Observations on Being ''Aiki"

 It occurred to me one early morning while enjoying my coffee on the front porch that being ''aiki'' could apply to many things in life. From almost a year of training it has slowly come to fruition in my head that ''aiki'' doesn't necessarily mean to control anything but rather to guide and blend. In life then we try to engage and absorb, flow with and direct or re-direct energy based on our situation(s) at the time and on what the necessity is  for those reactions. This is a way to maintain harmony and balance which without our training would certainly be a larger task. On the mat, the energy or ''gift'' we receive is blended into a diffusion of the energy until it is spent. Such is not an easy task, in life or on the mat. These are things I know and have learned in class. Energy is best used when blended. It is like two vehicles in a high speed head on collision; the energy is destructive and forced upward in one massive, violent release of energy creating incredible destruction, then it is over. The alternate version is two vehicles that meet in a high speed encounter, but before they can hit head on one of them gracefully slides next to the other one, connects door handles and spins and spins and spins until they are safely stopped with no damage to either one. The energy is spent and both vehicles can go on their way.  

  It is no easy task applying an ''aiki' sensibility to everyday situations. However, if more of us attained to approach life in this sense on the mat and off through practice, patience and understanding what a much improved world this would be.  

New Students Make the Best Teachers

Last year, one of my new practice partners said to me, “You probably wish you didn’t have to practice with me…”

Nothing could be further from the truth. I enjoy having new practice partners. Not only is it an opportunity to train with a new body type – different things work with different individuals and each technique must be adapted, however slight the variation – it’s also an opportunity to learn things about my own aikido.

Recently, we’ve had two new members join the dojo. Teaching them forces me to step back and think about the technique, to break it down into parts in my own mind, so I can properly show it to them. In so doing, it gives me a greater understanding of the mechanics and energy involved. By teaching them, I’m also re-examining my own methods and learning as well.

As Aristotle said, “Teaching is the highest form of understanding.”

I’ve discovered when I’m paired with new students that I see things about my own methods that need to be tweaked or refined. It creates moments of illumination. When I see someone else come in with a straight arm for iriminage, I can finally comprehend how it would work better if the person performing the throw lifted their arm and uke’s chin to the stars. This is something I’ve had to constantly remind myself about, but now that I’m showing it to others, I’m actually performing it better.

I can't wait to work with the next new student. Who knows what they will teach me.