Aikido: Being Present in the Learning Experience
by Eric Oberg from The Journal of Experiential Education, Vol. 14 1991
Aikido is more than a martial art. It can be an effective means of self-defense, but the focus of aikido training is conflict resolution. This refers to external conflict and also to the internal conflict we feel when we are faced with change. The object of aikido training is to become aware of the ways in which we defend against our own growth and change. It can strip off our layers of armor so that we are able to approach each experience and each person with openness and sensitivity.
In aikido practice we perform simple movements within the context of a complicated relationship. The dynamics of this relationship in motion can be cruel, oppressive, creative, joyful, free, controlled. The ideal in aikido is aiki. Ai means harmony or love. Ki is the soul or spirit. This means that even an enemy is approached with the intention of creating some type of human relationship, rather than with a defensive or destructive intent. Our goal is not to subdue an attacker, our goal is to communicate with another human being. The reason that aikido is not a violent art is that we never consider anyone less than human. We engage each other in a dynamic exchange of energy. We never block our energy or the energy of our partner. We draw that energy out.
If we look at education, in the original sense of the word, as leading forth; we can say that we are educating each other. We train our whole person to sense value in each human being and lead that value out into the world. We train ourselves to resolve conflict by valuing interaction and allowing full expression of the dynamic energy of that interaction. We do not fight our enemies. We unite our energy and see where we are led. There are no winners or losers. When we connect with each other, our destination is mutual. If we defeat our enemies, we can only defeat ourselves as well, for when we meet we become as one. I don't mean that we try to become one with our partners. I mean that whether we like it or not we do become one and the way we treat them will affect us.
The movements of aikido are very simple and follow the natural movement of the body. It is the relationship with our partners that is more complicated and that is why some of the techniques of aikido seem complex. I think this can best be illustrated by describing a specific aikido technique. Our partners inhale and raise their hands to strike us. Our intent is not to block their expressions but to enter and make contact. We move to them as they inhale and organize their bodies to attack. Our hands swing up to deflect our partners' strikes and touching our partners at the wrist and elbow, we join the flow of our partners' energies, leading their arms down (see first photo). All this time we are moving closer to our partners with our hips. We have our partners' elbows directly in front of our turning hips and our hips facing our partners. We step forward into our partners, shift our weight into them and unbalance them with our hips (see second photo). As our partners lose their balance, we step forward into a kneeling position and place our partners' arms firmly on the floor (see third photo).
For the nage, the partner who ends up in the superior position, the movement begins with one foot forward. Slide forward with the forward foot and raise your arms in a forward arc. Take one diagonal step forward as the arms swing down to hip level. Take another diagonal step forward and end in a kneeling posture. During this process the posture remains upright, the arms swing freely and the level of the movement is changed by bending the knees. These are simple movements when performed without a partner.
For the role of uke, the partner who ends up receiving the technique, there is also a fairly simple set of movements to perform. Step forward, letting the arm fall into an overhead strike. Shift the weight back, bringing the elbow toward the forehead. When your elbow reaches your forehead, turn the hips and bend at the waist. Continue the weight shift forward, bending the knees and touching the floor with the forearm and knee. You finish lying on your stomach.
The implication of the term aikido is that we focus on being in harmony with the energy of the world and the people in the world. This means that our focus is not so much on making a particular technique work as it is on choosing a technique that is appropriate for the situation. In conversation this would amount to finding a word that is meaningful to the listener. We can shout the same word over and over again and blame the listener for not being able to understand or we can be flexible in our use of language and use different words until we find one that is meaningful to both of us. The important part of a conversation is the connection with another human being. This is the power of aikido, the power of connection.
The symbology of aikido is based on the triangle, circle and square. The triangle is the symbol for irimi, entering. This reminds us of the need to engage with our partner and our environment. We enter and look at the world from our partner's perspective. In action this is expressed by a powerful sliding movement into our partner's space. The circle is a reminder to face the world with a feeling of openness and flexibility. This reminds us that the way to be in harmony with our partner is to be fully present in the moment and remain sensitive and responsive to all our sensory input. In movement this is expressed through turning and pivoting. The square is the symbol of strength and solidity. Physically, this is most prominent at the finish of a technique. The basis is shiho hai, four directions respect. The feeling is that each action should be undertaken with a respect for the four compass points. Traditionally they stand for God, nature, humankind, and the parents. This principle is embodied in an upright balanced posture.
