THE FOUR PRINCIPLES

I Spring 2012 Newsletter

Happy New Year everyone! We will explore the four basic principles in this spring newsletter. Please find new meaning, challenge, and inspiration to add to I that this New Year brings you all a year of personal growth your aikido. The basic principles remind me to relate to all things and happiness. In , at the end of each year, they vote to and everyone simply and honestly so that there can be connection select a that best represents the closing year for all to reflect and stability. If we can relax completely, we can really be open on for the coming New Year. and extend our ki to those we touch and are touched by.

At the end of 2011 the chosen kanji read as “kizuna,” which See you all on the mats again in this New Year. Happy 2012! means bond or connection. For the Japanese, it was the connec- tions made throughout all of Japan after the earthquake and tsu- Sato Sensei, nami hit Northern Japan. The whole nation came together quickly, AWA Chief Instructor, Rokudan bonded, and helped to work towards a steady recovery. The Kiku Matsu Dojo, Chicago, IL Japanese also noted they felt the connection from the whole world as it stepped up and helped in aid, recovery, and rebuilding.

I have learned from the actions of Japan as they continue their recovery process. They inspire me with their calm and their willing- ness to extend out to others despite their experience of hardships and the sometimes slow and difficult progress toward rebuilding their lives. By necessity, the Japanese have connected as family, community, nation, country, and now all countries reach out to connect with them. This is the power of unity and communities, both small and large.

This year the AWA both gained and lost valued members. Certain bonds and connections within our family were strengthened while others were weakened or broken. As our continues, it is important for us all to keep aspects of the AWA mission and pur- pose in mind; to continue to pursue the unification of our hearts, our aikido technique and our bodies; and to provide a community for people to share their aikido. In this way we can keep our con- nection, our “kizuna,” to aikido and the of friendship that brought us all together in the first place. NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS: ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Conflict Resolution and the Four Principles Congratulations are in order!: by John Hannon Sensei...... 3 Marcos and Maia Mendez welcomed a baby girl, Sophia Midori Mendez! Living from the Center: The Four Basic Principles of Aikido by Eric Wegner Sensei...... 4 AWA Scholarship Fund!: Did you know the AWA has a scholarship fund? The fund is de- The Four Principles of Aikido: A Short Interview with Four signed to assist AWA members who need to travel but would not Members of Roshinkan Dojo by James Landry Sensei...... 5 otherwise be able to afford to. If you would like to contribute to the fund, please contact Sato Sensei. Aikido’s Four Basic Principles: An Elephant Discussed by Folks with Vision Impairment? by Joe Vaughan Sensei...... 7 AWA Quilt Raffle!: Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the AWA Scholarship Fund. Relax Completely by Michael D. Goodman Sensei...... 7 Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. Please contact Kris Teach the Four Principles with the Jo Sumner or Lisa Davies for more information (celtickris@sbcglobal. by Roque Wardel Sensei...... 8 net or [email protected]). A photo of the quilt is available on page 20. The Four Principles by Richard Price Sensei...... 8 PROMOTIONS: You Want Me to What? How to Explain the Four Principles Shodan by Kris Sumner...... 9 Wes Bailey, Kyushinkan, GA Mental Imagery for Accessing the Four Basic Principles Buck Bania, Mountain Aikido, MT by Jonathan Knipping Sensei...... 10 Colin Caldwell, Retsushinkan, NC Lisa Davies, Kiku Matsu, IL Keep One Point—Or Others Will Do It for You Yuki Matsuoka, Aikido of Rossmoor, CA by Matija Grabnar...... 11 Chase Valdez, Aikido of South Brooklyn, NY On the Road by Laura DeGraff Sensei...... 12 Carlos Rosarios-Rios, Bayamon , PR Adrian Romo, Kiku Matsu, IL Teaching the Four Basic Principles to Children Kris Sumner, Kiku Matsu, IL by Josh Paul Sensei...... 13 Brian Shipkin, Kiku Matsu, IL Shodan Essays: What Is Aikido? and What Is Shugyo? John Thomas, Memphis Aikikai, WV by James Trimmier...... 15 Isaac Gibson, Aikido of Morgantown, WV Brian Zachariah, Kiku Matsu, IL Nidan Essay: Aikido History and Future Nidan by Renat Takhtaganov...... 16 Dale Eisenberg, Mission Aikido, CA Yondan Essay: The Application of Aikido in Daily Life Van Scott Fisher, Keishinkan, TN by Luke Maranto...... 17 Keith Washington, Kyushinkan, GA Erin Campbell-Claud, Keishinkan, TN Aikido Inspiring Many Generations by Charles Watkins...... 19 Thomas Urmanin, Wadokan, PL Photos Page by AWA Members...... 20 Mateusz Wojciechowski, Torun Aikikai, PL

Seminar Calendar...... 21 Yondan Derek Duvall, Kyushinkan, GA Bob Hodge, Kyushinkan, GA NEWSLETTER PRODUCTION STAFF: Luke Maranto, Kyushinkan, GA Lynn Seiser, Kyushinkan, GA John Hannon Sensei, Co-Editor, Shugyo Center, Sebastapol, CA Tomasz Tyszka, Wadokan, PL Kris Sumner, Co-Editor, Kiku Matsu, Chicago, IL To make newsletter suggestions and submissions for consideration: The Universal Ki says RECYCLE [email protected] [email protected] or All contents within: © 2012 Aikido World Alliance 2 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

Conflict Resolution and the Four Principles by John Hannon, Sensei, Nidan Dojo Cho Shugyo Center, Sebastopol, CA

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life:

A fight is going on inside me, he said to the boy. It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil—he is anger, picture treatments: envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resent- 0.25pt black stroke, ment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The 50% drop shadow from upper right. other is good - he is joy, peace, , hope, serenity, humility, , benevolence, , generosity, truth, compas- sion, and . This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too.

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, Which wolf will win?

The old Cherokee simply replied, The one you feed.

- American Indian Proverb He called aikido, “medicine for a sick world,” for it is meant

The conflict that we see in the world around us is a reflection of the to develop peace, strength, confidence, and for conflicts with in us. It may, at times, feel as though conflict seeks oneself and for others. us out and challenges us beyond our capacity for harmony. It is in these moments of challenge that we are tested and to one degree (1883–1969) as a practice capable of healing the world of dis- or another succeed or fail. It has been said that the natural state of sonance and strife. He called aikido, “medicine for a sick world,” this objective universe is harmony and that only in subjective real- for it is meant to develop peace, strength, confidence, and com- ity is there conflict. As humans, we coexist in an objective passion for oneself and for others. Ideally the practice of aikido is while, for the most part, being completely driven by our subjec- done in a noncompetitive environment and develops the personal tive experiences. It is the collision of these subjective experiences philosophy of those who practice it in a way that shapes their life that proliferates the suffering between us, and it is likely that the outside of the dojo. motive of our every act is an attempt to alleviate this suffering for ourselves. First and foremost in the practice of aikido is the goal and sincere interest in not fighting. Now, this sounds like an oxymoron to most At first, one might consider the to be practices that people, since aikido is qualified as a martial art. It is sometimes thrive on and proliferate conflict. There is no doubt that they have difficult to convince people that in fact aikido is not a method this potential; however, the martial arts should be understood more of fighting. Aikido ends a fight or conflict… preferably before it deeply than this. For, while they are outwardly martial, traditional starts. This is the philosophy upon which all of the others principles martial arts have great potential to be inwardly pacifying by build- are based. If you really want to practice aikido, the art of peace, ing self-confidence in the face of conflict. In that way, the martial you can’t be looking for or accepting a fight. Instead, you have arts are preemptively conflict-resolving in nature. It is my belief that to dedicate yourself to developing an awareness and sensitivity the true goal of the martial artist is the pursuit of peace within and that will keep your spirit out of conflict in the first place. Become outside of oneself. aware of danger zones (physical, mental, and emotional). Try to understand your blind spots and buttons (again physical, mental, The martial art of aikido is particularly suited as a practice to and emotional). Be courteous and friendly without being naive. develop the skills of conflict resolution. It is often called The Art These things go a long way to help maintain peace within and of Peace and was envisioned by its founder, without. (continued) 3 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

