New theory: In application, no Ukemi, no Awase



I have been thinking a lot about the application of the weapons in Aikido. I don’t mean the small picture, like “use this to parry a high strike, strike the wrist here” but the feeling, the real spirit behind what you are supposed to do doing if you were to ever apply Aikiken or Aikijo in a defense scenario. I think that the two videos above provide a clue. The first is our everyday 31 Jo Kata, and the second is Roku no Jo, which is contained in the 31. But the application and the performance is monstrous. It reminds me of watching the footage of O’Sensei with a Jo, how impossibly fast and ferocious the waza was. I mean, how could you ever derive a partner practice out of that?  You dont.  That’s the point, I think.  Saito Sensei has said in one of his books that when you apply Aikido techniques in a merciless manner, there is no ukemi.  O’Sensei has said the same thing.  So perhaps when you apply Aikiken and Aikijo in a merciless manner, there is no awase?  Food for thought.

5 Comments

  1. I’ll be 64 this year and after many years of practice and application, have come to (today’s) conclusion that contemporary, unarmed martial arts has little to do with self defense, and requires lots of muscle.

    The study of Kashima Shinryu teaches that martial arts originated as a manifestation of free will (the instinct to survive); it must not contain even a hint of technique contrary to reality; and must conform to natural principles. Perform the techniques naturally. Through competition, people commonly fall into the trap of ignorantly cultivating aggression and a spirit of opposition. True comprehension, is like asking about tranquility. The more one sets one’s mind on attaining this realization, the more one bumps up against its being “beyond human knowing; something about which no other can explain, even if asked”. The cultivation of free will is to foster humanity. Put one’s training into this belief until you become the vehicle for true martial power, the personification of “Acceptance and Resorption”.

    As for muscle, at 63, a hour on the mat can be exhausting and seems to accomplish less then at 50. Where I could once adhere my arm to another and leading an incoming strike, I now find the strike dictating my movement. Without the the conventions of practice, aginst skillfull applied power, I could easily find myself on the wall.

  2. Thanks you for stopping by, Wesley.

  3. that is good but to reach this level we have (i mean biginners)
    to do slowly and focus this is the important the focus

  4. I agree!


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