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Sunday, November 30, 2008

How To Keep One Point

One of the 4 Principles of Aikido is to 'Keep one Point".
Freely translated means 'focus' or 'center'.

Center point of Aikidoka (perhaps also the people) is in 'hara or tantien or seika no itten', a point which is located about 2 inch below the navel, in physics called 'center of gravity' or 'central point of the mass of the human'. It does not own physical shape.

To learn to recognize that point, we can start by remembering when we really-really want to urinate. That's is the area and just drawn forth near to back spine.
For women the thing is more easily, if remember the point of pain in lower stomach during menstruation, then the point is around there.

Another way to recognize 'One Point' is as follows:
1. Standing with the relaxed body, legs opened as wide as shoulder.
2. Lift one hand (right for example) to as high as shoulder, so the hand about 90 degrees to the body.
3. When lifting the hand, concentrate to the area around below the navel, feels what happens.
4. Hand still in position, then lift one leg (with the same hand up), feels what happens around below the navel
5. Silent a moment, about 2-3 seconds, the concentration is still around below the navel.
6. Lower hand and feet simultaneously with the normal speed, not too slow or too fast.

When the 'sense' could have felt, then we can train to lift and lower it slower or faster, and practice to maintain the 'one-point'.

Usually something will be felt around under the stomach caused by changes in the location of the center point of gravity of the body.

Once you recognize the point, 'familiarize' the point by always make it as the center of every movements and activities everyday, from walking, sitting, standing, running, lifting the scoop, closing the door, etc. Even when we ride Motorcycle, Bicycle, Driving Car (with Car Insurance :)), Playing Golf in Golf Course, etc. Then more trained in the techniques of Aikido.

Always Be patient and persistent...

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Hombu Dojo Grading System

I got this by the info of my contact..
This is the hombu Dojo Grading system,
To whoever will do the examination of Aikido to achieve higher Grade, i hope this could be useful.
Although it can be different to each dojo.

I hope I can find a good Curriculum (step-by step guide) in Aikido Learning, Including both Physical and Mental Aspects (like Ki exercising)

Click Here for Hombu Dojo Grading System

Hopefully useful,

Aikido Indonesia Bandung Sceptic
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Saturday, November 29, 2008

How To Relax Completely

Relax, relax.... we seem understand the meaning of that word, but in fact many people just 'seemed' relaxed/relaxing but is not 'really' relaxed. How this..?
I often be bothered with questions concerning the relaxing of my students.
According to me, relax is just relax....don't think about relax, just relax... :)

It is very understandable if the questions appears, because in Aikido training, we MUST RELAX..!! both, individuals and the atmosphere of the training...
I wonder that there are practitioners of Aikido still practice with grunt, and rage in hearts and cranky because their partners do not relax... ( I still also.... hehehehe...)
or when there is a student or partner who has 'a little weird in behavior', we become so provocated or so... Arrogant and imperious also can affect the value of relax....

This is one aspect that would be achieved from practicing Aikido,
Exercising to be patient and to relax while the problem appears...

When a technique would be done, Shite/Nage and Uke are still 'relax', when in Kamae Position they are still relax... but when the attack came....? tadaaaa...! the relax was lost!!
changed as a fighter, hungry to kill... wish to throw and lock and defeat their partner...
Moreover, if the attack is a grip or grab, both one hand or two hands (ryote tori, morote tori).
The hands that attacked difficult to move even with the help of 'fully muscle power', sometimes still difficult to apply the technique...

In fact, if we can Keep 'one point' and Keep 'weight underside', the relax condition that we expected will occur.
We often trapped by the term of relax which meant 'weak', okay, that's relax too, but in the same time we often not keeping the center (one point) and not keeping weight underside so when the attack came, the relax condition is gone...

To help understand the condition of relax, we can train the 'Unbendable arm'.
Just lift the arm to the front or slightly diagonally to the side with a relaxed, not tense the muscle. Ask a friend to help bend our arm, elbow...
When a friend try to bend our arm so we don't think about the arm or the friend, think only one point, or when we still can not think one point, just think about the pleasant thing...

Or we can use the position we will practice on the topic 'Keep one Point'.
On the one hand and the position of one leg lifted (with a relaxed, of course) ask a friend to lower our arms, but do not shocking...
Our thoughts remain on one point..

If you have been trained to exercise both of them, then always keep such condition in each movement / Aikido techniques and in daily life.
Do not forget, the sincere smile can also be very helpful.

So, we do not need to be bothered with the definition of relaxing, as relaxing is just relaxing...., not looks like relaxed, as well as the condition of walking, calm not 'seem' calm..
Muscle is an indicator, but the role is the Mind. Put your mind (or thoughts) at One Point and relax will be achieved.
Practice with diligence and care.... be persistent...:)

Hopefully useful...
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Thursday, November 27, 2008

How To Extend Ki

How to Extend Ki..?? is the common question in the dojo of Aikido training...

Extend Ki, freely translated means 'to continue or prolong Ki'.
Before further discussion about extend Ki, we shall have a little short brief about Ki itself.

Ki, many interpret as a universal life force, the universal power of life/universe, life energy, the energy of the universe contained in the universe. Although many are sceptical about this because of it has not been proven whether it exist, the origin, matter and the transformation process if it is energy.
Thera are also interpretation that ki as the spirit or spirit of harmony and the power based on sensitivity.
So, do not worry, we all have in the vicinity of Ki and also there are abundant of Ki...

