Japanese concept
Aiki
, a Japanese
bud?
term, at its most basic is a principle that allows a conditioned practitioner to negate or redirect an opponent's power. When applied, the
aiki
practitioner controls the actions of the attacker with minimal effort and with a distinct absence of muscular tension usually associated with physical effort.
Etymology
[
edit
]
In
Japanese
Aiki
is formed from two
kanji
:
- 合
?
ai
? joining
- 氣
?
ki
? spirit
The kanji for
ai
is made of three radicals, "join", "one" and "mouth". Hence,
ai
symbolizes things coming together, merging.
Aiki
should not be confused with
wa
which refers to harmony. The kanji for
ki
represents a pot filled with steaming rice and a lid on it. Hence,
ki
symbolizes energy (in the body).
Thus
aiki
's meaning is to fit, join, or combine energy. However, care must be taken about the absolute meanings of words when discussing concepts derived from other cultures and expressed in different languages. This is particularly true when the words we use today have been derived from symbols, in this case, Japanese kanji, which represent ideas rather than literal translations of the components. Historical use of a term can influence meanings and be passed down by those wishing to illustrate ideas with the best word or phrase available to them. In this way, there may be a divergence of the meaning between arts or schools within the same art. The characters
ai
and
ki
have translations to many different English words.
Historically, the principle of
aiki
would be primarily transmitted orally, as such teachings were often a closely guarded secret. In modern times, the description of the concept varies from the physical
[1]
to vague and open-ended, or more concerned with spiritual aspects.
Martial arts
[
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]
Aiki
lends its name to various Japanese martial arts, most notably
Aikido
,
[2]
and its parent art,
Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu
. These arts tend to use the principle of
aiki
as a core element underpinning the bulk of their techniques.
Aiki
is an important principle in several other arts such as
Kito-ryu
,
Judo
,
Yamabujin Goshin jutsu
and various forms of
Kenjutsu
and Japanese
Jujutsu
.
[3]
Techniques accomplished with
aiki
are subtle and require little mechanical force with the
aiki
arts generally classed as
soft internal martial arts
.
Concept
[
edit
]
Aiki
is a complex concept, and three aspects have been used to describe it in relation to a martial situation:
1)
Blending, not clashing
- Aiki
typically describes an idea of oneness or blending in the midst of combat. In aikido it generally describes the more elevated notion of blending rather than clashing. "Blending" is often described even within aikido as
awase
(
合わせ
).
[4]
Many definitions for
aiki
seem to be based around
awase
due to the complexity of the word usage in a particular Japanese context; the exact English interpretation would be hard to describe. Emphasis is upon joining with the rhythm and intent of the opponent in order to find the optimal position and timing with which to apply force. To blend with an attack, many believe it is necessary to yield to incoming forces but basic practitioners of
aiki
understand that there is a difference between 'blending' and 'giving way', and they instead train to 'take the line' of attack subtly and control it.
Aiki
is closely related to the
principle of ju
though the latter places more emphasis on the active physical manipulation on a mechanical structural level.
2)
Leading the assailant
- The
aiki
practitioner is able to lead the attack, and thus the attacker, into precarious positions. The influence over an assailant grows as the assailant's balance deteriorates. Body movements (
tai sabaki
) used for this may be large and obvious or small and subtle, internally generated movements. Subtle weight shifting and the application of physical pressure to the assailant enables one to lead them, keep them static, or keep them unbalanced (
kuzushi
) in order to employ one's own technique. In the same manner, through deceptive movements, the
aiki
practitioner may negate a defence response from the assailant or create a defence response from the assailant that puts them even further into peril. There is a strong degree of
intent
,
will
or
psychology
[5]
to this aspect of domination. Mind and body are coordinated.
3)
Use of internal strength ? Ki energy
- Kiai
and
aiki
use the same kanji (transposed) and can be thought of as the inner and the outer aspect of the same principle.
Kiai
relates to the manifestation, emission or projection of one's own energy externally (external strength), while
aiki
relates to one's own energy internally (internal strength). Thus
kiai
is the union of external energies while
aiki
is the union of internal energies. This use of
ki
will involve the use of
kokyu
power, i.e. breathing is coordinated with movement.
[6]
Kokyu ryoku
is the natural power that can be produced when body and consciousness (mind) are unified. The term
kokyu
(
呼吸
) can also be used to describe a situation in which two opponents are moving with appropriate timing.
Thoughts on the concept
[
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]
Aiki
is considered to be an ancient practice, and its practice is often kept within a particular individual or two from a family/school lineage. Culturally, and due to certain necessities of the time period, the
aiki
knowledge was usually a very well-guarded secret and rarely disclosed.
The oldest book to have historically discussed
aiki
was the 1899
Budo Hiketsu-Aiki no Jutsu
. On the subject of
aiki
it was written:
The most profound and mysterious art in the world is the art of aiki. This is the secret principle of all the martial arts in Japan. One who masters it can be an unparalleled martial genius.
[7]
The
Textbook of Jujutsu
(
Jujutsu Kyoju-sho Ryu no Maki
) from 1913 stated:
Aiki is an impassive state of mind without a blind side, slackness, evil intention, or fear. There is no difference between aiki and ki-ai; however, if compared, when expressed dynamically aiki is called kiai, and when expressed statically, it is aiki.
[7]
The term
aiki
has been used since ancient times and is not unique to
Daito-ryu
. The
ki
in
aiki
is
go no sen
, meaning to respond to an attack.
... Daito-ryu is all go no sen?you first evade your opponent's attack and then strike or control him. Likewise,
Itto-ryu
is primarily go no sen. You attack because an opponent attacks you. This implies not cutting your opponent. This is called katsujinken (life-giving sword). Its opposite is called setsuninken (death-dealing sword).
[8]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Aikiphysics"
. Aikidorepublic.com
. Retrieved
2016-01-31
.
- ^
"aikido | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica"
.
www.britannica.com
.
- ^
"The evolution of judo style and ogoshi by Eis Madchen"
. Archived from
the original
on August 31, 2005
. Retrieved
December 12,
2006
.
- ^
"AWASE"
. Archived from
the original
on December 6, 2006
. Retrieved
December 12,
2006
.
- ^
"The Psychology of Aiki"
. earthlink.net. Archived from
the original
on 2016-10-02
. Retrieved
2006-12-12
.
- ^
"Kokyu Power"
(PDF)
.
Shindokanbooks.com
. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 2006-06-04
. Retrieved
2016-01-31
.
- ^
a
b
Draeger, Donn F. Modern Bujutsu & Budo: Martial arts And Ways Of Japan, Vol III. Weatherhill, Tokyo 1974, 1996.
- ^
Pranin, Stanley
.
Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu; Conversations with Daito-ryu Masters
. Interview with Tokimune Takeda from 1985 to 1987. Aiki News Tokyo 1996.