(continuation) Just about every aspect of aikido can be applied you experience with each of the principles to one’s daily life. In that way it is no different than any practice will determine overall success with the four. one dedicates oneself to. However, because of the noncompeti- tive nature of aikido, the rewards of practice are far less likely to Also, it is important to understand that the quality be conditional on the winning or beating of another practioner. of the energy you put into the practice determines the quality of its Aikido is fundamentally a training in conflict resolution, so its ca- output. To develop a healthy and coordinated mind-body through pacity to create harmony in the lives of those touched by it directly the practice of the Four Principles begin by clarifying your intention or indirectly is of great benefit to the health of society. for doing so. To gain the benefits of the practice of aikido on or off the mat you must be committed to the process of purification. For this edition of the AWA newsletter we have gathered the ad- Just as a healthy diet nurtures and purifies the physical body, so vice of many AWA dojo cho regarding The Four Principles of does a healthy intention for the development of ki nurture and Mind and Body Coordination that were systematized by Koichi purify a healthy energy and spirit. Without this positive intention Tohei (1920–2011) a tenth dan (tenth-degree black belt) and the practice will not yield positive results. The Four Principles are one-time head instructor at the aikido headquarters in Japan. dependent on the sincere desire for self-betterment and a commit- eventually left the world of martial arts training to ment to develop, maintain, and promote positive and beneficial ki dedicate himself solely to the development of ki. Ki (the second in yourself and in the world around you. syllable in the word aikido) refers To gain the benefits of the to the vital force of the universe. Thanks to all the contributors who have offered their insights for practice of aikido on or the development of our practice! Please feel free to send me your The physical practice of aikido comments and questions. And most of all, Enjoy! off the mat you must be provides a tangible and experi- ential method to feel these prin- Living from the Center: The Four Basic Principles of Aikido committed to the process of ciples at work. It is very difficult Eric Wegner, Shodan purification. to replace the physical practice Aikido of Moscow, Moscow, ID of aikido with words and theo- ries. While the physical practice of aikido trains one to harmonize When I work with a new this vital force in the face of physical violence, Koichi Tohei proved student, I like to introduce throughout his life that one need not train in aikido as a martial art them early on to the four to benefit from the development of ki. I recommend the practice of principles and demon- aikido principles to everyone, because its benefits are substantial strate that each has rel- and available to anyone. evance to life outside the dojo. The Four Principles are: keep one point; relax completely; keep weight underside; and extend ki. Centering is easy to start with. I touch a students The Four Principles of Mind-Body Coordination offer a framework “third eye” on the center by which to develop and harmonize the vital force of ki. Through of their brow and ask dedicated pursuit of these four principles one can gain physical, them to put all their mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Each of the following awareness there. At that articles will offer insights, and anecdotes illustrating the point, I test their stability, four principles and how they work in harmony and how they can, and it is always lacking. in turn, resolve conflict. Then I ask them to drop their awareness to a spot two inches It is important to explain that the four principles are not really sepa- below their navel and test again. Their stability is always better. rate practices. They are in fact completely interdependent. To em- Next, we do the unbendable arm to demonstrate ki extension. ploy one principle means that you are to some degree employing They are usually quite surprised at how much stronger they are sim- them all. For instance, there is no way to extend ki without being ply by using the visualization technique of imagining their fingers relaxed, centered, and grounded. as hose nozzles, squirting water under great pressure. I explain There is no way to be relaxed without extending ki, keeping one that the reason they are stronger is that they are not fighting them- point, and keeping your weight underside. The degree of success selves by putting the muscles needed to extend into (continued) 4 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

(continuation) conflict with the muscles needed to contract. Un- bendable arm also leads into the third principle, relax completely. I usually do not need to physically demonstrate this principle, in- stead I merely explain that we are able to move more efficiently if we are not tense and fighting our own movement.

Weight underside is a harder concept to get across. I have stu- dents grab my wrist with both hands and show them that I can easily reach down to the mat as if picking up a coin. Since they have no ability to slow me, they begin to get a sense of the power of weight flowing downward.

It is important to show how the concepts interconnect. I ask them to do unbendable arm again, and once they have it, I ask them to remember a small conflict from earlier in the week: not anything big, just something that didn’t turn out the way they might have liked. Inevitably, their unbendable arm becomes bendable. Then I ask them to remember the conflict, find their center, and do un- bendable arm again. The arm is once again unbendable. I point out that our physical center of gravity is not just a physical point in space, but also our emotional and mental center. One of the great benefits of studying aikido is that it teaches us not only to move in Is there an activity that really helps you with the four principles? a centered and relaxed manner on the mat, but also to live a life “Amoeba tag!” that deals with all conflicts in a centered and relaxed way. Why? It is one thing to prepare for a fight that may never happen. It is a “Because we all have to work together to get things done.” more useful thing to train to react to any conflict in a manner that is centered, extended, relaxed, and grounded. How does that relate to the four principles of aikido? “Well they are what makes us work together, we had to keep our The Four Principles of Aikido: A Short Interview with Four centers low and relax so we could stay together and then you re- Members of Roshinkan Dojo ally had to extend to . “ by James Landry, Sensei, Sandan Dojo Cho What would you tell someone about the four principles of aikido Roshinkan Dojo, Spokane, WA if they were just starting? “To extend you really have to stretch your arm out, to use your cen- Clay, Age 9, 6th kyu ter you have to keep the knot of your belt in front of there (pointing Favorite color: Blue (“the same as my belt, duh!”) to belly button), and to relax you have to be calm. “

Interesting fact: Clay’s dad Dave used to train in aikido, and his Which is the hardest principle? parents have promised him that when he gets a black belt in ai- “Weight overside because you don’t get what it means from the kido they will take him on a trip to Japan. (Lucky kid.) words.”

The four principles according to Clay: Aitor, 7th kyu “Weight overside. Extend. Center and breathe? Oh wait, relax.” Favorite color: Green

Which one is the most important? Interesting fact: Aitor and his wife make the most delicious home- “Using your center is the most important because if you don’t use made pickles, ever! your center you can’t do technique.” The four principles according to Aitor: “Center, exension, weight Which one is your favorite? on one side, and, ummm, relax. See, I can’t remember that one “Relax, because it keeps me calm and you don’t get wild.” because it is the hardest for me.” (continued) 5 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

(continuation) Is there an activity or technique that help What makes it the hardest? you learn the four principles? “Well to relax you have to let go at least a little bit, and I can’t “Yes, any breathing , especially if we do let go.” it moving. I can really get everything lined up, extended, and relaxed when I tie my physical movement to my breath.” Which is the most important? “Center, because if you don’t have your center you don’t have Which one is the hardest? balance.” Extension, sometimes I think that by extending I add power to my aikido and I still worry about hurting my partner. So I catch myself Which is your favorite? keeping it in check, to make sure my partner is cared for. “All four of them because they work together. If one isn’t working then something is off.” What would you tell someone who was just starting aikido about the four principles? Is there an activity or technique that helps you learn the four “Not to worry about it in the beginning because in time they will principles? start to be the answer to their questions. Without the questions, “Yes, the aiki taiso and we do at the beginning of they don’t make that much sense really.” class.”

