt' possible ~picd1l and scrni-vpir als uf neut r alizu tion around Y011r CC:!Irr(' into <-I smg+c imaze , the result is a sphere- ,,! "Dvn.rmic Sphere" of circuits ('ll\"['!opiJlg YOH proiectiv civ a~ YIJU chnnut-l Zlny dt;~ru.~i\f' .u-rion iruu ,:n~: one Of combin.n ion of those- circles ,l("CorJJ!H:, to '11':- Cil(,III11SlJ:1Ct'~ ofeach arrack.

til ]l1t Dynamir ~P[H'tt', the concept- ul \:lC Centre (attitude) and the (,11('1 g\ or extensron fj.~!j a;, \\--1·11 .h rh.u t.f leaduu .. ~ control an' syt1l;\c)i7.~'>d. prov Iding :1 clear lurmuln to wilich )(It! can turn when seeking 1.0 resolve those- functional problr-rns which nuy <11 i»{' dui iug your prncrir« oi the an.

Any motion of attack (from !11 Iroru or you, from behind. you, or from e-ither ~idt;l or z\n:: t('chni1_l.lc OJ method of a u.rck (a blow, a hold, 11 combination) rna', be dvnamkallv drawn into :-t rirtuit around your Centre .ru-! led ]\,.'ay to its d.spersion andor ncuu-a lization.

Cp to chis point the Dynamic Sphn(' which ,\'t' kl\ c examined, with all cf its r irt-uits, spirals, and <;t:mi-"plub of neutr.r.ization, ha- b-t-u linked to techniques ofsclf-detcn«: performed allllt..J'i! «n tile "P(H, usually against one attacker.

If vou 1110ve alone or acrus-, the surface of r lu mat. yuur Iunctional CQfl1- maud 0'.'('1 .m anark can bl • xpnndr-o to inchni.' t he p',)'-.~ibilitv of mu'up.r' atrac k . i.c., whe-n two or rnorr pt·up]" <IHad, \0U ~>t ~IK ",UHt:' time.

\ xhen ~'tYJ. 1110\1,' vour Cr-:nnc', it-. Pi' Ill'l' 1 i\ /' spu-re .md its .rcccrupanvmz ClrCl1:[S of :';-t\Hr;,lL~i.H:(Jll move with yuu_ ,1IId ipin around ,jIlt! about you ir. tho direction /)j tln- "{,to h 1 -c.u-ulc -, (;f -!» -idr- 1ru!11 which that attacrna v be !.W nchcd.

Obviou-Iv it would ~K m:ru,,~ihk It cxplorr all the dvnu mic p<ltI!TI1:whH l, cou.d Ix- n,;~rt.:("d whr-n linked to the Ciunir s of :\nltr~tJiz~'(lon di~cussed earlier.