Many of the topics discussed about Ki training method, from the simple meditation and breathing exercise to tidy complex method, which is also associated with mudra, chakra and kundalini.
The simple way to exercise Ki is Ki Breathing that taught by Koichi Tohei, which we often practice it at the beginning and the end of Aikido Training.

Ki in Aikido more spiritual, which manifested by the work of mind, that's why Aikido often referred to as the art of unification of mind and body. body and mind coordination. This is based on the principle of Ki, namely" "Where mind goes, Ki follows...".

Based on the above principle, as long as we have mind we never had to worry about the occurence of Ki, If Ki really exist so it will work as long as our mind work....
If Ki exist, it will work... so, don't worry about Ki... :)

In connection with the mind, it certainly will be very closely linked with NIAT (intention, will).
I give more attention to the processsing of this NIAT (Intention, will). Since it is very, very fast compared with thinking, even light....

So, How to extend Ki??
What I understand till now is only set the intention and place it to my movement direction as far as possible and kepp the intention, when i tenkan, my intention is to tenkan very very wide...
i keep my intention, consistent, istiqomah...
There maybe people wh know the sundanese phylosophy, 'maneh arek, urang enggeus...( you will, i have finished...) or 'Mangga tipayun, abdi tiheula...'( please in front, i am first...)

Because Aikido concerning with harmonisation, so here are required sensitivity, sense. This is also a need to be trained so that we can be very sensitive to every movement and action-reaction that occurs. So, Ki can also be interpreted as 'Sense' (RASA).
Several years ago around 2002, i had discussions and sharing with a traditional sundanese martial artist that have been undertaken the level of 'Mustika Rasa'( a high grade).
We each showed several techniques that uses 'the sense' (his version) and extending Ki (mu version), so i finally take the conclusion to this is that Ki Closely related to Sense.

Perhaps 'the sense' is less in attention from many practitioner of Aikido, trapped in the glamour of the techniques, and the need to be looked spectacular, to defeat...
so the awareness sense was not trained...

Of no less importance is the Timing, this can be trained well with good sensitibity, so it seems we know what will the opponent do... seems like 'mind reader' maybe.... hehehe

So, to practice extend Ki, we can use the unbendable arm method, and also the method to train Keep one point(center) plus the zagi waza kokyu ho. Do not forget to sense the phenomenas that occur on and also in ourselves and around us...


hopefully useful,
Allahu'alam bishshowab,

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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

SECRET of KI ...

In Aikido, we often hear about 'EXTEND KI' ....
And to do it we must 'KEEP ONE POINT' as The center of Ki, the sea of Chi, although i considered it as the center of gravity, the center point of human mass.

As long as i learn Aikido, there are still many questions about Ki itself.
As to the concept of Ki, the universe is full of Ki, Ki is abundant and very powerful and useful.
We live with Ki. When we drive a car, truck, motorbike, bicycle, riding a horse. or when we play golf, musics, buy property at new york, trading forex or stocks, drinking lemon at california beach. whoever, whatever, wherever, whenever...

What is Ki, is it just applied to whoever believe it? or to everyone?
Does Ki will be activated by meditation, chakra and kundalini practices?? is it the same thing?
or is it just mind power? is there inducing, seducing hypnosys?

I watched a video clip (here) that shown people who believed have ability in Ki manipulation.
It Looks great! amazing! people thrown or down without getting touched. like magics! or there is a secret??
However, there were sceptic persons who did not affected by the ability of Ki.
so, is it Ki or what? or Ki is equal to something that has to believed so it will work?
I still sceptical and still search the truth of Ki....

lemon law sceptic aikido bandung indonesia
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Monday, November 17, 2008

Aikido, using opponent's forces...?

The statement seems easy to understand, but often in practice many questions arise from the practitioners, especially the beginner...
When the uke attacks/overflowing with swift (as there running or even jumping) this maybe relatively easy t anticipate.
Moreover, if only 1 person. How about the case when opponents slowly get closer and launched attacks very quickly, or hold (Grab) with a strong and static power? with a larger and taller and powerful grip (hold) with strong and big hands? when nage/shite is not possible to do atemi? or even when we must not hurt the uke..?

lemon law sceptic aikido bandung indonesia
...

Aikido, My Point of View...

Aikido is a Japanese Martial Art, founded by O'sensei Morihei Ueshiba. He learned ancient Jujutso from Sokaku Takeda. Sokaku's techniques is fierce and devastating. After met his Spiritual Teacher, Morihei changed his techniques and become Aikido.

Aikido as martial art based it's techniques on Harmony with the universal. The Spirit of Love is needed in apllying techniques of Aikido. (Martial Art with Love spirit.... :))

Based on Book : Ki in Daily Life, written by Kochi Tohei, there are 4(four) basic principles of Aikido:

1. Keep One Point
2. Completely Relax
3. Keep Weight underside
4. Extend Ki

In practice, many practitioners of Aikido have not yet understand about these four principles.
Many of them still use their muscle power to apply Aikido techniques rather than try to blend with opponents.

Is it hard to learn Aikido....?
Being sceptical maybe can help in learning Aikido.....

I hope it useful.....
Allahu'alam Bishshowab...

lemon law sceptic aikido bandung

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Aikido is Martial art...

Aikido is Japanese Martial Art, yes... Martial art..
The Founder is O' Sensei Morihei Ueshiba....
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