The Principles of Aikido and Aiki

Whew, the weeklong training with Hakim sensei is coming to an end. Although it has been a hectic week with too many late nights for my liking, the learning has been non stop.

The best thing of it all is that, every practice has been rejuvenating. Its unlike training with some aikido classes, where students ache with pain and injury and training is more often than not a cumbersome exercise filled with disheartening moments.

The practice is not easy. Though physically it is not as demanding as normal classes since Hakim sensei is fond of lecturing about Aikido as much as he is of physically doing 'aikido'. After all, the key here is that Aikido is spiritual in nature. The fundamental aspect that makes it different to other arts, is the spirit and heart that is required to practice aikido with.

Anyway, before I forget everything I've learned so far let me just jot some key points here for everyone's sake.

Principles of Aikido

1. Keep Center

2. Relax

3. Extend Ki

4. Intention

Followed by the Stages

1. Aiki no Kokoro (heart of aiki)

2. Aiki no Genri (principles of aiki)

3. Aiki no Waza (the techniques)

4. Aiki no chakray (the power)

5. Takemusu Aiki (all encompassing/complete aiki)

Characters of Aiki

1. Entering ki

2. Downwards ki - disolve

3. Inviting ki

4. Absorp ki

5. Pulling ki

6. Ateru

7. Enveloping ki/control the mind

No mind

Not thinking about the unnecessary

Immovable spirit

acceptance, surrender

Other training elements

Taking the opponents line. Using inviting aiki, we flow with the line but do not avoid it.

Cut, cut and cut both as nage and uke to maintain weapons

Although we cut, we must find the path to cut and not cut blindly

Extend opponents ki. Up, Down and fingers.

Whilst we extend our ki, make sure we do not just physically extend. There is extension in the mind and the hands are relaxed. We can do physical extension in certain circumstances, but at times we need to make our hands 0 but still extend in the center.

Awase, Musubi and Kino nagare

Maintain chushin. Saeka tanden, kokoro tanden, jo tanden.

Musubi - standing to standing.

Feel opponents center and manipulate it.

Shihonage - ashi sabaki, center down, hand lightly touch above, center move together.

Irimi - 3 styles. Head sweep in. Chushin rotating arm. Ashi sabaki irimi control hand body and throat.

Kuzushi kosadori. Center close. Down. Draw the sword out.

Musubi - point in hand move.

Moritodori - center close and turn point.

awase ryotedori. Cut horizontal.

Kotegaishi - finger ki direction. Grab is touching with fingers.

I think I'm too sleepy to make more sense then this.