For the past two days, Yamada Sensei held an Aikido workshop in Israel. This is the first time that I got to see a practitioner from the founder’s time, and it does look like what Yamada teaches, at least, is probably similar to what he would have tought thirty or fourty years ago. The stances are low, with emphesis on stability; Uke always keeps Nage at arm’s length (full arm’s length), movements are large and open. This, more so than other Aikikai practitioners and teachers one sees these days. In addition, there is an emphesis on practicality – he shows the alternatives to Aikido techniques, for example by reaching a choke rather than throwing.

An intersting thing were the similarities between what we practice in Seidokan Aikido and what Yamada Sensei showed. Some techniques which are rarely done in Aikikai, but are often practiced in Seidokan, were shown; he even demonstrated the Funakogi aiki-taiso. This shows the common roots of Seidokan Aikido with the rest of the world’s Aikido.

On a personal note, I felt much better in this seminar – partly because people are not used to having Yamada Sensei in Israel (as opposed to Seki Sensei), and therefore maybe are trying to learn more rather than practice what they know. Partly I get to know my Aikikai partners better with time, and know who I like to work with, and who leaves a negative impact on me. I am constantly impressed by their excellent Ukemi – but I need to remind myself many Aikikai practitioners are also lacking in many areas – it’s just that in these seminars I have the privilege to meet those who have been practicing for decades, and I made the mistake of comparing myself to them. In whatever system, Shodan is still a beginner level and, from my perspective at least, it’s the years after that that make a profound difference in the skill of the practitioner.

Last week Larry Wadahara sensei held a seminar at our Jerusalem aikido dojo. Larry teaches along with Joe Crotti sensei at the main Seidokan dojo in L.A. I thought I would write a little about it, mainly for myself.

After this seminar, I feel that beforehand I did not really do Aikido. Larry stressed keeping the one-point, and a feeling of unification – with the attacker, or with other objects around us. As an attacker, once Nage connects with you, this feels as though you’re moving as one piece, without quite understanding why. The touch is very light – not relaxed-collapsed, but rather just ‘there’.

I notice this is very hard for me to do, as while blending with Uke I already lose my one-point by ‘trying’ to blend – pushing and leaning on Uke.

Something else to remember is the feeling of control from the first move – from the first touch and beforehand. In order to do this we need to keep the body’s structure – Larry used the analogy of holding a large (and later small) rock, and staying relaxed, holding the feeling of ‘one’ with Uke. Then when moving, again we need to move as one – not to start by moving the leg or hand, but rather moving it all as one piece, so that Uke does not feel separated from you.

This reminds me of something Haim once said Dan Kawakami said – when training, not to blend too quickly, not to ‘fool’ the Uke into not holding you. With good aikido, Uke can hold you as best he can, and you should still be able to blend without a feeling of effort (being felt by Uke OR Nage). Skipping this step is what I’ve done so far, which results in Aikido that may look alright, but misses the essence – truly accepting Uke, yet keeping your own and merging the two into harmonic motion.

A main difference between Seidokan and Aikikai aikido, is in talking about the principles and Ki. With Larry, one can feel the essence of it, with or without performing a technique. The Way – Do – continues..

As I’m preparing for my Aikido Kyu-2 exam, I have some thoughts on some of the terminologies we use.

Hitoashi Yokete – literally, ‘take a step aside to avoid’ an attack. The terminologies on avoiding an attack have a lot of hidden meaning. Some say the basic human / animal instincts in case of conflict are Fight or Flight. Fight, in terms of ma-ai (range) in my opinion is ‘hold your ground’. Do not avoid the strike – block it, reject it, fight it – the defender’s Ki is projected towards the strongest point of the attack. Flight, on the other hand, means extending the space between you and the attacker as much as possible – with the Ki or intention focused away from the attacker. In both cases, we lose the possibility to have proper Ai – connection with the attacker.

In Aikido the options of flight and flight are not the preferred option. If we wish to have Ai with the attacker, we must meet him (not flight), but not to meet him at his strongest point (fight). We may want to meet him before the strike reached its full force, as in Irimi – as O Sensie once wrote, ‘do not try to avoid a strike when it comes – disarm it right at the source!’. Or, we might want to meet him just after the strike reached its full potential – with a Tai Sabaki. In either case, these strategies could be thought of as examples of Hitoashi Yokete – we strive to make a single step – a single movement, the purpose of which is to avoid the strike, but not to ‘lose’ it – to be in range to use the strike, merge with the strike, but not to be in its way.

Thus Hitoashi Yokete holds the meaning of all of Aikido – do not run from a strike, do not resist a strike. Find a way to avoid the strike, keep your Ki  – intention and options – close to the opponent, and stay in range to blend with what comes.