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Back Bow
Okay, think about this . . .
You know how opening and closing two appendages equally creates a central axis point in each appendage? Remember how, when combined with Aiki 1, rotation around this central axis point creates Aiki 2?
All sides of the rhombus are rotating around their own central axis as they open and close. Ignore the cursor, it is just activating the change.
Four appendages four rhombuses opening and closing in concert.
Imagine multiplying that 24 times!
That’s a lot of Aiki 2 baby! Well, if, like the appendages, one opens and closes the spine appropriately one can do just that!
Obviously there are healthy limits to the range of motion of the spine. Our spinal cord lives in there after all! But most of us do not come anywhere near working to our healthy range of motion, nor do most folks develop the ability to specifically manipulate their spine, vertebra by vertebra.
So what?
Well, here is a BIG so what for starters. If we use the spine as the loci for rotation around the center point of a circle, both the speed of that initial action multiplies relative to the length of the radius of that circle. That means one can generate a significant amount of speed at the surface of the torso surrounding the spine.
But wait! There’s more!!
What if that circle centered on our spine was connected to our longer extremities thereby creating an even longer radius? And what if those extremities were to rotate and torsion as well? Imagine the amount of angular momentum that could be generated just within one’s body!
Hmmmm . . .
Actually, you don’t need to imagine: At Stanford University a study indicated that a Taichi practitioner was able to deliver a floor reaction torque of more than 14 times his body weight while accelerating his striking arm from 0 to 60 mph in less than three seconds!
One strike can kill in Aikido indeed!
http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2008/05/tai-chi-master-studied-for-power-to-control-body.html
This is kind of the meat and potatoes of Aiki. Incredible stability, incredible power, AND the ability to form force vectors thereby limiting the possibility of external forces impeding one’s ability to express force via resistance.
Last week we looked at torsion in the torso, and a few ways to train it. Which, when coupled Aiki 1, Aiki 2 and torsion in the appendages creating Aiki 3, is a main contributor to the impressive angular momentum referred to above.
This week, let’s look at learning and developing the ability to articulate the spine’s ability to open and close like the appendages.
Look at the illustration above. The uppermost part of the blue line should be trying to move up, while the lowermost part of the line is trying to move down. This will create Aiki 1 (in a super over simplified sense.) Now you are going to move the point of your back indicated by the red arrow. You are going to move it forwards and backwards. But for this blog, I am only going to talk about moving it back since that is more challenging for most people.
The main thing to keep in mind is to not move the two blue end points off of the vertical line. Everybody wants to move one or the other, or both, forward and backward and call that moving the point of the spine indicated. It isn’t. One must keep the ends of the spine in place in vertical alignment and then move the “red” point either forward or back.
If you succeed in doing this, and you can, the blue ends will naturally come a bit closer together if you have maintained their position on the vertical line.
One good way of doing this is sitting in seiza. The benefit here, once again, is that that will naturally hold your pelvic region in place on the vertical line.
Another way of doing this exercise is to stand with your spine against the corner of a wall. Due to the natural curvature of the spine, the point indicated by the red arrow will be separated from the corner.
If you keep the upper spine and pelvic region pushed up against the corner you will know if you are keeping the vertical line.
Now you can concentrate on trying to move the part of the spine indicated by the red arrow backwards such that it can touch the corner.
In time you will be able to move that part of your spine back far enough that it will actually push the upper and lower parts off of the wall.
Take your time and do not cheat. It may take a while to find the neural pathways needed for the move. Then it will likely take time to build the neural pathways (via myelination) such that they can be accessed consistently and reliably.
With time and practice you can develop the ability to move each individual vertebra at will.
Also, one can develop the ability to do so explosively and without damage or injury.
I have included the picture that follows to show how much Tom can move his spine (without moving the upper and/or lower parts.)
Okay, that’s it for this week folks! Way past my bedtime.
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Stay tuned, there is SO much more to go over and so far we have just begun to outline the basic basics.
Thank you all so much for your support of the blog. Our readership is truly global and growing! I will continue to do my best. There is much more to share.
