Spring 2012 Bucks County Aikido Journal Buckscountyaikido.Com•802 New Galena Rd., Doylestown PA 18901•(215) 249-8462
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Ensō • Issue 10, Spring 2012 Bucks County Aikido Journal BucksCountyAikido.com•802 New Galena Rd., Doylestown PA 18901•(215) 249-8462 Ha by George Lyons You may love Aikido now but you are headed for a crisis. And when yours arrives you will probably quit. So there you go. The hard news is out and you can’t say I didn’t tell you so. You might say, “I’m ready… bring it on.” But here’s the thing; your crisis will be uniquely yours, tailor made and targeted right at your blind spot. Damn! If only you could learn this swim but refusing to give up. Add to feel that way. Suffering has many without any of that. It’s such a beau- this that instead of one boat there is forms and when it comes as confu- tiful art, so noble and high minded, a whole fleet, some insist on rowing sion its pretty unsettling. Check in wonderful ideas to hear and think alone, while others work together, with yourself and listen. Confusion about. Embody? Even better! lots of boats, lots of ropes, lots of should not be mistaken for being The traditional way of organizing swimming… chaos! off track. There’s a difference and around this practice is so orderly. When you reach the point in your knowing what it is, is so important Lining up in straight lines, the rit- training where you see more, when as to be the central issue of our lives. uals, the forms, can give the idea things are not as simple as they used Hanging onto a trailing rope, the there is a promised land where all to be, it’s natural to long for the days idea of letting go comes to mind. things are as they should be and all of innocent practice. Back when It takes no effort, you release your peoples and problems understood. someone could tell you how to do it grip and the noise of all the boats, The Zen metaphor of rowing to this right and you could look forward to all these people, move away and other shore is a nice one but it’s the day when you’d be able to do it. you float peacefully in the water. maybe not as neat as all that. Now there seem to be as many ways Now what? Picture this: Yes, some guys are of doing ikkyo as there are arms in rowing but for a host of reasons Getting some distance from the the world and technique feels am- some are not. Some are exhausted clamorous noise, being free of the biguous, subject to doubt, and full and doing their best. Some are in- boat people is a solution and may of uncertainty. The slow minutes jured and can’t help as much as they be what’s best for you. of class and this bozo you’re train- want to. Some have been thrown ing with can make you wonder just Being with and free is possible too. overboard, either by themselves or where your love of the art went. by their captain, and a few of these, You see, the Boat has already land- still determined, are swimming Reaching the stage of Ha is really ed and really, it never even left. along side. Some have grabbed onto an achievement. It’s pay dirt for ropes hanging off the bow, unable to all of your hard work but it doesn’t Ensō: Bucks County Aikido Journal | Spring 2012 1 ed, frustrated and sometimes even more and more. In my defense, we A Community Of The Spirit angry. When I don’t resist, I hard- did have an extremely hard mat; one ly even notice the moment…it just inch of rubber dust on top of con- There is a community of the spirit. flows. So, why do I resist? crete. But that really wasn’t it. I Join it, and feel the delight I have carried this inquiry into re- didn’t feel that I “needed” to break of walking in the noisy street, fall. Short of breaking my arm and and being the noise. sistance on to the mat. I have been looking at myself and also looking causing a domestic abuse inquiry, at you. It is common for beginners we went on. Finally, a visiting Ai- Drink all your passion, kidoka said something to me that And be a disgrace. to resist and understandably so. Not sure what they “are” doing, what changed my perception and I resist- ed no more. Unfortunately I don’t Close both eyes they “should” be doing, and what is going to happen next can be unnerv- remember what she said but it was to see with the other eye. instantaneous; I was break falling. — Rumi ing. The thing is, they don’t know really know they are resisting. The When we resist we close off pos- technique comes fast, hard, and un- sibilities. But at the same time we Resistance expectedly. Without any skillful create other “openings” or possibili- by Patti Lyons way to deal with it, the beginner can ties. On the mat this can be physi- think “I’m not going to let that hap- cally injurious. My resisting break Resistance is futile. pen again.” Over time and through falls caused more and more strain on – The Borg seeing and feeling others train, the my wrists, shoulders and honestly, My inspiration for writing this ar- ticle was my own resistance to writ- ing it. I am often asked by Sensei to write something for Enso and I of- ten resist. I claim that I have noth- ing interesting to say, no time to sit down and write, and so on. Why do I resist? I can’t say for sure. Maybe I don’t want to expose my- self through sharing my thoughts. Maybe I don’t want to sit quietly with myself and let my unconscious bubble to the surface. Maybe I re- ally don’t have anything interesting to say. Whatever the reason, I often resist. Since this topic has been on my mind I have been watching myself and noticing the many situations in beginner resists less and less; again everything else. Now, when a tech- which I resist that which is in front not consciously. Developing a trust nique is applied fast and hard I can of me or heading in my direction. of others, a better sense of how to absorb it by taking a break fall…it Sometimes it is the alarm clock on fall, and a growing curiosity in the flows. I wouldn’t say I hardly no- early zazen mornings; sometimes it practice, their resistance lessens. tice, but I am not disturbed by it. is the telephone ringing and some- Sensei has always said “good ukemi times it is the suggestion by some- Beginners, though, are not the only is the best defense.” one else that I do things differently. ones who resist. Years ago, in my What I have noticed through this early days of training, I resisted tak- Sometimes people resist because self-observation is that when I re- ing break falls. Sensei kept pushing they want to “teach” you some- sist, I suffer. I get annoyed, irritat- me harder and harder and I resisted thing; to show you that your tech- 2 Ensō: Bucks County Aikido Journal | Spring 2012 nique is not effective. This can able to actually start the seminar an be problematic for a few reasons. “The belief in form constantly hour early. Talk about hungry! Af- While I might successfully prevent struggles with the movement of ter check in and a brief moment for you from applying your “lame at- existence and that movement “oohs” and “ahhs” about the beau- tempt” at nikkyo to my wrist, I will always break through any tiful space, we suited up, bowed in have exposed my face, neck, groin, false impression of stability, and got onto the new black mats. knee etc. to another possible blow leaving feelings of frustration, There were even some unexpected or worse. Again, years ago, a visit- confusion, and sorrow.” guests such as Dave Mata and one ing Aikidoka was training with me of his students who drove 12 hours and became very ‘heavy” and re- — Darryl Bailey through the night from Chicago and sistant. He was nidan and I was 4th long time practitioner Ronald Er- kyu. I was trying to do shihonage nest from D.C. and he resisted. Frustrated, and not Churn Creek There is something quite exquisite understanding what he was trying about participating in the “building” to ”teach” me, I took the opening I Aikido Grand of something. The energy of genesis had and bit his arm! Not my shin- can be very potent. How many good ing moment, for sure, but boy was Opening stories have you heard that start he surprised! by Eric Soroker with; “I was there when…” Resisting can be misunderstood. We On March 24, 2012, Churn Creek Nick taught the first class and drove learn ukemi through technique and Aikido held its grand opening semi- us through an hour of suwariwaza. technique through ukemi. When we nar with guest instructor Lyons Shi- I know of several pairs of knees resist we can actually slow and con- han at the brand new dojo in Wor- that were groaning after that. Lyons fuse learning and even perpetuate ton, Maryland. Shihan taught the next three class- resistance in others. I have heard es, two body arts and one weapons many a person say: “Oh, I thought I On a rainy morning, 16 members of class.