Aikido Techniques: Application in Daily Life – Part 1
Aikido Techniques: Kotegaeshi
It might sound odd that one can take a martial art who’s Aikido techniques are designed to slam a person to the mat or to pin the wrists and elbows to the mat but the philosophy of the art actually has a substantial application to the way we live our lives and interact with people. In order to understand conceptually how this can be achieved, we need to recall the Four Basic Principles of Aikido which are: Keep One-Point, Relax Completely, Extend Ki, and Weight Underside.
Aikido Techniques and the family
Now, how do these related to my dealing with an angry family member? In yoga, we focus on a calm, centered posture in order to maximize the benefit of the exercise. In Aikido techiques, there are similar precepts we follow. All are designed to ensure that the practitioner maintains control of one’s self. As Master Ueshiba, also known as O-Sensei, states “true victory is victory over one’s self”. This means that we must focus our energies on the mat to achieve this control, first of our bodies and then of our minds.
Aikido Techniques: Keeping One-Point
Keeping One-Point is to remain centered and in balance so that power transfer in Aikido techniques is maximized. In a literal sense, keeping one-point is also maintaining control of your thoughts and emotions so that your responses to verbal encounters at work or with family can demonstrate the same level of control. By achieving such a level of control we can control the nature of our reactions to those we work with and care about. Victory over one’s self is illustrated by a calm presence that permits all points of view to be “aired out” and satisfies the need of each individual to be heard and understood. It also maximizes the chance for a peaceful and mutually beneficial resolution to disagreements.
This harmonization is the truest blending of energies and helps maintain the calm that will permit a peaceful outcome to verbal encounters. This then is one of the ways we use Aikido techniques learned on the mat in our daily lives. In subsequent articles, we will examine the ways that some of the other principles can be applied in daily life.
Sensei Dan,
I studied and practiced Aikido many years ago in Kansas with Mel Smith and Andrew Barr. I no longer attend formal practice as I now live in Phoenix, but I do practice Ki breathing. However, I often experience pain in my lower left abdomen area. I have had this checked by various doctors and even had a scan performed. All results show no inflammation, but I definitely feel the pain. Have you come across anything like this before? I have been told it is an energy block.
Thanks,
Phil Combs
Phil – I have not heard of this but that does not mean it does not happen. Are you sitting in seiza or zazen? Perhaps doing misogi breathing while lying flat on your back may be a way to resume your breath training.
Kudo Sensei