The Paradox of Aikido
Many people confuse fighting arts and/or self defense with Aikido. Aikido is neither.
Fighting arts describe the methods used by one fighter against another fighter.
Self defense refers to the way a person protects him or herself from attacks.
Fighting arts are based on having enemies and trying to defeat them. Self defense arts are based on responding to attacks in order to insure safety.
Aikido goes beyond attacking and defending and proposes a means of achieving security that
is consistent with the goal of peace.Self Defense or Not Self Defense "There is no enemy for Ueshiba of Aikido. You are mistaken if you think that "shin no budo" [true protective way] means to have opponents and enemies and to be strong and fell them. There are neither opponents nor enemies for true "budo". True "budo" is to be one with the universe; that is, to be united with the Center of the universe." --Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido There are three elements that, when combined, allow Aikido to function as an amazing "way of protection". Element number one is Love. Even a beginner needs to understand that Aikido was created, maintained and is transmitted by Love. The terms usually used to describe Aikido do not allow the mind to expand enough to intuit Aikido bridge between form and Love. Compassion implies calmness. Blending refers to process but not to outcome. Union and unity imply neutrality. Harmony lends itself to compromises. Only Love resonates in the heart, takes all demand out of the mind and requires healing and sharing. Love also contains an attribute that is crucial to its role in Aikido: effortlessness/spontaneity. We cannot control Love. Love happens. It just is. Love is the first element. The next element, purification, is all about choice and control. We must choose love over all interruptions, resistances and negative thoughts and actions. Getting a technique right means that it is love-filled throughout. If not, it is not an Aikido technique. Being a body centered art form Aikido is easily distorted into athleticism and/or asceticism. But purification is never about building a powerful body or technique. Nor is it about denial or repression. It is always about discovering and correcting the parts of us that are not in Love. Where we have talent and excitement we quickly learn and develop our skills. Where we have resistance or dullness or compulsion we need purification. Aikido "misogi" (purification) happens as we precisely and consciously compare our feelings, thoughts and reactions to Love, mark the differences and make the corrections. Purification is the sometimes difficult process of willingly putting Love before all else. Aikido itself is Osensei revelation and his gift. It remains the only expression of love through martial arts. And because it was created by love, Aikido movements correspond to our most natural and fundamental motor responses. All the motions are mid-range. Speed is canceled out by rhythm. Strength is canceled out by gravity/body weight. Flexibility is canceled out by balance. Basic Aikido functions entirely on gross motor skills. These are the ones that don't fade, that keep working even after exhaustion and when thought is no longer possible. Aikido reconnects us with the dynamics of survival. This connection is extremely efficient. It allows even a novice to be inadvertently proficient at self defense. Element number three: natural movement. Combine Love and Purification with any Aikido technique (natural motor responses), clearly point out the connection and a student inherent safety shows up quickly. Not as the focus or goal of his or her practice, but as the natural by product of Love, Purification and natural movements. Before I conclude allow me to address the "fighting arts" argument. Under this argument Aikido must be able to counter any and every kind of attack. This would include karate attacks, kung fu attacks, etc. Because of this an Aikidoist must consider responses to all of these possibilities. The fallacy is in the mind of the Aikidoist. Love and purification will always create resolution. If however, I, the Aikidoist, believe that I must fight in order to stay secure, then I must. But then I am not doing Aikido. The techniques left to us by Osensei, practiced without ever looking at or considering fighting arts of any kind, will always be sufficient. Technical development, in order to remain true to Aikido, must be inspired by Love and expressed as Love. Aikido can function as a massively effective self defense strategy. Aikido is what its founder called "shin no budo" or a true way of protection with no violence, no injury, no resistance. When approached and practiced as designed, Aikido brings us to a state of security and an ability to maintain that security in about 2 to 5 months of training. Step beyond that and you enter into a world of artistry, insight, health, peak experiences, right relationships and good living. Ignite the Path of Heavenly Love Light whenever possible in the mat or off the mat.
John Smartt |