Aikido In More Depth
Aikido in Three Easy Lessons
by Richard Moon
Lesson One: Feel Where you Are (centering, balance)
Lesson Two: Harmonious Relationship. The essence of Aikido is non-resistance. Align with the situation as it unfolds. Move to concert.
Lesson Three: Share Who You Are.
Lesson 2) Harmonious Relationship. The second principle is harmonious relationship. This is the start of engaged non-resistance. Non-resistance means moving in concert with experience, accepting your feelings and the feelings of others. Harmonious relationship means adapting to change by aligning with the situation as it unfolds. In the physical practice of Aikido, when someone attacks, representing the force of change, we don't resist the force. We don't stay on the line of the attack in opposition to the energy, limited to being pushed or pushing back. Instead, we enter in next to the attacker, turn and face in the same direction and try to understand his point of view. Harmonious relationship positions us to work together creatively. If another reacts negatively to a suggestion, don't oppose their reaction to try to convince them otherwise. Enter into an inquiry together. Receive their reaction as guidance towards a creative solution. Work with them to improve the suggestion. When energy isn't lost to friction or opposition, all our attention is free to generate solutions and positive action. This is difficult when we are opposed to that which is, just as it is difficult to be heard by someone who is talking.
Aikido Requires Relaxation
While other forms of martial arts tend to apply muscle tension to oppose a force, Aikido requires the use of muscle relaxation. This is where the terms "soft-fist" technique vs "hard-fist" technique comes from. The strength of Aikido comes not from muscle tension and power, but from our ki.
Exploring The Concept of Ki
Ki ("Chi" in Chinese) is an essential principle of martial arts and too multifaceted to have a direct English translation for the Japanese character. In the physical plane, ki is a form of energy or force but one originating in the mind. Ki is a "positive mental attitude in action", a sort of readiness and connection between the mind and body. Deep breathing is a common technique for developing the ki energy, often called a "breath of life"; the link between our mind & our physical brain.
On the plane of an individual, ki is one's own life force, as some would even see as a soul or the mind where our selves live. Climbing to a higher plane, ki has more spiritual tones in relation to the greater universe. There is a believe in some Asian cultures that we all get our minds from a universal mind, a omnipresent entity or universal spirit of uniting life force. As we practice martial arts and extend our ki out from ourselves, this allows "fresh ki from the universe ki" to flow into us to replenish ours. This is congruous with love/'good vibrations', even karma- sending these energies out into the world endlessly without ever running out, receiving it back from the universe itself. Ki is meant to flow, not stay stagnant.
"Think of Ki as the sum of all natural laws ruling the universe"
Stories of Real-World Ai-Ki Application
"Change Your Number"
A mom was getting swamped with calls from strangers. The reason? A medical billing service had launched an 800 number that was identical to hers. When she called to complain, they told her to get a new number. “I’ve had mine for twenty years,” she pleaded. “Couldn’t you change yours?”
They refused. So Mom said, “Fine. From now on I’m going to tell everyone who calls that their bill has been paid in full.” The company got a new number the next day.
Kim Drake, Louisville, Kentucky
"Chest Tattoo"
A few months after Tom and I were married during WWII, he was shipped off to Pearl Harbor. In one of his first letters, he wrote, “I’m going to have a Navy battleship tattooed on my chest.”
Instead of pleading, I answered simply, “Send me a picture of your tattoo, and I’ll have a duplicate put on my chest.”
We have been married for 51 years. Neither of us has a tattoo.
Bertha R. Smith
"Having Myself Delivered"
As I boarded a bus in a blinding snowstorm, I congratulated myself for having had the foresight to leave my car at home. Unfortunately, after slipping and sliding on icy streets, the bus landed in a ditch, and we disembarked. I was three miles from home, with no other means of transportation in sight. Seeing the lights of a small store some distance away, I struggled through the snow and was delighted to find a sign reading “Pizza—Free Delivery.” I promptly requested a pizza (and myself) delivered to my door.
Patricia Rayburn
"Late Professor"
Custom at Duquesne University dictated that if a professor was ten minutes late, class was canceled. One professor arrived early for a 9 AM lecture. He placed his hat on his desk, and went to the faculty room. Before he knew it, it was 9:10. By the time he got back to his classroom, it was empty. The next day, he let his students have it. “When my hat is here,” he fumed, “I’m here!”
The following day, the professor arrived at 9 AM. He was met by the sight of 28 hats and 28 desks—and no students.
Albert I. Raizman
"Lipstick on Mirror"
According to a news report, a private school in Washington was recently faced with a unique problem.
A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night the maintenance man would remove them and the next day the girls would put them back.
Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night. To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show how much effort was required.
He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it. Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror.
There are teachers, and then there are educators.
"Overbearing Officer"
The lieutenant wanted to use a pay phone but didn’t have change for a dollar. He saw a private mopping the floors and asked him, “Soldier, do you have change for a dollar?”
“I sure have buddy,” the private answered.
Giving him a mean stare, the lieutenant said, “That’s no way to address an officer. Let’s try it again. Private, do you have change for a dollar?”
“No sir,” the private replied.
"Paint the House"
School rivalry sometimes reared its head in my family, because my mother was an alumna of the University of Texas, while my father, my three brothers and I all graduated from Texas A&M University.
Being farmers, we men spent little time on domestic chores. For months, my mother had been asking us to paint the house, to no avail. One day, I returned home with my dad and brothers to see the words, “Go Texas U” smeared in big orange letters across the front of the house. Needless to say, we spent the rest of the day painting.
"Police at Family Disturbance"
One night, the police were called to a house to defuse a family fight. The policewoman saw a TV being thrown out the second story window. She then knocked on the door and heard from inside, “Who is it?” Now she knows if she says “Police” the guy’s going to go crazy. So instead, she answers, “TV repairman.” The guy started laughing and opened the door.
"Son-in-law Test"
At my husband's first dinner with my family, my father tested his new son-in-law. “Well Mark,” Dad asked, “who’s the better cook, Michelle or her mother?”
My mouth froze in mid-bite as all eyes focused on Mark. Showing exquisite diplomacy he replied, “I’d say Michelle learned everything she knows from her mother.”
"Wedding Dress"
Her wedding was fast approaching, and my friend was delighted to hear that her mom, emerging from a nasty divorce, had finally found the perfect mother-of-the-bride dress. Two days later she was shocked to learn that her new young stepmother had purchased the same dress. She asked her stepmother to buy another dress, since her mom had already altered her purchase. Her stepmother refused.
After two more weeks of frustrating shopping, the bride’s mom found a dress that was not as nice as the first, but would serve. When asked by a friend what she would do with her original dress, she grinned and replied, “I’m wearing it to the rehearsal dinner!”
Mary C. Rahmel, Dundee, Illinois