Learning To Be Silent

To follow Buck’s excellent post, I thought I’d republish our training guide, which you can also find in a printable format on our class information page.

1. Sink with every movement: Martial arts proficiency depends on a solid base from which to direct energy. Postures should have a continuous structural connection between the base, the waist, and the extension of the arms/hands.
2. Maintain good posture: This connection depends on the back being straight and the elbows and shoulders being sunk.
3. Maintain center alignment: Keep the hands and arms in front of the body and direct the movement from the waist. When turning, also turn the hands in toward the center of the body to maintain the alignment. Head and eyes should be facing in the same direction as the hands.
4. Move from your center: Do not try to execute techniques solely with the hands and arms. They are only energetic extensions of your hara, or physical center of gravity. If your posture is good, your hands and arms are in correct alignment, and you move from your center, then the technique will unfold.
5. Breathe: Kokyu, or breath, is one of the fundamental tools of the Aikidoka. Ki is also sometimes translated as breath. Breathe energy into your hands as you execute techniques and take ukemi, and your arms and body will be filled with that energy.
6. Extend your idea beyond the target: Visualize your movement extending beyond your opponent’s body. Extend out and gather in as if your partner is not there.
7. Maintain your balance, take your opponent’s: Aikido works because we sequentially and progressively take our opponent’s balance without compromising our own. The best uke is one who attempts to maintain his/her own balance as long as possible.
8. Do not rely on strength or speed: Internal martial arts such as Aikido develop the ability to direct energy with the mind in order to take an opponent’s balance without the use of strength or speed. If a technique is not working, examine your movement with respect to the principles; do not use more strength or speed. Aikido techniques are very effective and safe for your partner when done correctly, but can be injurious when done incorrectly, too strong, or too fast.
9. Face your opponent: Move in such a way that you do not turn your back on your opponent when he/she has his/her balance, as nage or as uke. Relax and enjoy – Aikido is a path, a journey. Don’t be hard on yourself.
10. Take your time: Continuity of training with good intentions is more important than exertion. Focus first on the principles, then on technique, and last of all on throwing or being thrown. In this way your practice will be more meaningful, more rewarding, and safer.

By Buck Pittman

Much has been posted over the years on training and the inevitable injuries that follow. Aikido has its roots in brutal martial arts designed to kill and maim, tested and refined under combat over centuries. Despite Aikido’s goal of harmony and non-injury, it remains a very powerful martial art that can cause serious injury in short order.

I’ve seen a lot of different injuries on the mat over my 15 years of training, from stubbed toes to broken bones. Fortunately, even the worst of these injuries were manageable and not permanent. But they all require attention and cause for concern. Any injury represents a setback from training, which for Aikidoka is The Way, our path to enlightenment and our contribution to restoring harmony in the world.

I was the cause of a recent injury that took my uke off the mat holding his shoulder. It looked bad at the time, like something that would keep him off the mat for a few weeks at least, probably more. I’ve heard since that the injury wasn’t so bad, but I still haven’t seen him back on the mat. I feel responsible and I should, because I am. Despite uke’s insistence that they took bad ukemi, I want to make the point strongly that it is up to nage to take care of uke—always and without exception.

I think this is the first time it has happened on my watch. I didn’t realize when it happened; it was jiu waza and we were training fast. But I clearly lost my focus and a bad injury resulted. My apology cannot make up for uke’s lost time on the mat or their discouragement.