The principles of aikido are something I try to carry into all areas of my life. As a learner I can use the image of the triangle, circle and square as a way of reminding myself to be present in my experience, be flexible in my approach and complete what I am doing. The shiho hai aspect inspires me to balance my education between the kinesthetic, intellectual, abstract, and concrete. I also ask myself if I am approaching people from a creative or a defensive stance. I don't consider aikido a defensive art. Aikido is not about stopping other people, or defending against them. I feel that the art of aikido is focused on adding a genuine part of myself to an interaction and creating a situation that is safe for myself and my partner. This is why I consider aikido a creative art.
I won't pretend that I have mastered the principles of aikido and apply them in all areas of my life. I don't think that aikido training will make me a better person. Aikido is an art of physical expression and my training reveals a great deal about my life and experience. Although aikido is valuable as a form of physical exercise and has an interesting theoretical foundation, I feel that aikido is most valuable as a mirror. Working with my partner in class each day shows me a lot about how I deal with people outside of the training situation. Am I using technique, just going through the motions? Am I being gentle with my partner? Am I taking care of myself? Is practice fun? Am I letting fear hold me back or am I ignoring healthy fear and taking unwise risks? It is this daily feedback that I find valuable. I don't think this necessarily makes life easier, but it does remind me that I always have something to learn from the people around me. One of my biggest challenges is to remember how much we are all alike. I sometimes forget that people would like to be led the same way that I like to be led, firmly and gently, with a good dose of playfulness thrown in. I am capable of performing aikido technique almost flawlessly. So what? It might work but it does not help my partner to enjoy his or her training and it does not help me to enjoy my own training. I am at the point in my training that I am letting go of the rules. I'm trying to be less dependent upon the aikido techniques and more responsive to my partner. I am learning to respond fluidly. I am learning to listen to my body and my partner. I am using what I call physio-epistemology. I can tell when a technique is appropriate. My physical sensations tell that I am performing the appropriate action for a given situation. I have physical sensations that tell me when I am forcing a technique or trying to oppress my partner. My challenge is to listen. My challenge is to bend the rules to fit the people and remember never to bend the people to fit the rules. My challenge is to help my partner realize that he or she need never do something with is uncomfortable. My challenge is to ask for what I want and be happy with what my partner is able to give. These challenges are things that I can change through being honest with myself and others about my strengths and limitations. I am facing these by training each day. I am facing these challenges by creating physical patterns that reinforce, not techniques, but the act of being fully present in the moment and present with each person.
The movements of aikido bring us to the transpersonal dimension. The essence of aikido is irimi, entering. The intention is to touch our partners, moving toward each other with the intention of having creative relationships. There are a lot of ways to explain this using symbols and words, but it is vital to have some way of bringing theory into practice. It is my experience that the practice of aikido can be helpful in making this transition. (I'm sure that my kinesthetic orientation is partially responsible for this belief.) Since the training area is a safer place than the "real world," I find that it is a little easier to take the risks there that I would like to take in other areas of my life. In a way, my training is a rehearsal for life and I do feel that it makes the performance go a little more smoothly. I also think that this is where aikido and experiential education have their common ground. Becoming familiar with the risk-taking process in a safe environment has helped me become a little more comfortable taking the risks that I associate with change and growth in my personal life.
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge Inside Moves, in Seattle, where I currently teach and train in the art of aikido. I would also like to thank Konstantine Kyriacopoulos for appearing in the photos which accompany this article.
A Brief Bibliography
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Stevens, John (1984). Aikido: The way of Harmony Boulder, CO:Shambhala Publishing Co..
Ueshiba, Kisshomaru (1974). Aikido. Tokyo: Hozansha Publishing.
Ueshiba, Kisshomaru (1984). Spirit of Aikido. Tokyo: Kodansha.