What would you tell someone who was just starting aikido about Landry Sensei, Sandan the four principles? Favorite color: Purple “That they all work together in unison. Interesting fact: “Finally got Google Earth to work on my com- Mary, 1st kyu puter using Ubuntu 11.10.” Favorite color: Pink The four principles according to Landry Sensei: “Keep weight underside, relax completely, maintain one point, extend ki.” Interesting fact: Ask her about polar bears. Which is the most important? The four principles according to Mary: “That is like asking a rose which is more important; water, sunlight, “Weight underside, maintain one point, extend, and RELAX!” air, or a nutrient rich soil? Without any one of them, the flower will wither and die, yet when each are present in proper balance there is a glorious bloom.

“Without each of the four basic principles, there is no aikido. There is only physical movement, coarse and blunt. By manifest- ing all four principles, there is a flowing, powerful, graceful, and harmonious exchange of energy.”

Which one is your favorite? “Extend ki, I like the imagery.”

Is there an activity or technique that helps you learn the four principles? “In the practice of a basic technique, I will concentrate on one of the principles at a time. As an example, I will use ikkyo. First, practice focusing on relaxing. After several repetitions then move Which is the most important? on to focusing on weight underside. Again, after several repeti- tions focus on keeping one point, and then again on extending ki. “To relax. If you aren’t relaxed, your partner can’t enter in and you Finally, put all four together. won’t stay connected. You lose the opportunity to do aikido.”

Which one is your favorite? “It is fun to watch a student explore each of the principles individu- “Extend completely, because the kids in kids’ class think I can do ally. It starts getting brighter in the dojo as the effect of each of the magic when I extend.” principles has on the movement and the feeling of the (continued) 6 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

(continuation) technique becomes a part of the student’s under- beautiful movement in synchrony with an standing. By the time we are using all four principles, the look and attack, a flow of energy in real time and feel of the technique has gone through a dramatic transformation. space, and even to do so with scrupulous care Now to do that consistently, and under stress, that is the trick.” for the attacker’s safety and well-being.

Which one is the hardest? The state we wish to experience and to manifest in our aikido has “That depends on the day.” no single well-understood name—but let’s call it “aiki.” What is the state of aiki? Yes, it is “centered.” And yes it is “extended,” What would you tell someone who was just starting aikido about and it is “relaxed” and yes, aligned both statically and dynami- the four principles? cally with the universal force of gravity. But no one of those four “Just train with an intentional Just train with an intentional states by itself quite captures the desired mind-body state of aiki. mind. Our understanding comes mind. Our understanding But by practicing these individual components, by moving our at different times and places for awareness from one (say “centered”) to another (say “extended”), each of us. As you can see from comes at different times and by developing the habit of recognizing the somatic and sensory the above interviews, our under- places for all of us. feeling of each of the four basic principles’ states by themselves, standing and our expression of it we create the opportunity for the “aiki” to occur. also grows and changes as we train and live our lives.” So, rather like the proverbial “blind men” describing an elephant, none of the four basic principles really describes the state of “aiki” Aikido’s Four Basic Principles: An Elephant Discussed by Folks adequately. But each of them gives an accurate description of with Vision Impairment? part of what can be felt when “aiki” occurs. And in our practice, Joe Vaughan, Sensei, Sandan repeatedly and consciously invoking and experiencing the four Dojo Cho basic principles creates a space wherein “aiki” can become mani- Aikido of Moscow, Moscow, ID fest, and thereby harmonize our response to our and empower our technique! The four basic principles of aikido are: Maintain one point Relax Completely Extend ki by Michael D. Goodman, Sensei, Yondan Relax completely Dojo Cho Keep weight underside Kyushinkan Dojo, Roswell, GA

Of the four principles, relax- What is their nature? How should we understand them? How can ing completely is the most we use them in our practice? How do we teach them? important, for without it none of the other principles These four phrases are in the nature of zen“” for aikidoka to can be properly achieved. ponder and seek through their experience and struggles, both on I stress concentration on and off the mat. one’s breath. Avoid hold- Each of these koan is individually a directive: ing the breath. Exhale when projecting uke; ex- • To put our attention at our center. hale when taking ukemi. • To maintain a sense of ‘energy’ extension. Ultimately, relaxation is borne • To remain flexible, pliable, and breathing normally. of experience: knowing • To remain and move naturally, and in alignment with gravity. that an attack or technique can be effectively dealt with allows nage and uke the freedom to breathe. Experience is earned by The objective in teaching the four basic principles is to help our- time on the mat engaged in sincere training. Hence, the best way selves and our students discover a mind-body state that empowers to learn to relax is simply to train. There is no substitute for mindful us to perform beautiful movement, and even better, to perform training. 7 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

side myself, I get a better picture of the separation between need and desire, perception and reality. It is easier to be more relaxed.

Relaxed regular breath with a center focus allows us to be in our natural state. The heaviness we feel is not a mystical power. Three quarters of the earth, and us, is made up of water. Look at the moon and gravity. They create the oceans tides. Water stays con- nected but flows and moves to its natural course. Water also takes the shape of the vessel that contains it. It is truly connected, fluid and malleable—the perfect aikidoist!

Back at the dojo, my partner and I are attempting to work this out. Right now we’re working on the subtle difference between the jo as a Ki Extension Device (KED) and a laser light from the Lord. What we are looking for here is a center-to-center connec- tion through the jo. The jo as connecting rod allows us Water stays connected but flows to extend energy with aware- and moves to its natural course. ness, which gives us the op- portunity to touch and be Water also takes the shape of Teaching the Four Principles with the Jo touched. If we do so, looking the vessel that contains it. It Roque Wardel, Sensei, Sandan for the maximum connection Dojo Cho without the physical effect of is truly connected fluid and Mountain Spirit Aikido, Helena, MT pushing or pulling we can at- malleable—the perfect aikidoist! tain a place of calm relaxed Teaching the four principles of aikido with a beginner and the jo energetic synergy. can be a real treat. They are not often like me…big, old, and bent, with a rodeo right-hand thread, even so I can still shower in a Now, we work on extending ki and movement. First we slide, .22 barrel. Me, “Here’s your end of the jo, same grip and back and forth. Then we walk as we slide our hands on the jo. (ai hanmi). “Have at me.” Them, blank stare, “Ssssay what?” Lastly we play trading off as nage and uke. The dance begins. This is how I start teaching the Four Principles of Aikido and the What happens next is as far ranged, as people are complicated. concept of mai. “Bend your knees, please! Push or pull, do what your will.” The facial expressions alone, only the imagination can behold. The Four Principles Before we are done, you will know that it’s really hard work—be- by Richard Price, Sensei, Godan ing who you are not. We both need to be centered, focused, and Technical and Instructor Committee Member need to be in the moment, centered in who we are and oblivious Dojo Cho to anything extemporaneous. It helps me, as the instructor, that I Kure Beach Aikido, Kure Beach, NC am not who I seem. Looks are deceiving and I am okay with that and me. Relax completely: Relax completely is a principle that we all need to work on every- The jo is a dual-facetted metaphor for our physical and metaphysi- day in our busy lives. I do a drill during technique practice that cal lives. Both ends tied tight and true, as we relax completely and I call, “cutting your energy by half, by half, by half again.” This keep weight underside. While the physical impact ends with the takes the muscle out of technique. Twice the understanding using far side of the jo, the energy (ki) only begins there at the center. half of the energy helps with timing, angle, everything. The ki can go as far as we can project it. Maintain One Point: Now that we’re out there, energy wise, I like to have an unfiltered We should practice this through all of our ki development drills. look back at myself. Seems when I’m centered inside and then out- (continued)

