Bruce Goldsmith – Villa Rica Aikido – September 2015
Aikido – The Way of Harmony – The Art of Peace
Founded by Morihei Ueshiba O’Sensei (1883 to 1969). Japan.
Wife: Hatsu. Son: Kisshomaru. First Dojo in 1931.
It is so valuable that the founder was incredibly accomplished in many different martial arts. This study enabled him to enhance the effectiveness and economy of form as he blended and evolved Aikido into a defensive art. The attacker is defeated by his own aggression. ‘When the sword rises to strike the Aikido master is already behind the attacker.’
As a result of my cursory study, I am even more aware of how in my own life, or negotiations or difficult situations, it is often best to just keep getting out-of-the-way, while the opponent beats themselves.
O’Sensei’s study also included Spiritual awareness leading to 3 moments of enlightenment. The first followed an experience where he defeated an attacker by employing only evasive maneuvers with no strikes, and afterwards he was bathed in Golden Light in 1925. His second was in 1940 when he experienced ‘the empty mind’ regarding his martial training. The third enlightenment occurred in 1942 during WWII when he saw the ‘Great Spirit of Peace.’
Therefore, Aikido is about harmony, spirit, peace and loving all creation (including our attacker).
The Wadokai (Peaceful Way Society) motto is:
Let us have a universal spirit that loves and protects all creation and helps all things grow and develop. To unify mind and body and become one with the universe is the ultimate purpose of my study. Sensei Roy Y Suenaka.
Our form was founded by Sensei Roy Y Suenaka who was a disciple of O’Sensei.
Born in 1940 in Hawaii. Parents: Warren and Ruth. Wife: Kanako
Began Aikido in 1953 Under Koichi Tohei (a disciple of O’Sensi).
Previously learned Kodekan Jujutsu, Koshoryu Kempo, and Judo.
He first met O’Sensei when he visited Hawaii in 1961 to ‘build a silver bridge’ of peace and awareness to the rest of the world from Japan.
Aikido combines Martial Arts with Spiritual Enlightenment to decisively defend oneself while preserving respect for the attacker.
Ai means love, harmonize, unify, meet
Ki means vital energy, vital life force of the universe
Do means path or way.
The Art of Peace is invincible because it contends with nothing.
For basic rules of Aikido:
Keep one point,
Relax completely,
Weight underside,
Extend Ki
Aikido Techniques employ four qualities:
Hard as a diamond,
Flexible as a willow,
Smooth flowing like water,
Or as empty as space.
Four Great Virtues of the Art of Peace:
Bravery – fire
Wisdom – heaven
Love – earth
Friendship – water
——— My thoughts:
Five elements of acupuncture or ki.
Aikido emphasizes our connection to Earth. I first learned about rooting in the 1980s from a rabbi who was also an accomplished martial artist. It was while studying the harm caused by electromagnetic frequencies that he proved that to be rooted or grounded was protection from ELF / EMF.
He also found that providing opposing energies that are properly balanced with the harmful energies nullifies the impact of the harm. Like nodes and anti-nodes.
Akido takes the ki and energy of the attacker and uses that force to nullify the attack.
Keeping weight downside is just another description for rooting. (The opposite of falling man.)
The Wood element represents man’s first tool. Also it is the only ‘living’ energy of the five elements. Akido respects the evolution of man in teaching how to use the bow as an extension of his reach and ki. As a walking stick it provides balance and a tool to clear the way, explore in dark places and as aikido teaches, it is protective weapon.
Metal is the tool that can create itself. As a hammer it pounds Earth, Fire and Wood into itself. It shapes Metal and Wood to provide us with fire and contain food and Water in containers.
And it changed history when forged into a sharp, durable tool that provides an edge in battle and help create empires and civilizations.
Water is the relentless force that gives life. It immediately flows to fill a space. It “fluidly” absorbs and envelopes moving matter within it. Over time it will wear away a rock with many tiny blows like O’Sensei when in 1925 he never struck, but only absorbed and changed places with his attacker.