I would offer a few suggestions to help avoid injury:

• Take care of your uke, especially if you are the senior student. Take control of the attack and maintain control throughout the technique.
• Know your limits. It is important to understand where your limit is and know how to push to the limit and pull back from it depending on the circumstances.
• Remember that the intensity of uke’s attack determines the intensity of nage’s response. Don’t attack with more intensity than your ukemi can take. Beginners who don’t know should attack slowly as this signals to nage to respond slowly.
• Never stop working on your own ukemi. It can always be better and the better it is, the better insulated you are from injury, the better you can train, and the more you help nage.
• Don’t forget to breathe. Breathing helps you relax and not hold tension. It also keeps oxygen in your blood, brain, and muscles so you can train longer without getting tired. Tired and lazy ukes are more likely to get injured.
• Eat well. Having energy for an hour or two on the mat demands a diet not made up of simple sugars and fats. Again, pooping out makes one prone to injury.
• Get in shape and stay in shape. Regular training is the best way to build a body that can respond to Aikido techniques, but supplemental training off the mat to improve strength, flexibility, and stamina may be needed, especially if you can’t make it to the dojo enough. Carrying extra pound also adds stress to your bones and joints and puts an additional load on your vascular system.
• Pay attention! Never lose focus.
• Have fun! Look at the picture of O’ Sensei on our Kamiza while you train—he’s smiling. Happy Aikidoka train with confidence and compassion.

Editor’s note: As well as teaching at the dojo, Buck is the President of Pittman Landscape Architecture, a Jacksonville based land planning firm.

By John Miller

I read the International Aiki Peace Week article on the USAF website recently and the following statements struck a memory chord.

“Aikido is uniquely valuable for practicing peace because attack/defense drills offer the opportunity to rouse the demons of fear and anger, and then to train oneself to receive an opponent in a kind, harmonious and grounded way. Aikido training gradually makes this reaction into our default response in times of stress, conflict, or attack.”

What are the unique aspects of Aikido training that fosters the opportunity noted above? I believe there are two essential aspects to this: one is non-competition and the other is a learning environment (uke helping nage and nage helping uke). These two principles structure the nature of our practice and how we respond during practice.

It took awhile before I experienced fear and anger during my Aikido practice. In the beginning, my mind was completely occupied with learning the basic forms – this goes here, then that there, etc. After some time, I got to a point where I had gained enough technical skill so my physical response was semi-automatic, but not quite. And during this time I was practicing with many yudansha who knew where my margin of comfort was so they would go just beyond it when in the role of either uke or nage.

So there were moments of awareness during a “beyond the margin” attack that I felt (and saw) fear arise, like a wave on the ocean, but due to the principles of our structured practice was able to observe, let go and see it disappear.  This occurred with anger also. The trick for execution of technique when fear or anger arise is to not lose one’s form (execute the technique form precisely and dispassionately). In the case of fear, do not become weak and unable to move. And in the case of anger avoid the tendency for retribution.

In the inner dojo, fear and anger become the uke. Silence (the hara) becomes nage. The technique is to favor silence, connecting uke to your hara, and allow fear and anger to dissolve into that silence. An ukemi of fear and anger is a falling into dissolution.

Editors Note: For those who may not know, Sam is leaving us this August, for greener pastures in Atlanta. Sam began training with us in 2007 at the University of North Florida. Before Aikido, he trained in Shorinji-Ryu Karate, and he plans to continue his Aikido training in Georgia. On a parting note, I thought I’d dig through the archives and post an article he wrote. The original can be found in our June 2008 newsletter. Enjoy!

After studying Karate for three years and then moving to Jacksonville, I arrived at the University of North Florida as a post-baccalaureate student in the Fall of 2007.  At that time, I did not know much about Aikido, although I had a sensei back in Gainesville, where I am from, who informed me that Aikido study was amenable for somebody who knew Karate.

My name is Sam McCrea and I am a high school math teacher here in Jacksonville.  When I first set foot in the dojo, I did not know much about Aikido, but I did know what not to look for in a school:  pretense, grandiosity, and promises of “a black-belt within X number of years.”  Instead I knew that one should look for a simple, dedicated school with inhabitants dedicated to their art.  I found that at UNF. 

My maturation as an Aikido student has been very gradual.  During the fall semester last year I generally went to a lesson once a week.  Now I usually go two or three times a week and I can sense a growth in my abilities.  For somebody like me, Aikido study is an excellent way to put my concentrative powers and self discipline to the test.  I am famous for not being able to pay attention, but Aikido forces me to do it. 