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(continuation) Also, as an Keep One Point instructor, check the stu- It seems like keeping one point should be a dent’s balance and posture fairly simple principle to explain, but we tell at the end of each throw. students to keep one point, while they are also trying to maintain a connection to their uke, move their hands and feet in different Extend Ki: directions, and pay attention to what’s going on around them so Similar to the point made that they don’t throw their uke into someone else. It’s a lot to ask. above. See if the student So, I focus on it during warm ups. With shomenuchi ikkyo undo, is extending past the end I remind the students to pick a spot on the wall to focus on so of the throw 100 yards that they don’t look down at their feet. Then we continue on with down the dojo or if they zengo undo. As they pivot back and forth, I tell them to find the are looking down at same spot they had on the front wall for shomenuchi ikkyo undo their feet and wobbling. only on the back wall and so on. I think there can be a bit of a misconception about keeping one point. Some students get the Keep weight underside: idea that it’s always the same point. I try to stress that the point can Check for the foot position and tai sabaki. Does the technique change based on which direction you’re facing and which direc- flow smoothly at the pivot point or is the student muscling and tion you’re headed toward. The one point can also be the nage, dragging uke with them? the pivot point around which most techniques revolve.

Relax Completely You Want Me to What? How to Explain the Four Principles This is a difficult principle for some students to put into practice. by Kris Sumner, Shodan Unless they’re very in tune with their bodies, relaxing completely Kiku Matsu Dojo, Chicago, IL is a foreign concept to them. The grace and beauty of movement I assist in kids’ classes and occasionally teach a class on my own, inherent in aikido comes directly from relaxing completely, but it and I have to say that I love working with the kids. They are ever takes years of practice to get there. So, how do you give a practi- inquisitive, always energetic (sometimes too much so), and they cal example? I do a lot of hand adjustments in class, and as I go never settle for half-answers. You have to explain what you mean. around fixing grips or helping students change hands in the right You can’t just say “keep one point, relax completely, keep weight spot, I notice how tightly some students grasp their uke, or how underside, and extend ki,” and expect them to understand what stiff their movements are. When I notice that, I demonstrate how you want them to do. That blank look they give you is not that they quickly a tight grip or a stiff movement can be used (continued) aren’t paying attention, they just don’t understand.

Aikido’s principles are necessarily vague. They are supposed to make the student think about them and apply them to their training. But, that also means that you, as their teacher, have to give con- crete examples of what you’re asking them to do. You wouldn’t describe a technique and have the students practice it without physically demonstrating it first. The same is true with teaching the principles.

Surprisingly enough, adults are not usually tested on the four prin- ciples, and the principles aren’t really taught specifically in class as such. We practice them every day, but we do so without really knowing what they are. Kids at Kiku Matsu, however, are required to recite and explain the principles as part of their tests for their brown belt. So, while I don’t spend a lot of time talking specifically about the four principles, there are things I try to do and say in the kids’ classes to explain them and make them as concrete as I can.

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(continuation) against the student, reinforcing the idea that the stu- These are just a few ways that I try to dent is in better control of their body and their uke when they’re incorporate the four principles into kids’ relaxed. It’s easier to react and change when you’re fluid rather classes. As with everything in aikido, there are that set and stiff. so many ways to get where you want to go, or to teach what you want your students to learn, but it’s the journey that gets them (and I also talk about relaxing with pins. Often, the students a little you) there that’s the most important. too fast and with jerky movements that can be painful to the uke. I try to remind the students to relax and go slow, to focus on the movement. There is great power in slower, more controlled, more relaxed movements.

Keep Weight Underside Keeping your weight underside goes hand in hand with relaxing completely. It’s also easier said than done. But, when done well, it can add beauty, power, and Extending ki gives your throw grace to your aikido. Because more power, focuses your the student is paying attention to so many things during any energy in the right spot, and one given technique, their fo- keeps you centered. cus may not be on where their weight is. It’s easy enough to draw attention to that, however. Kaishiwaza techniques have be- come some of the kids’ most favorite techniques, but they also go a long way to showing the holes in their movements. Also, basic tai sabaki movements help with demonstrating balance, both on how to take it and how to keep it. I also emphasize . If you’re on your tiptoes, you’re going to fall over. Plain and simple. If you’re throwing on your tiptoes, you aren’t balanced and your Mental Imagery for Accessing the Four Basic Principles uke could easily take you with them. I try also to emphasize by Jonathan Knipping, Sensei, Sandan keeping the knees bent and good posture, both of which help im- Dojo Cho mensely in keeping your weight underside. Enso Dojo, Chicago, IL

Extend Ki When Koichi Tohei Sensei derived his Four Basic Principles of Aiki- I have a favorite activity I do with new students when they come do from observation of the Founder, he gave future aikido students into the dojo, especially if they seem tentative about aikido or if a simple and elegant distillation of the art, equally useful on and they are very little. I have the students all stand in a line in hanmi off the mat. In his book, Ki In Daily Life, Tohei Sensei describes the stance. I go down the line (starting with more senior students if I Four Basic Principles as a pathway to unifying mind and body. But have them) and test them for orenaite (unbendable arm). Just like as every student of aikido knows, while the Four Basic Principles we would on a real test, I have the students extend their arm and are simple and easy to say, interpreting their meaning and putting let me move it and then have them extend their ki through it so that them into practice can, at times, seem downright impossible. I can’t move their arm. All the while, I explain what I’m doing to the younger students. By the time I get to them, they are usually Although tempting to the typical rationally oriented Western mind, very excited to try it, and even more excited when it works! It’s a indulging in lengthy and detailed analysis of the Four Basic Princi- fun little game, but it’s also something I remind them of when we ples may in fact make them even more difficult to put into practice, are working on technique. Extending ki gives your throw more as the deeper, intuitive truth of these teachings can easily be lost as power, focuses your energy in the right spot, and keeps you cen- a result. Instead, I will offer you here a method of implementing the tered. It’s amazing how a student’s technique changes when they Four Basic Principles in your aikido practice (and life in general) extend their ki. that uses mental imagery or visualization. (continued) 10 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

(continuation) The use of poetic, natural, visual imagery to convey In his comments on the relationship among concepts and techniques in the Asian martial and healing arts the Four Basic Principles, Tohei Sensei acknow- has a rich history back centuries in India, Tibet, China, ledges the difficulty of trying to focus on all four and Japan, across the disciplines of , T’ai Chi, / principles simultaneously, especially in light of certain apparent , -gong, and of course, aikido. Visualization tech- contradictions this may present, such as the paradox of trying to niques have also begun to garner serious attention in the fields of concentrate the mind both on the center of the (Keep psychology, athletics, and physical rehabilitation. The use of visual One Point) and infinitely far away (Extend Ki) at the same time. imagery allows the mind to release some portion of conscious Tohei Sensei explains that the Four Basic Principles are not to be control over the body, which, while essential in the early stages of considered as distinct from each other, but as inseparable. “If you learning a new skill, is ultimately limiting, and cumbersome, and satisfy one of them,” he writes, “you satisfy all of them. If you fail unnatural. in one, you lose them all.”

