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"Your Free E-course Part Six
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Thank You for subscribing to our FREE 6 part E-course on Aikido, Health and Well-Being... We hope You enjoyed it! Here is Your sixth and final Installment...
Aikido is a form of self-defence created by Master Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969). It was a secret known only to a relatively few privileged Japanese up until 1948. The requirements to gain entrance into the Aikido Hombu and to learn Aikido's art and philosophy were many including at least two recommendations from well-known, respected citizens of Japan.
Aikido is a combination of many martial arts including ju-jitsu, and Kendo. Most Budo (military arts) originated from a kind of physical fitness programme, developed into self-defence arts and then on to refined Budo.
The movement of Aikido is natural and without the physical strain demanded by other combat arts. Aikido provides excellent movement, balance, posture and most importantly, relaxation. For this reason Aikido can be practised by members of either sex, young or old, while it is also a most effective form of self-defence.
To assess the student's ability in Aikido, he or she has to take an examination before a Dan Grade (Black Belt). In this examination, the students with their partners go through the techniques that have been taught from the grading syllabus.
If a pupil is trying for a Black Belt then he can only be graded by a 4th Dan or above. This method has been laid down by the Aikikai, the world centre of Aikido. All Black Belts who have been graded by Aikikai teachers receive a diploma from Japan.
Do not forget that there is a lot of hard work before one reaches this standard. The usual time is 3-5 years based on two classes a week. Ninety per cent of people who practise Aikido could arrive at the Black Belt stage if they had the strength of mind and determination to continue.
You will find that the more you practise Aikido, the more the self-defence aspect will become of secondary importance. Material things can only bring happiness up to a point but it is a deeper inner happiness that we are seeking and Aikido is one way of finding this. You will find that through Aikido practice your mind will become more positive.
As you can imagine, when practising and someone attacks you, there is little time to decide what technique to use but you move the way that the feeling takes you, either positive or negative. This attack is the same as a problem. If it is an easy one, one can go positively into it. On the other hand if it is a difficult one, one moves one way first to get out of the way and then considers it. But if you hesitate you are lost.
This is why to find the 'way' we must always continue to practise our techniques and try to put our mistakes right. This is also why Aikido is so interesting as there is no end to it, we never stop learning.
1. To practise with one partner. This is usually the way for beginners and uses the forms as laid down. Once you understand the basic form then try to add more movement to it.
2. The next stage is for three people to practise. This gives two students against one so as to provide a more continuous practice and teaches you to react more quickly to the attack. Sometimes practise gently, other times practise hard.
When attacking, make sure that your attack is true. Otherwise, you give your partner a false impression of success. If your partner cannot escape your attack then it is his responsibility. Do not get upset if your partner catches you off-guard. Just put it down to good experience.
3. Next try three people against you with all three attacking you at once. Do not try to make correct techniques but keep your body moving and turning in a circular motion, trying to keep your mind and body relaxed.
4. Another method of practice is for two partners to hold you and for you to try to escape. This will show whether you are using strength or not. In the beginning always let your partner hold you but as you progress you should move just before they touch you and lead their strength with yours. Do not let your Ki power clash with your partners or you will not feel the real sense of Aikido.
5. Suwari-Waza (Sitting Techniques) These sitting and kneeling techniques are more difficult for Europeans than for Eastern students. The Aikido manner of kneeling and sitting is the Orient's natural way of sitting. Unless one starts young it is hard to acquire this suppleness. But with persistent practice one should be able to learn these techniques. This is a very good exercise for the student's body especially for the hips.
If you can imagine that you are like a spinning top and if someone or something attacks you, they will fly off from you and not be able to enter into your body. In Aikido all movements must be 'circular' not 'triangular'. Thus if you are spinning like a top and your opponent is on the outside, he is controlled not by strength but by your movement. At the same time your body and mind must be relaxed., but completely alert.
Always practise with good feeling and spirit. An excessive amount of talking on the mat is a waste of time. Your breathing should be through your nose with your mouth closed. By this method you will learn to control your breathing. This will in time enable you to practise at least three hours a week. At the leading clubs in this country, most pupils practise five hours a week and Dan grades ten hours a week.