I am also impressed by the martial ability of the instructors and students.  I attended a seminar hosted by Brevard Aikikai in January where Tonya was promoted to 2nd kyu, a rank she now shares with Oscar.  I have also recently been made aware of the rank status of our “Aikido Family,” including Karl, Leslie, and David, who are all 4th kyu.  In addition to being impressed by their artistry, the members make the dojo a place where I feel welcome.  I am comfortable here and feel I am among friends.  If I ask Sensei to demonstrate a technique for me, I can rest assured she’ll do it gladly, even if I’m literally asking her for the hundredth time.

I say hats off to the Aikido Center of Jacksonville; as long as I’m a student at UNF, I will continue to train here.

You’ve come a long way in a short time, Sam. (As have the students you mention in your 2008 article!) On behalf of Sensei and the school, congratulations on your new adventure. We’ll miss you!

By Maggie Schill

Over the past two years I’ve been experimenting with a rare form of Budo. This art is called “te-pu-do” – The Way of the Tape.

It started out with curiosity, which led to necessity. Pretty soon my every thought was captivated by the tiny white roll that is sports tape!

Only through complete devotion to “The Tape” can one hope to unlock the doors to true enlightenment. It was through vigorous training, experimentation and deep soul searching that I’ve uncovered the Truth…and that truth is “The Tape.”

Now that I’ve uncovered this truth, I’ve become convinced to reveal this art to the world, so all might benefit from my training.

Here I have listed just a sample of the jitsu of power…the true techniques of “The Tape.”

1- Learn who your enemies are:

Tape off wrists, shoulder, feet or toes. Training partners will see the presence of “The Tape” as sign of injury.  No good man will attack what they perceive is an injured joint. However, a bad man will think it’s a target.

2- The road is hard:

Often times the training grounds are damaging to the warrior’s tootsies! Mat burn, cracked calluses and split heals are but a few assaults that await you. Reflect on your sport’s tape firmly in this hour. Apply “The Tape” over these dermal annoyances to extend you training time.

3- Silence is a virtue:

In class does your partner talk more than he trains? With “The Tape” there is an obvious answer!

4- Dress the part:

Hole in your dogi? Knees wearing out on your pants? Tailor not! “The Tape” is all you need to shield these imperfections from the world.

5- Hide your shame:

With much pound cake comes much shame! With much shame comes a larger waist line. All too often the warrior will find himself happy with a few extra poundage, and his belt no longer encompasses his mighty girth! “The Tape” is all one needs to bridge the gap between belt and belly.

6- Top notch top knot:

Elastic bands break. Barrettes bend. The answer to all conceivable hair malfunctions lie in the dojo’s first-aid kit. “The Tape!” Oh, glorious scrunchy of eternal adhesiveness!  Turn every down day into an up-do!

7- Brazilian Sunburn:

Before “The Tape” came to me, I would cower at the site of an opponent’s brawny chest hair. Through diligent training and long meditation I have overcome my fears. With “The Tape” in hand, not even the potency of colossal chest hair can thwart your courage! Apply and pull! Your adversary’s screams will be heard as far as the parking lot.

8-  Ho-Ho-Ho:

The power of “The Tape” can take you to new social heights! Are you feeling inadequate in your dojo because of the lack of a full and puissant beard! “The Tape” has the answer. Cut six strips from its hallowed roll and place firmly to your sleek chin, and then train, dignified before your fellow warriors.

9-  One-Half the Fun:

Sometimes the warrior needs to let loose and have fun. However, the serious warrior must take care not to have too much fun. Take “The Tape” firmly and pull forth from it a two foot strip. Leave that sublime strip attached to the roll. Grasp joyfully (but discretely) to the end of that strip and let the hallowed roll hang. You will then have a (somewhat) functional yo-yo. (Also known as a “yo.”) This contraption is also perfect for when you only need to have half the fun that a conventional yo-yo provides.

This is but a sliver of the amazing possibilities you will have when you set out on “The Way of the Tape.”