I will offer the mental images I associate with the Four Basic Prin- In much the same way, the images I have presented here can be ciples in the same order Tohei Sensei presents them in his writings: combined to form an idyllic scene that illustrates the inter-connect- edness of the natural world. I picture myself sitting quietly beside 1. Keep One Point: The first basic the stream, opening my senses to my environment: the rustle of principle is related to posture, stabil- the bamboo leaves in the wind, the rush of the water cascading ity, and a sense of being grounded, over the rocks, the cool mist of the waterfall and the warmth of the or connection to the earth. The image sunlight on my skin, the firmness of the earth below me and the I associate with Keep One Point is majesty of the mountain in the distance. that of a majestic snow-capped vol- canic peak, such as Fujiyama, serene and immovable on the sur- Aikido attracts thinking people, but sometimes, too much thinking face, but bursting with an awesome hidden power at its core. gets in the way. I hope you will find this method of using natural 2. Relax Completely: Excess tension mental imagery helpful in grasping the intuitive essence of the Four causes our minds and bodies to re- Basic Principles and putting them into practice your life. spond poorly and tire easily, but it is important to distinguish between relaxation and flaccidity. To help me Keep One Point—Or Others Will Do It for You Relax Completely, I visualize a grove by Matija Grabnar, Sensei, Shodan of mature bamboo plants, strong but flexible, swaying gently and Dojo Cho effortlessly in instantaneous response to the passing breeze. Aishinkan Dojo, Ljubljana, Slovenia

3. Keep Weight Underside: When Of the four principles, “keep one point” seems to me to be the one we relax completely, the weight of that, at least on the surface, is easiest to get across to students. every body part settles naturally at the When students lean forward during a kotegaeshi instead of keep- lowest point. Tohei Sensei relates this ing their body straight, you can tell them to “keep one point, keep third principle to a state of calmness your center of gravity within your body, otherwise the uke will pull and designates it as inseparable from you off balance.” the second principle. Water always runs to the lowest possible point. When I want to be sure to Keep Weight Underside, I re- When students try to do a member that my body is mostly water and I visualize a magnificent katatekosatori kokyunage, or a sparkling waterfall feeding a tranquil mountain stream. shihonage, and find themselves circling a heavier uke, you can 4. Extend Ki: Tohei Sensei describes point out to them, “Uke has tak- ki extension as a natural state associ- ated with a positive, confident mind. en your center.” They can see The image I use to help me Extend Ki is and feel that, and it leads them a bright, blazing midday sun sending one level deeper in understand- rays of brilliant light and warmth in all ing of one point. “Keep one directions. point, make your (continued) 11 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

(continuation) one point the center of the technique” I tell them, So practice establishing, and keeping, one “and your uke will follow your will, and your technique will work.” point in everything you do. Not only when you are in a conflict situation, but in everything. Sometimes keeping one point means putting a “bait” on the cir- Like everything in aikido, it can only come from practice, and cumference of your circle. This keeps your uke’s ki always on the more practice. tangent as he circles your one point, like we do when showing katakosatori tai sabaki. During that tai sabaki, the wrist the uke is trying to grab is the bait. As long as you can entice the uke into following that bait, without catching it, he will describe a perfect circle around your one point, and be completely unable to move you, or your center. You keep your one point.

If you are doing a linear (as opposed to circular) technique, keep- ing one point is even more important, and significantly harder— that is where “keep weight underside” comes in, in my opinion. The one whose one point is higher than the other’s, will soon find his one point taken.

But keeping one point, keeping one’s self centered, goes beyond the mere physical keeping of the balance. It is also a mental dis- cipline, a mental exercise, and a mental approach to life’s prob- lems. How many times have you heard one aikidoka saying “keep one point” to another, when the other was upset about something?

Losing your cool, in any conflict situation, means you lost just as surely as if you lost your balance while doing a technique. If you are shouting, you are not listening, and you are not persuad- On the Road ing. You are out of balance, by Laura DeGraff, Sensei, Yondan Losing your cool, in any con- and you leave an opening for Teaching and Testing Committee Member people who have kept their one flict situation, means you lost Kiku Matsu Dojo, Chicago, IL point to lead you by your an- just as surely as if you lost ger and take you exactly where Greetings, AWA aikidoka! I hope that the beginning of 2012 has your balance while doing a they want you to go. found you all happy, healthy, and ready for another great year of training. January can so often be a long and dreary month for technique. Not that keeping one point most folks, and I always feel fortunate that for me, January repre- involves conflict, necessarily. sents the start of a new year for my aikido seminar travels! I get I was reminded of that the other day when I was teaching a to sit down with my calendar and put in seminar dates, eagerly class composed completely of absolute beginners. I was teaching awaiting my first trip off to O’Hare to fly the friendly skies and katatetori tai sabaki (step to the side variation), by lining them up see the friendly faces of my AWA family. Things always are a and having them do each movement to the count. I explained the little slow during the holidays as people are spending time with concept of kamiza and shimoza, and said “OK, kamiza attacks. family, friends, at holiday parties and generally winding down Ich! Ni! San! Shi!” They did the exercise just as I showed, and as they prepare for a long winter ahead of them. The first semi- exchanged kamiza and shimoza, just as I showed. But on the nar of the year is always a welcome and long-awaited event. second count, instead of shimoza attacking (as I intended, but never said), they changed roles, and in all pairs, kamiza attacked. This year I’m thrilled to be heading off to Poland at the end of January. I will be making my first trip to Wadokan dojo, headed It was not a conflict situation. All the students were eager to learn, by Tomasz Tyszka Sensei. I’ve had the pleasure of training with eager to follow my lead. But when I failed to establish a clear Tyszka Sensei several times, but this will be my first visit to his dojo. center to the exercise, they found their own. (continued) 12 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

(continuation) Whenever I make a visit to a new dojo, I try to get Teaching the Four Basic Principles to Children some background information before I head off. I always feel that by Josh Paul, Sensei, Sandan as a visitor you are representing the organization, and it’s impor- Dojo Cho tant to keep that in mind. Before I head off, I always sit down with Aikido of South Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY Sato Sensei and ask him about the dojo I will be visiting. If I’m going overseas, it is even more important to do some research. I For this edition of the AWA Newsletter, I was invited to write an need to find out about the area, people, customs, and, of course, article about teaching the Four Basic Principles of aikido (extend the weather. I expect it will be a bit chilly in Poland when I visit ki, relax completely, keep one point, and keep weight under- there later this month! side) to children. After much thought and procrastination, and passing my first and second deadlines, I finally started writing After Poland, it’s time for Kangeiko at Kiku Matsu. Yes, it will be something. In fact, I’ve written three drafts and over 1000 words cold…it’s supposed to be, that’s the point of Kangeiko. It’s an op- about teaching the Principles—specifically, extending ki—to portunity to recommit to the art during the most challenging season of ninth graders in a Manhattan high school. It was the students’ the year. Chicago always comes through challenging in February. idea: they came to class one day asking about ki, so we be- Traveling to seminars is one of my favorite perks of my aikido gan practicing the ki development exercises described by Koi- training. I know that I am one lucky girl to be able to travel as chi Tohei in Ki in Daily Life. It was remarkable because I thought frequently as I do, and I certainly don’t take it for granted. Every these young men would be more interested in the practical than seminar for me is a special event. Each dojo means something in the esoteric when the exact opposite was true. I guess I learned particular to me. I’ve been traveling for a long time, so the con- that everybody needs a little magic and to extend a little ki. nections I’ve made have become very strong. That was pretty much the point of the article, and it’s kind of trite, Each dojo is more than just a place to go train. Each dojo is a isn’t it? But the more I thought, revised, and rewrote, the less I felt unique group of people. When Sensei gives a dojo name he I had to say even though the Four Principles are a routine part of tries to take into consideration the personality of both the dojo cho the curriculum at Aikido of South Brooklyn. I just couldn’t figure out how I teach the Principles to children. And then, on a 3 a.m. No two dojo are alike, as no two individuals are alike. bathroom trip, it finally hit me: I teach the Four Basic Principles to And yet, each dojo and each individual is connected to the children and adults the same way, it’s just easier with children.

