AIKI-JUTSU-DO

THE BASICS OF AIKI

The basics of movement and strategy are the most important aspect of any martial art. What does the basic movement entail in an Aiki based martial art? We should differentiate what occurs before the physical action and what follow once action is initiated.

Every movement starts either consciously or instinctively with a predetermined strategy. Flow as a river. This means that you have learned to give and receive ukemi. Your senses will then be optimized in a way that enables you to listen and feel what uke (attacker, also partner) does and will do. An Aiki strategy is and stays fluid.

It therefore seems best to have no planned strategy at all. The opponent cannot develop his own plan if there is no evident plan on your side. If I attack, uke thinks that is my plan and defends or counters. If my attack however is only an illusion, uke's strategy has taken shape. If I target my strategy on his falsely formed strategy, the surprise will be complete and my strategy succeeds. If I manage to keep my strategy flexible, an infinite number of variations is possible and I will not easily repeat myself.

To use 'soft Ki' against 'hard Ki' one must be able to control evasion, extending, leading, and maintaining contact with uke perfectly. Only then will it be possible to immediately reply correctly to the movements of an attacker. If you fight a 'hard' charge, your own movements will become slow and stiff. If you fight a 'soft' charge, your techniques become dry and near impossible to apply to perfection. Use 'soft' and 'hard' in harmony.

The three certainties of Aiki - Aiki no dai-san-buji

Yama o tori tatte  - stand like a mountain

Kawa o tori nagarete - flow like a river

Nami o tori ugoite - move like a wave

The strategy of attack and withdrawal

(Old China, author unknown)

• Use an attack as an attack and it is not defendable

• Use a withdrawal as a withdrawal and it can be attacked

• Use a withdrawal as an attack and create an attack

• Use an attack as a withdrawal and create a defense

Attack and defense must be in balance. It is imperative to wait until the best opportunity offers itself. Your own actions are also dependent of the opponent. Before physical contact, you should generate Ki and store it in your embryo (Dan Tien, Hara, Center). When uke moves just enough for you to decide your direction, you move first. You do not wait for the attack to completely unfold. If you can catch an opponent while attacking, it is nearly impossible for him or her to switch to a defensive reaction.

The strategy of the fight - heiho-shiai

Before the fight:

• Know your own intention and motivation

• Consider the consequences

• Know yourself and the opponent (teki ni naru to iu koto)

• Scan the location and choose position (ba no shidai to iu koto)
  

Before physical contact:

• Control the distance between yourself and the opponent(s) (ma-ai)

• Intimidate and surprise the opponent (mukatsukasuru to iu koto)

• Melt together (with the movement) (shikko no mi to iu koto). This is Aiki.

• Move the shadow (kage o ugokasu to iu koto)

• Project peaceful illusion

After physical contact:

• Recognize the intention of the opponent by harmonizing energies

• Be fluid in the extension and strong in the taking over

• Be confident with the Aiki-jutsu-do techniques

• Use the weak moment of the opponent (kuzure o shiru to iu koto)

• Make sure to win with one decisive attack (hitotsu no uchi to iu koto)

• Move in with annihilating power (mi no atari to iu koto)

• Choose the right moment (teki o utsu ni ichi hyoshi no uchi no koto)

• Be terrifying, be the master!

THE PHILOSOPHY OF WAR