This weekend was our twice yearly (bi-annual?) Kawakami Sensei seminar at aikido. Last fall I was sick with bronchitis and missed it, so this is the first time I was able to go. I went saturday morning and then today. On saturday we started focusing on posture and being one. I learned so much!
First, I learned unbendable arm wrong. You don’t have to extend an ounce of ki to make it work. It’s quite simple. First, make your posture correct. We were in seiza to simplify it. Then, life your arm. Your whole arm, but only with the tension needed to hold it up. That means you don’t have any tension in your hand, as it does not contribute in any way to the holding up of the arm. Then, when the other person tries to bend your arm (like you were doing a hammer curl) they can’t. It’s amazing! You really feel your arm is one with your body. There is no tension.
Another aspect we covered that day was facing square to your opponent. This requires pointing your feet slightly out so your hips can face square. I’ll have to work on that. When you aren’t facing Uke square you end up with tension and other awkward positions that causes the technique to fail.
One concept I came to understand is how to start to apply aikido with interpersonal interaction online. We were focusing on moving as if the person wasn’t there. Say Uke grabs your wrist. Just list your forearm – NOT your hand, just the forearm. Don’t move the arm either. Just the forearm. It works like a charm. But as soon as you think about the person holding on, you create tension. Tension can be resisted. Conflict takes two people, and if I don’t provide any tension or energy, then there cannot be conflict.
But human nature is to first focus on the source of conflict, then to react by pushing against it. Online this translates into focusing on the person who is disagreeing. Then we react and respond to those comments. But that just gives them more energy. First, don’t focus in on the disagreement. That narrows the focus and disconnects the mind from the body. Then, don’t respond to the person’s point. Instead, act as if they aren’t there. Focus on your own point and continue on with your focus. This is really just meant to apply to people trying to cause conflict, and not a normal discussion.
Today we went from 12:3o to 4pm. At the end we were all exhausted! And at this point, I’m finally starting to get tired again, so I’ll just add my points and leave it at that.
1. Relax any muscles not involved in maintaining posture. Relax the hands!
2. Don’t try to do anything to Uke. Just move naturally.
3. If you think about what you are going to do, you naturally tense muscles in anticipation. So, if you need to think ahead, take a moment to relax and not think before moving or there will be extra tension that can be the difference between a technique that works and a technique that doesn’t.
Point 3 was my big awakening this afternoon while doing the thing that I can’t remember the name of. We both sit in seiza and you try to get the other person off balance. I finally started to understand! First, keep your arms just where they are. Move your upper body, maintaining good alignment, until you feel a little resistance – that means you have connected to them. Now, still keeping your arms relaxed, move the hips. So simple! I was always trying to keep tension in my arms, which is not going to work.
I hope I can remember these things, or remember to look back and this post! lol