rest of the organization through the practice of aikido. My first aikido teacher, Joseph Jarman Sensei, emphasized that we and the entire community of the dojo. The dojo name is a reflec- practiced shin shin toitsu aikido—aikido of mind-body (continued) tion of spirit of the dojo. Each dojo to me, too, means something special. No two dojo are alike, as no two individuals are alike. And yet, each dojo and each individual is connected to the rest of the organization through the practice of aikido.

As Sato Sensei mentioned in his column, “kizuna,” bonds between people, is an important concept of Japanese culture. So impor- tant, that they chose it to represent the past year. The second choice was “wazawai,” which means disaster. I think it’s so interesting that in a year of disasters, they felt that connections between people were more symbolic. So too, should our priori- ties in training remain focused on “kizuna.” The bonds we form with each other are what is important. What better way to form bonds with each other than to experience the atmosphere and personality of the many dojo we have in the AWA. I encourage all of you to try to find the means to travel—we have a large and friendly family who are all ready and willing to make you feel at home in their dojo.

I look forward to seeing all of you throughout the coming year. 13 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

(continuation) unification,the aikido of Koichi Tohei. The emphasis techniques. Your body must move and make wasn’t on a style, or a particular way of doing this or that tech- decisions. However, if you engage only your nique. It wasn’t about mimicking the exact appearance and move- body, you’ll repeat and forget things, or simply ments of Koichi Tohei or any other teacher. It was about the inter- get stuck. Muscle memory alone isn’t enough, especially if some- section of brain and body and the conscious awareness of both. thing unexpected happens. During one adult student’s shodan It was about living and practicing with mind and body working as exam review, I asked him to demonstrate jo 2. The student one unit, using both the conscious mind and muscle memory (or stood facing the shomen and performed all 22 movements. I then unconscious mind) simultaneously. At least, that’s how I remember asked him perform jo kata 2 facing the dojo’s back wall. He the practice, and it’s a practice that can be perceived as esoteric couldn’t. The change in direction confused his unconscious muscle and abstract—at times possibly even religious—and adults are memory, and he didn’t have the conscious knowledge of the kata often skeptical and resistant, almost as if they want it to fail. to compensate.

Children, on the other It is a similar process to playing a musical instrument. When play- hand, have a more en- ing music in time, the music flows by too quickly to think of each gaging skepticism. They individual note. You have to use muscle memory. However, if your are ready to believe— fingers stumble, if you’re distracted by a camera’s flash or a pretty want to believe—in girl in the audience, it can be difficult to recover if your conscious something other than mind does not know the next note. Both mind and body have to the mundane. After we be engaged. started practicing Tohei’s ki exercises, the high This may all seem too sophisticated for children; however, it is just school students grew that sophistication that makes it appealing to children. Children more curious and went want to be challenged and to be older than they are, and chal- to their science teacher lenging their intellect as well as their bodies with something that to learn more. He told them that ki cannot be measured by science has the aura of “ancient Asian ” or some such silly mys- and therefore it does not exist. They asked me for a counterargu- tique is empowering. But we’re not really talking about ancient, ment. I told them that science’s inability to measure ki is proof of esoteric wisdom; we’re talking about focus, concentration, and science’s shortcomings, not the nonexistence of ki. For example, I relaxation (the ki type, not the sitting on the couch type). And these said, it wasn’t so long ago that science couldn’t see, identify, or things have a tangible effect inside and outside the dojo. While quantify bacteria, although bacteria certainly existed. The students their aikido skills and memory improve, so, too, do their school- considered the science teacher vanquished, and he wasn’t too work, music, sports, and everything else. It becomes self-fulfilling pleased with me—he muttered something once about his cred- and they begin to think about it on their own. Some of my students ibility. are even writing school papers about mind-body unification. At my dojo, we use the Principles and ki exercises, like unliftable By now you’re probably thinking this is all very nice, but reading body, as tools for building com- It was about living and prac- munication between mind and with a good deal of skepticism and wondering what I could pos- body. After all, we are not magi- ticing with mind and body sibly be teaching. The interesting thing is that there are examples of mind-body disconnect everywhere during class, and each one cally manipulating gravity or working as one unit, using altering the forces of nature (as is a teaching opportunity. How often do you tell a student to step cool as that might be) to make our both the conscious mind and and they slide without knowing it? How often do you see students capable of doing happo giri undo only when facing the shomen bodies unliftable. We are using muscle memory (or uncon- our brain to change our body’s or incapable of performing a kata without a weapon in relationship to the Earth. We do scious mind) simultaneously. hand? No matter how many times they repeat the kata, they’ll not change the Earth. never know it deeply if its practiced only as a physical exercise. The opposite is of course true, too—if we only practice intellectu- The mind-body communication made possible through the Prin- ally, we’ll never know the art. I look for these moments in class ciples and ki exercises then becomes our entry point to more and try to make students aware of them. Sometimes, that’s all it advanced aikido like jiyu waza, , and five arts practice. takes—reestablishing their self-awareness. I have students write the In these practices, there isn’t time for conscious thought between movements to kata, or say five arts, or sit (continued) 14 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

(continuation) absolutely still and silent for 10 seconds (a near I’ve noticed that some of the lingering impossibility for little boys). But 10 seconds becomes 20, and 20 biases I’ve retained from growing up in rural seconds a minute, and suddenly they can focus and concentrate West Virginia have gone away. I’m more ac- for minutes at a time. Then we do the kata, the randori drill, or cepting of people’s differences and more aware of the value of whatever with our bodies. multiple perspectives. In another sense of openness, aikido has helped to open me to other people. Although I am still somewhat As I’ve written before, when teaching aikido to children, you have shy, I have found it easier to communicate with unfamiliar people, the opportunity to teach more than technique and games. It is an such as the aikidoka at seminars. opportunity to teach life skills and make meaningful connections and differences. You will always be teaching technique, but to Going to seminars has introduced me to what I feel is a very escape the repetition of teaching ikkyo by rote, and to get into the important part of aikido, the collection of people who practice depths of what really makes ikkyo work—that is, to really get to the aikido. A large part of what has helped me talk to new people at aiki—requires thinking and teaching about the mind and body. seminars is that all the aikidoka I’ve met have been such wonderful people. I wouldn’t say I’ve progressed to the point where I feel no anxiety when meeting new people, but I can have less appre- hension when the new person is an aikidoka because we are a community. When I encounter a new group of aikidoka, there is a sense of belonging together, even though we have just met. In my experience, this is something unique to aikido. In and particularly in Brazilian Jujitsu, any large gathering such as a tournament or seminar would be marred by one or two bad apples. While I have met occasional aikidoka who are overly confident in their technique, I haven’t met anyone who was mali- cious or tried to hurt anyone.

