Aikido - The Basics (eBook)

Techniques - Principles - Concept

Bodo Roedel (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF | EPUB

2010 | 1. Auflage
344 Seiten
Meyer & Meyer (Verlag)
978-1-84126-951-1 (ISBN)

Infos

Aikido is a highly developed martial art form based on standardized principles which the book explains by numerous examples of movements. The basics of the foot and hand movements are also covered. The details of the basic techniques of Aikido are not merely described; the reader also learns their implementation. A close look is taken on the roles of the defender and the attacker. The book content is based on the mainstream of the worldwide Aikido Organization (Aikikai). The book concludes with a section containing additional information about Aikido and its training.

Bodo Roedel, 4th Dan Aikikai, has been practicing Aikido since he was 16 years old. Since 1993 he has been a pupil of one of the leading worldwide trainers in Aikido - Christian Tissier Shihan, 7th Dan Aikikai. For the last ten years he has been passing on his knowledge in the Bodo Roedel Aikido School in Cologne, Germany. The emphasis of his instruction is placed on delivering a modern, well-thought-out and dynamic form of Aikido.

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What is Aikido?

•	What do the characters “ai-ki-do” mean?

•	What is the viewpoint of this book regarding explanation of the basics in Aikido?

•	How does Aikido compare to other Martial Arts and sports?

According to the way that any Aikido-ka tries to examine Aikido, an answer to the question of what Aikido is all about is always varied. In other words, it is difficult to give a generally final definition of Aikido that everyone can really agree with. Perhaps there are as many definitions of Aikido as there are people practicing Aikido, because, of course, each individual can have his own personal viewpoint.

In the following passages are several possible ways of looking at Aikido. Later in the book we will survey, time and again, the various aspects of this more deeply and in greater detail.

For the onlooker, Aikido is an array of highly developed and effective techniques for self-defense.

The term - “highly developed” - means that lifts and levers are cleverly used in order to achieve the maximum effect with the least effort.

All the techniques are based on the same principles (see Chapter 6). The basis of Aikido is founded on natural and simple movements – thus, anyone can learn Aikido. In this context, “natural” means that the movements are all executed in a radius about the body that the Aikido-ka determines and is similar to that which he is used to in daily life. In this perspective, the aim of Aikido training is to continually improve the execution of the techniques. Work topics are:

•	relaxed movement,

•	learning to do flowing movements,

•	exercising hard and appropriately schooling the leg muscles, and

•	using the hands and arms correctly.

“Internally”, Aikido is a method to be worked up by oneself. This includes, for example, exercising:

•	the concentration,

•	staying power,

•	the ability to assert oneself,

•	the ability to cooperate as well as…

•	…self confidence

The first perspective shows that Aikido is all about the art of movement – one can truly call Aikido a ‘sport’. Aikido differs from techniques of meditation like e.g., zen, even though Aikido possesses meditative elements (see Page 329).

The second perspective illustrates that Aikido offers the possibility to practice one’s mental senses – in the broadest sense, Aikido here is a method of developing the personality. Both of these perspectives are, of course, mutually conditional on each other. The internal state of mind influences the movement and vice versa. This is also an explanation for the literal term ‘fighting art’ (martial art). Inter alia, the term ‘art’ means that the external movements reflect the internal state and this is what is expressed by the Aikido-ka – similar to recognizing the expression achieved by a painter in a work of art. Of course, the point mentioned above concerning the mental senses can be found in many types of sport.

If one takes a perspective beyond the first and second ones, one can begin to get close to the nature of Aikido, because the first two alone do not suffice as a full explanation. Aikido gives one the opportunity to work together constructively with other people and to try to carry out an exchange – in this sense Aikido is a form of intensive communication. One could almost call it ‘body dialogue’.

This makes it clear how Aikido differs from other types of sport and in particular from other forms of martial art. After all, Aikido is the only martial art where anyone who is practicing it accepts that 50% of the time they will lose the bout, and despite this, they will use the experience to make progress for themselves and others.

