Aikido Article Four...
The Power of Aiki Principles!


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The Power of Aiki Principles
 
by Tony J. Wilden - www.aikido-health.com


Principles are the key lessons you will learn from any study or activity you take part in. If you get too bogged down in the details you may overload your system, which stops you from having a positive experience.

If you are making a serious study of Aikido, then it is going to take you many years to master it. Yes you do have to study all of the fine details involved in your training. But, if you ask yourself, and your instructor...

What are the Key Aiki Principles I need to learn from this?

There your real answers will be found!

You see, the aim is to free your mind so you can perform your aikido techniques in a flowing, relaxed but powerful way. Using Aiki principles, you can free your mind and let most of it go, causing you to relax deeply.

The study of Aiki Principles offers you a deeper understanding of Aikido. The aim of Aiki is to lead the mind and the body will follow.

As an instructor the best way to lead the mind of your students is through motivation, inspiration, encouragement, and then discipline.

What did the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei practise on a daily basis? After all that is what he thought was most important...

Right?

During his personal training he would perform a series of Aiki exercises, Misogi purification rituals, Kototama sound vibration chants, and many hours of pure prayer to divine spirit.

Which of these do you practice?

If you are thinking of joining an Aikido class, are a student or an instructor you will be working on a variety of ways to control your attackers through the use of their own energy. The following may be a typical class structure to develop your skills...

Aiki Class Blueprint

Rei (bow), mokusu (breathing meditation), warm-up, ukemi (breakfalls), basic postures, basic/advanced/applied techniques, kokyu nage (breath throw), kokyu ho (harmonising exercises), cool-down, mokusu, rei.

It is essential to instill discipline in students regardless of the qualities and characteristics they bring to the Dojo (training hall). Discipline is often something the ego does not enjoy, but could save lives one day.

Assessing Students Ability

Etiquette, attitude, mindset, discipline, effort, concentration, relaxation, ma-ai (distance), evasion, ki-ai (shout), atemi (distracting strike), balance-taking, immobilisation (control), throw, kamae (posture) kihon (basic moves), ukemi (breakfalls), waza (technique), jiyu-Waza (freestyle technique), awareness of surrounding environment, coaching Potential.

There are many principle lessons learned during your aikido training, and here are some of the tools I have used to improve my training experience, and ability to evade and deal with attackers...

Breath control, non-resistance, balance taking, circles, leading the mind, energy extension, ki development, mind moves body - keep one point, relax, extend ki, hara - centre of gravity, centralisation, weight shifting, sudden weight dropping, power of intention.

Also...

Don't try to make it work - let it work - just do it, connection, pain incentive, avoid direct conflict, allow, angles of pressure, triangulation points, double-weighting, relax/tense, vibration, creating a void, change of pace, acceleration, penetration, belief, think through target, etc.

There are 3 methods of training...

1) Gathering techniques

2) Analyzing posture

3) Studying principles

In my opinion they are all important, but working on and understanding a few principles, will give you the ability to control a real attacker easily.

Why?

Well, in reality, in the heat of the moment, a real combat situation will shut down your ability to think straight. The hundreds of techniques you think you have in your arsenal are unlikely to be available to you.

BUT, if you have mastered just 3-5 Aiki principles, then your subconscious will respond, as necessary, without your conscious mind getting in the way... this is true power!

Sensei Tony J. Wilden

Aikido Health Centre

www.aikido-health.com


Tony Wilden is the author of the Aikido Success Blueprint, Optimum Health Secrets and... Self Defence Secrets Sign up for his free Harmony ezine... https://www.aikido-health.com
 

Copyright © by Tony Wilden. All rights reserved.


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