The Art of Aikido: Theory and Practice. Manual for instructors. Angelina Demilkhanova

arts that would meet the needs of ordinary people, but would not be anachronistic. Teacher Ueshiba’s foundations were based on the following principles: a great love for traditional martial arts, care that they are not misunderstood, and a deep desire to give new life to the spiritual quality of Budo. He took long path, based on constant martial arts training, to bring the truth of Budo through the events of modern Japanese history. Master Ueshiba certainly believed that the true Budo spirit could not be associated with an atmosphere of competition and struggle where brute force prevailed and the primary goal was to win at all costs. He believed that this spirit should be comprehended in the process of human perfection, both bodily and spiritual, through the accumulation of experience and training based on the spirit of martial arts. For him, only such a true manifestation of Budo had the right to exist in the modern world, beyond a particular culture or era. His purpose, deeply religious in essence, is reduced to one position: to connection of fundamental creative power of Ki permeating the universe, and individual Ki, inseparable from energy of breath of each separate person. Trough constant training of a body and a mind the condition of harmony of individual and universal Ki is reached, which is shown in dynamic movement of a stream of Ki energy, free and flowing, indestructible and invulnerable. This essence of Japanese martial arts included in aikido.

      Ueshiba synthesized the ideas of aikido from the many martial arts he studied and from his mentors he met in his life. One of them was Takagi Kiathi’s ju-jutsu mentor, who would later introduce him to Taeda Sokaku, the great teacher of the Daito Ryu Aiki Ju-su school. At this school Ueshiba learned the idea of harmony of the world, the balance that underlies such cruel and dangerous martial arts, learned the mystical concept of «aiki», which later became the basis of his own martial arts system. Another meeting, which undoubtedly lies in the philosophy of aikido, was with Shintoist Deguti Onisaburo, leader of the Omoto-kyo sect («teaching the great beginning» – one of the Shinto schools). Deguti taught that a warrior’s answer must always be proportionate to the attack. In ancient times, a samurai could kill a samurai like him for a careless nod, for a sword improperly placed in the sheath, and a commoner could lose his head for no reason at all. Deguichi Onisaburo instilled a different approach to Weshiba: resistance to evil must be adequate to the attack. This idea became a basic one in aikido ideology.

      In 1939 Ueshiba opened the first official aikido school at the small Shinto temple of Ivami. In 1948 he founded the Aikikai Association. The greatest growth in popularity of aikido was in the 50—60s of the 20th century.

      Thus, aikido expresses the traditional culture of Japan, where it combines the so-called peaceful practices of Zen (calligraphy, tea ceremony, etc.), the principles of traditional Japanese arts of fighting, and also combines the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, Confucianism and Shintoism simultaneously.

      One of the main notions of Zen Buddhism is the concept of Satori: in meditative practice, Zen is an internal personal experience of comprehending the true nature (of human) through achieving «the state of one thought».

      Here is how Professor Ueshiba describes the satori which befell him after many years of rejoicing, self-mortification, fasting and meditation under the cascades. The event dates back to 1925, i.e. the time of the end of asceticism, when the ascetic moved to the village of Ayabe: «One day, walking in the yard, I suddenly felt a strange feeling, as if the earth trembled under my feet. Some golden mist began to rise from the ground, enveloping me. At the same second I felt the light in my mind and body, and it seemed to me that I could understand the language of the birds chirping around me. Suddenly, I felt close to me the presence of a great Creator in a spiritual form. A thought dawned on me: the basis of all martial arts should be the love for everything that exists on earth. From that moment on, and for the rest of my life, I understood that the whole world is now my home, that the sun and stars belong to me. High position in society, fame, honor, wealth – all this has for ever lost its significance for me».

      Principles of aikido

      Some of the principles specific to aikido were formulated by Morihei Ueshiba. Other principles are common to all martial arts. Aikido is the inner spiritual style of martial arts. To study this art in depth, a person must be a harmonious, spiritually and intellectually advanced person.

      The philosophy of aikido is based on basic principles that can be conventionally subdivided into spirit principles and principles of physicality.

      The philosophy of aikido is the philosophy of Budo.

      Spiritual principles

      – Aiki («spirit of unity»).

      Awase is a «unity» with an opponent, which allows one to anticipate his intentions and turns each of his movements for the benefit of himself. This principle has given aikido its name: «Ai» or «Awase» means «fusion», the term «Ki» in the east means everything that surrounds us, the Ki is the spirit that fills everything around us, the «Do» is the way, the way, the method by which you bring things to life. Aikido is the Path of unity with everything around us. This principle is better known as Aiki.

      Aiki is blending with the attacker’s power using Ki energy.

      The basic principle of aikido is «tuning» to the enemy, allowing to anticipate his intentions and making it possible to use his movement beneficially. This principle gave aikido its name: «Ai» means «meet», «Ki» means «spirit» and «Do» means «path»3.

      The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, spoke of Aiki:

      «Since the word «harmony» (ai) resonates with the word «love» (ai), I decided to give my unique Budo the name «Aikido». The word «aiki» is very ancient, but I put in it completely different sense, than soldiers of antiquity. Aikis are not techniques of fighting or defeating the enemy. They are the way to establish peace in the world and unite all people into one family4.

      There are two types of Ki: ordinary Ki and true Ki. Ordinary Ki energy is rough and heavy; true Ki is light and mobile. In order to act correctly, you must get rid of ordinary Ki and fill your organs with true Ki. The power is where Ki is concentrated and stable; where Ki stagnates confusion and anger reigns.

      The source of Ki in the body is the kikai tanden, the «ki-ocean-cinnabar-field». This chakra is located in the area of the navel, the centre of gravity of the body, where the alchemic stove of the kototama is located. In terms of order of things, Morihei often spoke of the kon-haku. The concepts of kon (the conscious soul) and haku (the bodily soul) are very similar to the English concept of «higher» and «lower» (or basic) nature.

      «The path is like veins spreading blood all over the body, following the natural flow of life force. If you are even the slightest bit separate from Divine essence, then you are very far from the path»5.

      Another fundamental principle that is specific not only to aikido but also to all martial arts is the state of calm and serenity. In Japanese, it is referred to as Ansin – peace, tranquility. The Japanese word «sin» is usually translated as «peace of mind», but its meaning is actually much broader. «Sin» means soul, spirit or mind. Gaining absolute peace, complete freedom by destroying any excitement is Ansin. Ansin is the foundation of life. Without it we can’t be joyful for a moment. By achieving Ansin we can remain calm no matter what happens.

      This principle calls for that in any situation, no matter how difficult it is – the state of the fight, or any stressful situation that occurs outside the tatami – you need to remain calm and cold minded. Do not give in to fear, anxiety and other negative emotions, which in a stressful situation is designed to «protect» the person from danger. Fear is natural in any stressful situation, as this fear arises before physical death. In martial arts, this principle is aimed not to abandon these natural emotions, but rather to remain calm, taking

3

Aikido by Gozo Shioda. – М., 2004.– 384 (p. 13)

4

Cit. according to the book Polyukh S.N. Aikido the path to peace and harmony

5

The Essence of Aikidō: Spiritual Teachings of Morihei Ueshiba by John Stevens 2001 – 192 p.