Because, in Aikido, there are always at least two people exercising together, one can also think about Aikido from an ethical perspective. With this in mind, one can try to answer the questions “What should I do?” and “How should I proceed?”

In Aikido there is an easy answer for this: “Defend yourself when you are being attacked – however, also call on the attacker to stop his actions in time before you injure him. React to the movements accordingly and don’t cause more injury than is absolutely necessary so that you, yourself, remain unhurt.”

If you look at the Japanese word “Aikido” in an etymological dictionary, you will find the following definition:

The syllable “ai” means ‘joining’, ‘unifying’, ‘harmonizing’. Sometimes “ai” is translated as ‘love’. The syllable “ki” means ‘feeling’, ‘purpose’, ‘spirit’, ‘life energy’ (see Page 22) and the syllable “do” approximates ‘way’ – in the sense of a process one has to go through in order to achieve physical and mental development. Thus, the meaning of the combined first two syllables is “to unite opposite intentions or powers in harmony”. Therefore, one possible translation of Aikido could be: the way or the method of uniting (opposite) powers in harmony.

Japanese characters for ai-ki-do

When all is said and done, one can approach the question of what Aikido is by having a look at the history of Aikido. Seen from an historical perspective, Aikido is a classical Japanese martial art – so-called Budo - like, for example also Judo or Karate-do. It was created in the 20th Century by the Japanese Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) as a synthesis of various martial arts (see Page 322).

Morihei Ueshiba

The historical heart of Aikido, therefore, lies in the long tradition of Japanese martial arts. In the meanwhile, Aikido has spread across the world and other cultures have influenced it. This is also a reason why Aikido has developed in various different directions and is continuing to be developed.

What is ki?

The elements of the “ai” and “do” in the word Aikido are relatively easily explained. The “ki” syllable in the word needs some further mention, as there is much scope for more interpretation here. Generally, “ki” is (as seen from a Far Eastern viewpoint) translated as ‘feeling’, ‘purpose/intention’, ‘life energy’ or ‘vitality’. The Chinese for it is “chi” (as in tai chi – the Chinese Art of Movement); the Indian word for it is prana. In particular, the Chinese version refers to a concept of flowing energy and forces, as used in Chinese traditional medicine.

The source of “ki” is a point just below the navel – the so-called kikai-tanden or hara. Literally translated it means the “sea of energy”. Every person has access to his “ki”. Differences in the strength of the life energy or vitality and the ability to use “ki” exist when blockages or tension obstruct the flow of “ki” through the body. Traditional Chinese medicine therefore sees this state as a cause of illness.

Some Aikido-ka bring their interpretation of life energy so far as to literally want to let their “ki” flow and attempt to ‘let it out’ of the body – this would then akin it to an effective force.

For Aikido pupils from Western countries, it is easier to understand (and at the same time appear less esoteric) if “ki” is defined by using the following: The ability to assert oneself, determination, willpower, motivation and self-efficacy. The Aikido-ka exercises these qualities when he is training and embeds them into his techniques. “ki” is also closely associated with words such as intention/purpose, decision and action (see Chapter 6.8).

Of course, the idea of ‘flowing energy’ can also be simply illustrated. Imagining that “ki” flows like water through our arms can supplement relaxation, because such a flow is only possible when our arms and joints are ‘loosened up’ i.e., relaxed. Similarly a full water hose is not slack. This image may also help to allow you to work up the correct feeling for a movement. To let your “ki” ‘flow’, means nothing less than being able to move naturally with the right balance between relaxation and tension.

1.1	Aikido Comparisons

One can get closer to the...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 1.5.2010
• Verlagsort: Aachen
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Sport ► Kampfsport / Selbstverteidigung
• Schlagworte: Aikido • Basics • Concept • Principles • techniques
• ISBN-10: 1-84126-951-4 / 1841269514
• ISBN-13: 978-1-84126-951-1 / 9781841269511