And then there is also the analogy of our incarnational experience likened to water by Roshi Shunryu Suzuki in Zen Mind, Beginners Mind. I first read this in the early 1970’s and it had great impact on me and my relationship to the universe. To paraphrase a favorite chapter: The flowing river is the universe of our souls. It meanders and tumbles and creates eddies and pillows as it flows to enlightenment. Going over the waterfall it separates into individual droplets, each an individual incarnation. At the bottom, we blend into the pool / ‘universe’ awaiting the next waterfall and incarnation experience.
Fire is energy. It can be transferred from one stick to another without diminishing the source. The Aikido artist redirects the energy of the attacker to create a new energy. Fire consumes the fuel of aggression and both weakens or strengthens metal depending on the application. It brings us together as it warms us.
An additional ‘element’ isn’t an element at all – Air which is the elusive Force. It is there but not really. To fight against air is futile. But to harness it puts one in control. It fans the Fire, it bends or breaks the tree (Wood), it whips up the Water, which erodes the Earth, all while it can spin or be spun by Metal “blades” gliding and swimming through the air. And it is essential for our existence. The breath of life. In recognition of this we are taught Ibuki no Ho. In the 70s I first explored meditation and yoga. While inconsistent in practice, they have shaped my beliefs greatly. Finding Aikido is my great opportunity to be more diligent in my mindfulness practice..
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Newton’s law applied to how Aikido uses Force AND Inertia.
F=MA. Add acceleration to a mass that already has a velocity (speed plus direction) and it becomes possible to reject or eject the opponent by blending their ki to your own advantage. By altering how much impact one absorbs and how much mass and directional acceleration we apply, we can control the outcome. Rotational movement is a great way to absorb and deflect the incoming mass. The speed with which an attacker enters the dipole of energy determines how fast they might be ejected. In general of course, the mass of the attacker doesn’t change, but when we can get them off balance (falling man) it requires so much less effort to move them away or nullify their attack.
I describe Aikido to others as a purely defensive art. Not designed for attacking or bullying. Quite the opposite. Now, just because we don’t attack first, doesn’t mean we can’t be the first to strike. To accomplish this it is necessary to always be in the present moment. Awareness needs to be practiced with vigilance. Ram Dass referred to this as: “Be Here Now.”
But I love the fact that it’s also about the art of reducing or eliminating contention. This past week is the time of year in the Jewish calendar when we ask others for forgiveness and in reviewing the past year, I realize most of the things I need forgiveness for are related to my intentional or inadvertent contentiousness. I am making an effort to better apply this to both the martial art and to my life. It’s better to blend with the momentum and help others see another way rather than forcing my opinions or unrequested advice.
The learning process that seems to be the foundation of Wadoka Aikido is about maintaining a reverence for the art in both a macro and micro sense. Flowing and blending in response while fine-tuning the tiny details of a technique. A cooperative spirit pervades the Villa Rica Dojo. All students strive to make each other better. The structure of the practice emphasizes working together rather than ever attempting to ‘best’ each other. No matter where we are we are treated respectfully. Ranks are based on demonstrating and applying knowledge. During Rondori everyone is rooting for the defender.
Different perspectives from different teachers is to be expected, but this combination is particularly harmonious. The blend of Shihan Gene and Senseis Danny and Cassie allows me different details and epiphanies. It seems like light bulbs are clicking more often now. I’ve witnessed slower progress on my part than others, but that’s not a refection on the Dojo. All teachers and students have been very patient and encouraging with my slow pace. Being 63 makes this physically and mentally challenging. It has been great how the other students have stepped up to help me improve and develop. A special thanks to John Nestor who has been amazingly helpful and patient as Uke and tutor for my first test. He cares about understanding and details as he articulates what I’m supposed to do extremely well.
Thank you to all my new friends.