Pragmatic Aikido

I have heard a lot of talk about is Aikido practical. Would you use it in a fight, etc... what is a pragmatic approach to training. I ask,

what is more pragmatic than waking up. Leaving behind your preconceived notions of reality and strength. Realizing there is nothing to attain but many things to get rid of... like habits of posture, negative thoughts, competitive and aggressive tendencies, the notions of fighting and winning. The real work is with in your own mind.

Training to connect with the living quality of each moment. Coming back to right here right now with gentleness and precision. Connecting deeply to others and realizing that separation is the illusion. Training in not causing harm and maintaining an open and flexible mind. These are very practical and lasting effects of serious training and are not for the feeble minded or weak at heart. True training requires discipline and honest self reflection, not only of what to train but why to train.

Tohei Sensei stated in Aikido the coordination of mind and body for self defence. " They think Aikido is a highly developed defensive art. This is a superficial view. Aikido is not merely an art to throw others, but a way to apply the laws of Nature to our daily lives. One who does not understand this does not truely understand Aikido." By the way Tohei Sensei said this in 1961 and O'sensei was the editor. Pre Ki-Aikido When he was the Chief Instructor at Aikido Headquarters.

What is the purpose of my study?

Recently I was asked to assess what three things about Ki-Aikido, and the Kansas Ki Society, what I like or want?

What is it about Aikido that I continue to want. Why Do I do this thing that takes so long to master? Takes me away from my family, and consumes so much of my time? My reply was something like " deeper connection to self and others through Arts, Advanced weapons work, as well as practical and pragmatic applications of arts and Ki"

I have thought about this and I believe, Tohei Sensei has given us all the tools we need in Ki-Aikido. Essentially this thing Called Ki-Aikido has the ability to allow one to realize their potential and develop deeply connected relationships with themselves and others. The movement from gross physical movements to the refined internal aspect of connection, then maintaining this connection over time and distance, is a way of training on a deep deep personal level, one only has to let go of the assumptions, that this is a Martial Art and I have to Throw you with this or that technique.

Continuing to struggle against someone because you must make a particular technique work. Is Kinda like bringing a knife to a gunfight. Not Smart and its gonna hurt.

KI WO KUBARU

"Ki wo Kubaru" IS OFTEN TRANSLATED AS TO PASS OUT KI or to give ki. Another way to say it is to be attentive to other peoples wishes or needs. This seems to apply well to Aikido and to life.

Uke's tell you what they want and where they wish to go. We just need to listen and get out of the way. Funny how everything keeps coming back to the other person and not fighting, dissenting, arguing etc... I thought this was a martial art after all. If I want to throw somebody I have to bend them to my will, if my Ki is strong I can make them do what I want and complete the throw,etc..... if the throw doesn't work I must be doing something wrong, or it is impractical, a teaching tool not a real art for throwing people. Man, did I really believe this, I had to learn this lesson over and over again.

Putting myself in the other persons place is to change my point of view, not a physical struggle to change geographic location on the small piece of tatami I am determined to defend.

Kaisho on Friday

Mike had an excellent class on Friday. He Started with discussion on Non-dissension, and then we practiced holding kaisho way and worked on removing the bump or changing direction. essentially not moving from where you are held or conflicting with uke. This reminded me of another thing Stated by Tohei Sensei,"selfish men have never understood the way of the universe". This is about connection, the illusion of separateness leads to selfishness and is one of the causes of suffering, the realization that we are one is selflessness and leads to compassion and universal well being. Essentially not conflicting with uke. There is not us and them, only us and us. To lead others on this path is not about throwing or pinning it is about waking up. Ki-Aikido is a path to the realization of your infinite possibility to create and to realize connections and to see yourself as you. Which of course is me too....

The Subsconscious

After morning meditation I was thinking about the Subconscious mind being the store house of knowledge as Tohei states in the ki saying. It occurred to be that alliances shift and impressions of people may change over time, but the seeds of negative thought, hatred and bigotry last a very, very long time. These thoughts continue to feed our anger and resentment, hardening our hearts and minds long after there is any reason to. Essentially we are perfecting closing our minds instead of opening them.

Non-Dissenision

Non-Dissension does not mean to hold everything in and locking up every thing said and done to you in your heart, safe and secure in not fighting back. This is not non dissension this is endurance. Tohei Sensei talks about this in Aikido in Daily Life.

"though you say nothing with your lips your feelings may be seething inside you. This too is a sort of battle"...

"Non-Dissension requires a strong spirit and Ki which is radiating back to the Universe, you don't harbor ill feelings you accept them just as the sea accepts the tributary streams, maintain a wave less calm in our own hearts."

Making a deep connection to others requires us to let go of our self, our ego and bruised feelings... the best way to this place is to breathe. Daily mindful breathing practice will enable us to connect to ourselves and then to others.. This reminds me of a conversation on monism I heard from Shaner Sensei. Monism is the belief that the universe is one and all beings are connected and interconnected. we are not Islands unto ourselves, as we become connected we arrive at compassion. From breathing follows the realization of interconnection, this leads to compassion , "once you realize this you are responsible for your actions and the role you play in all relationships and must cultivate more compassion, acceptance, love, understanding etc..."serious personal development requires serious commitment and time. We are a work in progress and never really arrive but continue to improve ourselves, and the circumstance of those around us.

Take it to Heart

It occurred to me after my sitting that Ki-Aikido should be taken to heart, not just used as a way to justify our habitual patterns of self degradation or habitual patterns of striving for perfection. If we use Aikido as we use everything else then we might not be realizing the potential in front of us. In fact we may be using it to denigrate ourselves or to become a perfectionist, which is the opposite of making the world into light or love but rather making it a dark, harsh and resentful place. You need to feel your arts as you feel the connection between you and your uke. Technical proficiency is good but it is less than half of what is required.

Commitment, Responsibility, and Trust

Yesterday,

during the brainstorming session at the Dojo, Mike added three words to the board Commitment, responsibility and trust. This reminded me of a lecture I attended at the American Chan Buddhist Center in St. Louis.

Dr.David Shaner was the speaker and the Topic was on Buddhism and engaged monasticism, In other words making every day life your monastery. We are all connected, and the cause of suffering is ego, we live in an illusion of separateness. This is craving, covententness and dogmatic desire, the opposite or being empty of separate self is selflessness and this enables connection. We need to adopt multiple viewing places--give up attachment to one view places. selflessness is the ability to to adopt others point of view and position. If I don't see you as separate I see you as me, to Judge, criticize, and blame come from separate self. Ego is a mental construct due to the craving for permanence. Once you realize that we are all connected, and that karmic disposition is created now!!! You are responsible for you actions, both conscious and unconscious thoughts, and the role you play in every interaction and relationship. There is no other to blame, if I harm you I am truly harming myself. This is the nature of my study and the reason for making a deeper connection to my self and others. To me this is the very nature of Ki- Aikido.

New Beginings

Today we had on organizational meeting at the Dojo, trying to estasblish a new order. The first step seems to be to write a mission statement. This is easier said than done;as it must be inclusive but not restrictive. Everyone seems to have strong opinions as to what this is but no one can quite articulate it. We agreed to do a survey of members and to reconviene in a month to write or at least start writing the Mission Statement. Over all the meeting was good and I think new energy is begining to build.