In summary, to me, aikido is largely defined by the community that practices it more than by the physical mechanics of the martial art. It is also a way of life and a path towards harmony with oneself and the world.

Shodan Essay: What Is Shugyo? by James Trimmier, Shodan Aikido of Morgantown, Morgantown, WV

The online dictionary, Denshi Jisho, defines “shugyo” as ascetic Shodan Essay: What Is Aikido? practice, but in aikido, it is more commonly translated as “intense by James Trimmier, Shodan training.” In a basic sense, shugyo is maintaining at all Aikido of Morgantown, Morgantown, WV times. To me, the larger aspect of shugyo is the thought process of training intensely, as opposed to the intense cardio workout. It Wikipedia translates aikido as “the Way of unifying (with) life is a level of focus where you clear your mind and make the en- energy” or as “the Way of harmonious spirit.” I prefer to think of it tirety of your awareness become the matter at hand. It is keeping as the martial way of harmony. As a martial art, aikido’s harmony the outside world from occupying your thoughts and stopping the comes from blending with the energy of the attacker, but aikido is mind from wandering. also a way of harmonizing the self and a harmonious community. The cleansed mind isn’t necessarily the best for learning new tech- In my practice of the martial aspect of aikido, I’ve found a growth nique, however. I’ve been focused on watching a demonstration of my internal harmony. All of the martial arts I’ve practiced have of an unfamiliar technique while practicing shugyo and then found improved my ability to focus, but with aikido I also find myself myself able to remember only the tai sabaki when we break up opening up to the world around me. Since I’ve started aikido, into groups. Although shugyo is an intense focus on (continued) 15 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

(continuation) what’s going on in the here and now, the sensory input enables effortless execution of the techniques locked inside your mind, rather than bringing the collected data to the forefront of your . Perhaps a more refined definition of shu- gyo for me would be an intense state of awareness with an empty mind while facing an opponent.

The best example of shugyo for me is the practice of looking at nothing and seeing everything. That level of awareness of yourself in relation to your surroundings and your opponent requires your mind, just like your eyes, to be focused on nothing and aware of everything. You don’t think about what your opponents are do- ing because that would lock your gaze upon just a part of them instead of the whole person and your surroundings. Similarly you don’t contemplate what technique to use since that would make your awareness centered inward instead of outward.

The mind engaged in shugyo is an alert mind. Even though the mind is empty, you perceive your opponent’s actions as the op- ponent commits to them, and technique flows without thought in reaction to the opponent’s impending motion. This is what shugyo “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest is to me. fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actu- Nidan Essay: Aikido History and Future ally, who are you not to be?” by Renat Takhtaganov, Nidan New York Aikido Alliance, Brooklyn, NY So what is it that we see when we look at the ocean? Do we see ourselves as we once were, or is it the future that we see, the yet History...Future...Life...Moment...Aikido. Moments compose life; to be discovered potential, the power yet to be unleashed, the those that we remember define history and, even more so, define animal chained within us? Perhaps, that’s what shakes our founda- us. Whether we will stand the test of time or what the future holds tions and what in essence is the true origin of every fear we may for us is irrelevant. The only thing that matters is our dedication to ever have. And whether we’re going to stand there frozen and lost the moment, to this very instant. This is aikido. to the world or shake it off and inch by inch keep moving forward is what’s going to define us as men. “…Seeing the ocean for the first time is a rather humbling ex- perience. It overwhelms you with a sense of personal insignifi- History’s lesson is one in humility. Discovering one’s true self is cance. It instills a fear of being lost in it, being consumed by the path of conquering one’s ego. Never underestimate your op- it. It drives you nuts…to the point where you wrap your arms ponent or overestimate yourself. Things for the most part are not around your father’s leg and never want to let go…” what they seem, and often a valuable lesson comes from a source most unexpected. A wise man with a big gun once said: “A man’s gotta know his limitations.” Seemingly simple, and yet learning our limitations is Progress in any field is about pushing limits, putting the impossible what scares us the most. As our belief in personal omnipotence within reach. That’s how we develop our aikido. Each second goes up in flames, our entire weltanschauung is being shattered, spent on the mat could be just another second wasted away or rocked to its very core. We’re no longer the same, nor will we it could be a challenge filled with an effort to improve the move- ever be. And for many this may as well be the end of the road, ment…the form…the technique…oneself. Improvement is achieved as they will go through life looking at the world through a broken through hard work; hard work is realized through commitment. It is lens, their spirits sunk. A few, however, will take in this newly ac- not a matter of personal preference; it’s a matter of absolute neces- quired knowledge and use it to push their limits further and further. sity. The “no pain, no gain” principle at work. Still, the (continued)

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(continuation) good old C-word can be quite intimidating. Much humor the wrongheaded is to invite more of like a prison sentence, it carries an aura of finality, the promise of the same. Therefore, confronting and pushing complete deprivation of freedom. Scary stuff. And yet once you through my point is my natural impulse.And push embrace it, it actually sets you free. Disburdens you from self-doubt through is what I usually did until I started aikido. and lack of confidence, lays the foundation for further progress and betterment. Although I’m in my sixteenth year of aikido practice, I’m in my thirti- eth year as a martial artist, spending fourteen years in a traditional “Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great Japanese system that concentrated on the offensive, not things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must defensive. I mean this only in that when all options for a peaceful begin with a single step.” resolution failed and a conflict was inevitable, the directive was to end the conflict quickly by disabling the opponent. This suited me What makes committing so difficult at times is the anticipation, fine and made perfect sense to me from a self-defense perspective the worry about what’s going to happen next, fear of our own but my moral compass sometimes left me feeling like there should incapability of finishing what we’re about to start, doubt about be something between the binary on and off, leave him alone or whether we can follow through. And the problem with that is destroy him. Some physical situations require a lesser response, that it breaks our concentration by shifting attention from what’s such as if the person were drunk or not a true and imminent threat going on now to some other moment in time. Whether it’s the to life or limb. Aikido fills that role, pun intended. possible injury, the spilled milk, hungry kids, or the world peace we’re worried about, doesn’t really matter, since the effect is the I first saw aikido with Steven Segal Sensei in the opening scene same—we’re not here. Mental presence is integral and most of “Above the Law” in 1988. I was fascinated by this graceful important part of commitment. Make your about the art and sought to join a class. Alas, I was in college and the class present moment, dissolve yourself entirely in it, and things will start fee not in the budget so I stuck with my karate but always kept the to fall into place as all the forces in the Universe come together aikido flame alit by imagining it as my second martial art to study, in silent accord. The need for acceptance, the desire to please, someday. Years later as I moved to Atlanta for work I discovered the pressure to succeed are only distractions that stand in the way. our Kyushinkan dojo in its infancy and joined immediately. By the time I started aikido, I had matured enough to understand that Inside each and every one of us lives an astonishing force of while totally foreign to my way of thinking, aikido offered me a nature. It is not to be kept in captivity; it is to be released. Forget real chance for growth on my personal tenkan. about the past; it’s gone. Don’t worry about the future; it will take care of itself. Intensify the present. Ignite this moment with the ut- As I progressed in the physicality of aikido, my left brain logic gave most passion. Let it burn. This is aikido. me permission to explore the other aspects, having gotten the “im- portant” stuff down. Aikido is our attempt to blend with (continued) The Application of Aikido in Daily Life by Luke Maranto, Sensei, Yondan Kyushinkan Dojo, Roswell, GA

