International Aiki Peace Week.
Workshop 21st September 2013.
‘Enlightenment may come your way when the paradoxes of life are understood as one.’
Lesson plan and notes by Sensei Richard Small 4th dan TIA Europe.
Some things to consider, but only if and as you wish.
Conflict can exist from without or from within self. Though it is often easy to recognise conflict sought by an outside aggressor, it is less easy when it comes from within. Even your own muscles can work physically against your desires and intentions. Doubt too is also a powerful conflicting force and is a creation entirely made by self as a perception in your own mind.
We can be our own hidden enemy within, a fact of which O-Sensei was convinced.
When we talk of opposites they don’t have to result in conflict, the two opposites can exist in harmony or peace, and therein is the real power and magic you probably seek. Two opposites in direct conflict almost inevitably lead only to the strongest winning and often with tragic consequences on both sides. Freedom, real or perceived, brings peace.
When someone grips you and you worry about the grip then their grip owns you, if the grip owns your mind then how will you ever find peace?
It is the peace and freedom you find in self that gifts you the amazing power to maintain that peace.
Ai Ki Do . . . . harmony of spirit . . . what else does it say? Anything else is of our own making. Way of Harmony of Spirit is the commonly accepted translation. So, spirit is the ‘ki’ ingredient.
Blend ... take balance.... control. (Beware this word ‘control’, how easily it can be construed as attack. Perhaps a better word is ‘connect’. Words are always inadequate.
How can your hara be your centre. . . how can you be 'centred', if you have not united your body as one? A tight shoulder will isolate your arm, a tight hip isolates your leg, therefore allow the joints to be relaxed yet energetically connected throughout your body. . . your body can then act as one and your centre is your true centre once more.
If you are struggling then, by implication, you must be in conflict; if you are struggling then you can feel your own power and if you can feel your own power it can only mean that your own power is coming back to you!
Only the attacker should feel your power and to you, the attacker should feel as nothing.
We can easily mislead ourselves when we think of using our centre, sometimes thinking of engaging the hip joint works better, especially if the hip crease is in mind. If you engage your mind with the hip crease you are less likely to make the mistakes often encountered when merely thinking ‘hips’.
Never let your arms leave your body's energetic sphere of influence.
The attacker must be given a reason to continue with their grip (in the Jo nage technique taught at aiki peace workshop the attacker maintains grip in order to protect their head. An original martial technique would have been to strike the face/head)
Nage (the thrower) should retain control all the way through the move.
Ukemi (breakfall) should not be the choice of the attacker but of Nage.
When you 'reach out', 'project' your ki or spirit it should be out beyond hands, yet all is from within. A sense of what is expressed outwardly is also 'known' from within. . . they are seamlessly connected and are therefore an aid to keeping your balance. Balance means more than just standing balanced, it means something far greater, an expanding energy of which you become the stable centre.
Be at peace when you face the enemy. Give away no intention . . . even during the execution of your technique. Do not become the attacker. You seek Ai Ki Do.
(A friend used to try and keep squirrels away from the bird feeder with a water pistol. The squirrel did nothing . . . except eat bird seed . . . even while he approached and took aim, yet in the moment of his intention to squeeze the trigger, the squirrel was gone. )
Tell nothing with mind and body alike. Tell your ‘squirrel’ nothing !
Often it is not technique you need to develop but yourself !
Jo Nage.
Practical.
Student requires Jo. Requires partner for later.
Warming up . . . specific for technique.
Key points.
Test key points with partner
1. Not feeling your own power (fist and hips connection)
2. Yin yang rotation against partner’s push.
The technique; Jo nage. Uke goes back in direction of attack, angle variable.
Demonstrate . . . no throws ! Take care of those around you!
Choreography first. No need for resistance by partner yet !
Developing the technique……………….Blend… Balance…. Control (of self mainly!).
Never ‘add’ anything with your own arms, do not feel your own power.
If anything, Uke should fall rather than be thrown. Nage merely assists Uke to fall.
Why would Uke grab and keep the Jo?
They are energetically invited to do so, the attack is invited, even welcomed.
Uke tries to keep the Jo :-
1, to control the weapon.
2, to avoid a subsequent blow to the face.
3, Uke ends up relying on holding the Jo for their own stability and balance.
The end. Now all you have to do is practice ! Why not give it a try?
Workshop 21st September 2013.
‘Enlightenment may come your way when the paradoxes of life are understood as one.’
Lesson plan and notes by Sensei Richard Small 4th dan TIA Europe.
Some things to consider, but only if and as you wish.
Conflict can exist from without or from within self. Though it is often easy to recognise conflict sought by an outside aggressor, it is less easy when it comes from within. Even your own muscles can work physically against your desires and intentions. Doubt too is also a powerful conflicting force and is a creation entirely made by self as a perception in your own mind.