At the Aikikai, they have a system whereby the pupils live in and devote their lives to Aikido. They train up to six hours a day for seven days a week. After a certain number of years -usually ten -they are sent out as apostles of Aikido to teach the Art to all parts of the world.
When listening to people talk about Aikido, you will hear about the power of Ki (Spirit) and Kokyu (Breath control). Both are things that cannot easily be explained as they are spiritual feelings. These powers in Aikido are only possible when one is fully relaxed, so if one loses one's temper one will never find this power. This is why I feel sure that it is important to practise not only the technical side of Aikido but also to discipline the mind and accept the ceremony which is associated with the Art.
The ceremony in Aikido is similar to that in the other Martial Arts. The pupils bow to the teacher before and after practice. They also bow to each other before each separate technique. This creates respect for each other and is helpful to class discipline. Discipline not only stops accidents on the mat but also helps in self-discipline which is essential in Aikido.
Warming-up is as necessary to loosen up the joints and muscles in Aikido as it is in other physical activities. Some Aikido Techniques you are likely to cover in a traditional class are...
Shiho-nage (four direction throw), Koto-gaeshi (small hand twist), Irimi-nage (enter body projection), Kaiten-nage (spiral throw), Tenchi-nage (heaven and earth throw), Ikkyo or Ikkajo (first principle), Nikkyo or Nikajo (second principle), Sankyo or Sankajo (third principle), Yonkyo or Yonkajo (fourth principle)
Throws are often achieved in Aikido by forcing an opponent to throw himself if he is to avoid having one of his limbs dislocated. This is why it is particularly important for the beginner to practise carefully. The beginner will learn to avoid locks by throwing himself but this may take some time.
Aikido Ukemi (breakfalls) are similar to those in Judo. At all times they should be soft, and your body should be kept like a ball. In Aikido we learn to roll when thrown so as to recover to one's feet.
You must remember that Aikido is not so much a sport as a fighting art, therefore Ukemi is as important as other techniques. If your Ukemi become proficient then you will follow your partner better because the fear of falling will have gone. This will allow your mind to be calm and as the body always follows the mind in Aikido then it will be more relaxed, giving you more speed and natural movement for your technique.
The posture in Aikido is in an oblique position. The reason for this is that you lessen the area of attack and you are able to move more easily and with speed. Standing with your left foot half a step forward is left Hamni. Right Hamni is the same except that your right foot is half a step forward.
The idea of combination techniques is to train the individual to change from one technique to another. Thus if your partner escapes from one technique one can quickly switch to another. Also by being able to follow him by the feel of his movement and direction, combination techniques give you control over your partner the whole of the time.
There are many combination techniques but you will find that if you practise properly they will come automatically through your Aikido movement. This will eventually come to you without thought.
With counter-techniques you must completely follow your partner. At no time resist his technique, otherwise you will find that you cannot counter him. This is a very good exercise for harmony and relaxation. Make sure that you first try to 'give' yourself to your partner. Do not practise these techniques too fast until you have learnt to completely relax.
Sit in an upright position with your legs folded underneath you (kneeling). The small of your back must be straight, the shoulders relaxed and your hands in your lap. Push your hands out to your front bringing them up and out so as to open your chest. At the same time, breathe deeply in through your nose. Your hands come back to catch the left hand in the right. Push your breath down below your navel. Hold this for a few seconds. Now blow your air out of your mouth whilst your hands are pushing forwards. Repeat this exercise four or five times before and after training.
There is no such thing in Aikido as a contest. It is against all the principles of the art. Thus, if you practise 'contest' Aikido, you are not practising true Aikido but street fighting. It is therefore better to practise in the streets as it is cheaper and the training is not so hard!
In Aikido, you must remember that your partner is not your enemy but your friend. Look after his welfare as well as your own. Help him to learn Aikido. If you injure him purposely then he will go away and you will not progress.
By giving to others you can obtain a great deal of pleasure. Higher grades must be kind to lower grades and help them in their difficult periods. Lower grades must have respect for their seniors and listen to them when they are teaching. In this way, improvement can be assured.
This was the final installment of Your Free 6 part E-course... we hope You enjoyed it. Please Stay in Touch with the Aikido Health Centre.
Warmest Regards
Tony Wilden
Aikido Instructor/Healer
Aikido Health Centre
www.aikido-health.com
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