I am strongly left-brained, logic-oriented, an engineer by educa- tion and in practice. I have a definite opinion in many things but only on subjects in which I believe I am well informed. That said, it is in my nature to live and let live in most respects. I try to mind my own business, see things from other vantage points, have sympa- thy and understanding for those in difficult circumstances beyond their control and generally try to picture myself in their shoes. I have great respect for people with disabilities—physical, psycho- logical, or otherwise—as they have struggled beyond what most people can imagine. However when I am confronted with what I consider belligerent, useless, redundant, harmful or otherwise ridiculous folly, my first inclination is one of irimi, pushing through or standing up to the absurd. I believe to placate the aggressor or

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(continuation) energy, to go with the flow. Daily life presents for eight years; and found real comfort in constant opportunities to either go with, or to resist the prevailing ’s ability to quiet the mind. energy. This energy takes the form of interpersonal relationships, Having been sidelined with forced convales- obstacles, problems, as well as our on-the-mat physical aikido cence helped me make great progress overall. experience. I had often read and heard of the connection between mind and body. My first aikido teacher, Dr. Ginny Whitelaw, even wrote a This is most true in our relationships with others. Every encounter book about it called Body Learning, which sits on my bookshelf, with somebody is an opportunity to embrace and go with them, read once 13 years ago. I understood it when I read it but now I a chance to redirect them, or a chance to clash with them. My believe it. Sometimes only the proof of experience can convince laissez-faire attitude is first to go with, as this is the simplest, easiest the skeptic in me. I’ve now experienced my ailing body making and uses the least amount of energy. my mind suffer, and I’ve also seen my overstressed psyche make my body ill. There is a connection between the mind and body, On occasion when this is not possible, I try to redirect and blend and aikido helps connect them. I often enjoy spending a few with them to avoid conflict and negative energy. This almost al- minutes before class quietly sitting seiza, eyes closed, sweeping ways works, as most people want to get along with others and, away the noise of the day while my tendons, ligaments, and joints given the chance and shown respect, will at least attempt to work variously crackle, pop, and relax while my mind simultaneously toward a solution. Sure sometimes conflict is inevitable but the clears and prepares itself. aikido way is to mitigate this. Sometimes the irimi is necessary as last resort in relationships, as is evidenced in a sempai/kohai, Aikido is natural. There is a season for all things. I am at a point sensei/deshi or parent/child relationships. Albert Einstein said, now that I can more easily look outward and take pleasure in “Make things as simple as possible, but not simpler.” Likewise I watching my children progress, following in my footsteps. I can see others, sempai and kohai, also on this journey with me, and it believe our dealings with others should be as harmonious as pos- is a pleasure to see we are all progressing in some way, through sible, using the least amount of redirection, negative energy or the peaks and the doldrums. I’ve known several aikidoka friends conflict as possible. Face it; none of us are getting out of this alive for over 10 years. Some are in leadership positions of our dojo. so why add unnecessary complication, antagonism or conflict? We know our strengths and weaknesses and we adapt and help O’Sensei said train joyfully. I believe we should also live joyfully out where we naturally fit. The salesman doesn’t do our IT, and and aikido helps me do that. our dojo cho’s time is better spent on instruction and relationship building than on landscaping and plumbing. You get the picture; Another area of importance in my life is facing problems grace- we cooperate, voluntarily and with great success. Our lives re- fully. At some point we will all have faced many similar, and volve, intermix, and mingle. We’ve shared joy and sorrow. We sometimes, serious, problems. It is our randori, dealing with the understand each other. We’ve bonded through shared experi- chaos as gracefully as we can. Sickness, death of loved ones, ences. Aikido has helped us all relate to each other. unemployment, divorce, bad grades, bad bosses, bad jobs, etc. We all have obstacles beyond our imme- Aikido helps me accept things for what they are and not try to change them. I know that grass won’t grow in that shady spot in diate control. I believe that aikido can help respond to these my lawn, so I’ve replaced it with hardscape. Fighting the nature We all have obstacles beyond our immediate control. I believe of things is futile as nature always wins in the long run. So I try to flow like water, slowly shaping those around me. Likewise aikido that aikido can help respond to these hurdles. Aikido helps is, albeit slowly, smoothing out my spots. We have such a me ebb and flow with life. diverse dojo with people of all ages, backgrounds, and occupa- tions, and training with each of them teaches me something about hurdles. Aikido helps me ebb and flow with life. I have had three my and myself. semi-serious setbacks. Two were injuries (foot and back), one was health related, that kept me from training for an extended period. I used that time to look inward and explore what I wanted from life. I felt a bit like the tree storing up energy during the winter, seem- ingly dormant yet making great internal progress and eventually blooming, brimming with life. It was during these spring seasons of my return that I trained hard in karate, powering through to a great sandan test; began my study of which has continued 18 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012

The center is now looking at having a summer aikido program teaching 12 hours per week and with between 50 and 100 children. *************************** Shizuko Hicks passed her 7th kyu test. She came in before a class on May 17th, 2010, bowed and spoke to me in Japanese. I was a little surprised and could only say wakarimasen (I do not un- derstand). This elderly, white-haired, tiny, Japanese woman asked me if she was too old to do aikido, and if not, would I teach her. She went on to say that she was 80 years old and that she had a pacemaker. I was a little apprehensive, but said something like, “Aikido is for everyone.” Her training began that day.

In the AWA, the standard is to train a minimum of two months and twenty hours to be eligible for 7th kyu. I scheduled her to test a couple of times, but something always came up and she couldn’t do it. By mid January 2012, she had trained over seven months and many more than twenty hours. She also knew all the require- Aikido Inspiring Many Generations ments. I decided to test her with no notice, and she passed. by Charles Watkins, Sensei, Nidan Dojo Cho After she got to know me, she explained that as a young girl in Aikido of Central New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM World War Two Japan she wanted to do aikido, but it had not been available to her. Now she was being allowed to fulfill a life- The City of Albuquerque has an “aftercare” program for elemen- long dream. As an instructor, it doesn’t get much better than that. tary children. One of the centers I teach at picks up 30 children ev- It was a wonderful reminder of the impact and influence we have eryday after school and keeps them at the center until the parents on people’s lives. Below is a photo of Shizuko and her training pick them up. These are at-risk children who would go home to an partner Kitty. empty house. There is no charge for this program. When I heard about it, I offered to teach aikido two afternoons a week to the 3rd,4th, and 5th graders at no charge. I now teach 20 of them.

The kids have done well. Everything (lessons, gis, gifts, refresh- ments, testing fees, belts) has been provided at no cost to the children through the generosity of dojo members and the local community. There is a saying I have heard many times, “Never does a person stand so tall as when he stoops to help a child.” I believe that, and our dojo is committed to helping the children of our community.

On Saturday, December 17th, I tested 16 for their 8th kyu. The others were absent. We had about 50 spectators, including vari- ous city officials. Afterwards, Santa made an appearance, and all the children got a gift. Then we had ice cream and cake. All the children got a picture with their certificate and the Sensei. They were so proud and rightly so. It was a home run for the children, aikido, and the AWA.

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“Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything.”

-Morihei Ueshiba Sensei Founder of Aikido