We can be our own hidden enemy within, a fact of which O-Sensei was convinced.
When we talk of opposites they don’t have to result in conflict, the two opposites can exist in harmony or peace, and therein is the real power and magic you probably seek. Two opposites in direct conflict almost inevitably lead only to the strongest winning and often with tragic consequences on both sides. Freedom, real or perceived, brings peace.
When someone grips you and you worry about the grip then their grip owns you, if the grip owns your mind then how will you ever find peace?
It is the peace and freedom you find in self that gifts you the amazing power to maintain that peace.
Ai Ki Do . . . . harmony of spirit . . . what else does it say? Anything else is of our own making. Way of Harmony of Spirit is the commonly accepted translation. So, spirit is the ‘ki’ ingredient.
Blend ... take balance.... control. (Beware this word ‘control’, how easily it can be construed as attack. Perhaps a better word is ‘connect’. Words are always inadequate.
How can your hara be your centre. . . how can you be 'centred', if you have not united your body as one? A tight shoulder will isolate your arm, a tight hip isolates your leg, therefore allow the joints to be relaxed yet energetically connected throughout your body. . . your body can then act as one and your centre is your true centre once more.
If you are struggling then, by implication, you must be in conflict; if you are struggling then you can feel your own power and if you can feel your own power it can only mean that your own power is coming back to you!
Only the attacker should feel your power and to you, the attacker should feel as nothing.
We can easily mislead ourselves when we think of using our centre, sometimes thinking of engaging the hip joint works better, especially if the hip crease is in mind. If you engage your mind with the hip crease you are less likely to make the mistakes often encountered when merely thinking ‘hips’.
Never let your arms leave your body's energetic sphere of influence.
The attacker must be given a reason to continue with their grip (in the Jo nage technique taught at aiki peace workshop the attacker maintains grip in order to protect their head. An original martial technique would have been to strike the face/head)
Nage (the thrower) should retain control all the way through the move.
Ukemi (breakfall) should not be the choice of the attacker but of Nage.
When you 'reach out', 'project' your ki or spirit it should be out beyond hands, yet all is from within. A sense of what is expressed outwardly is also 'known' from within. . . they are seamlessly connected and are therefore an aid to keeping your balance. Balance means more than just standing balanced, it means something far greater, an expanding energy of which you become the stable centre.
Be at peace when you face the enemy. Give away no intention . . . even during the execution of your technique. Do not become the attacker. You seek Ai Ki Do.
(A friend used to try and keep squirrels away from the bird feeder with a water pistol. The squirrel did nothing . . . except eat bird seed . . . even while he approached and took aim, yet in the moment of his intention to squeeze the trigger, the squirrel was gone. )
Tell nothing with mind and body alike. Tell your ‘squirrel’ nothing !
Often it is not technique you need to develop but yourself !
Jo Nage.
Practical.
Student requires Jo. Requires partner for later.
Warming up . . . specific for technique.
Key points.
- Knees stay soft, do NOT twist knees, knees point to toes.
- Use hip joints to effect the body turn
- Maintain a sense of opposites, i.e. skin and gi to right, ribs to left.
- Use primarily body and NOT arms
- Arms stay relaxed BUT always energetically connected to body.
- Connect ‘hands’ with opposite ‘hips’
Test key points with partner
1. Not feeling your own power (fist and hips connection)
2. Yin yang rotation against partner’s push.
The technique; Jo nage. Uke goes back in direction of attack, angle variable.
Demonstrate . . . no throws ! Take care of those around you!
Choreography first. No need for resistance by partner yet !
- Offer Jo to partner, (use your hips not arms to open to the attack)
- Right hand right foot forward and slightly to the right.
- Step through with left arm and foot towards the throw.
Developing the technique……………….Blend… Balance…. Control (of self mainly!).
- Blending with the attacker, (please come past principle).
- First step with right is the easy one.
- Second step is often blocked by the attacker, and knowing this makes it worse!
- Keep arms open and connected as in the warm up.
- Do NOT push with arms but connect with opposite hip joint
- Avoid aggression and execute technique without judgement.
- Maintain a smooth action and flow.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Never ‘add’ anything with your own arms, do not feel your own power.
If anything, Uke should fall rather than be thrown. Nage merely assists Uke to fall.
Why would Uke grab and keep the Jo?
They are energetically invited to do so, the attack is invited, even welcomed.
Uke tries to keep the Jo :-
1, to control the weapon.
2, to avoid a subsequent blow to the face.
3, Uke ends up relying on holding the Jo for their own stability and balance.
The end. Now all you have to do is practice ! Why not give it a try?