That being said, please let me point out that this stuff can only really be learned one to one with someone with some ability. That is the way that it has always been in will likely always be. One doesn’t necessarily have to find someone with superhuman ability. In fact, if the teacher is too far advanced that can sometimes be a liability to learning. They are so good at what they do that much is invisible and unconscious. On the other hand, if one’s teacher has too limited ability (especially coupled with a fragile ego that they want to protect) one is highly likely to be find limited progress at best and progress in the wrong direction at worst.
I’m not plugging my own seminars. So far there are a limited number of those and they tend to be centered around Western Europe. There aren’t all that many teachers focused on this topic in the world. Fewer still that “can do.” (Most teachers are primarily technically focused, tasked with maintaining or growing an organization, or focused on having their students perform well in competition.) Nevertheless, there are the few, and if one is seriously committed to making progress in this area, finding one that “works” for you is vital.
See you next time!!!
28 Comments
Fred Veer · March 13, 2017 at 11:47 pm
Thanks Allen, you showed this in Zwolle last year, but the explanation really helps me to understand it better.
I will see you in zwolle end of the month.
fred
Allen Dean Beebe · March 14, 2017 at 6:28 am
Hi Fred,
Glad to hear it! Yes, see you soon!
Allen
Bjorn Saw · March 14, 2017 at 12:37 am
Hi Allen,
Thanks for putting words and understanding structure to our Aiki practice. Without going overboard I would venture to say that this exercise resembles how we train Suwari-waza kokyu-ho (dosa). Would you agree? It seems to work really well with reverse breathing.
Allen Dean Beebe · March 14, 2017 at 6:26 am
Hi Byorn,
Yes, I would say it is related to Aiki age and Aiki sage.
Yes, any movement inside reverse breathing ought to further tension tissues.
Thanks for commenting!,
Allen
Mark E. White · March 14, 2017 at 6:32 am
That is why the spinal column is called the axial (i.e. axis) skeleton. M
Allen Dean Beebe · March 14, 2017 at 6:34 am
Thanks Mark! 🙂
Sy Labthavikul · March 14, 2017 at 9:30 am
Mr Doom and Gloom here, asking problem area questions for those who can’t! Any suggestions for people whose chests collapse (the front hollows, the shoulders come forward, up, or in) when attempting to back-bow?
Allen Dean Beebe · March 14, 2017 at 11:19 am
Yeah, train someplace else! Bwa ha ha hah!
First off, don’t do everything you described. It is like making faces trying to move your ears. Have one of the great, charming, intelligent and good looking guys you work with put their finger on the spot to be moved.
Try moving the spot locally. Your awesome training partner can let you know when hey feel something. Then you try to do it again, and again until the feeling is definite and your access to it substantial.
At that point you can begin the work on it all the time to build it up.
Don’t forget to give your training partner a BIG tip!
Allen
Allen Dean Beebe · March 14, 2017 at 11:21 am
Of course if you are too flakey to make training regularly, your training partners might give you a different kind of finger feedback! 😌
Sy Labthavikul · March 14, 2017 at 12:02 pm
Got it, step 1: quit my job to train full time. The secrets of aiki revealed! 😛
Allen Dean Beebe · March 14, 2017 at 3:40 pm
Cool, in that case I’ll quit my job too! Won’t my family be surprised and pleased!! 🤣
Oisin Bourke · March 14, 2017 at 8:58 pm
It’s related to aiki age and aiki sage? Those are daito ryu terms. Can you link to an aikido exemplar demonstrating a similar thing? I ask this because kokyu ho seems to cover a wide range of body usage
Allen Dean Beebe · March 15, 2017 at 2:06 am
Hi Oisin,
“. . . kokyu ho ho seems to cover a wide range of body usage”
Yes it does! Although to be fair to Bjorn he did narrow it down a little by writing,
“Suwari-waza kokyu-ho (dosa).”
Nevertheless, rather than to assume I knew what he was referring to, I gave my answer in terms of which I knew what I was referring to rather than to imply that I knew what he was referring to with his. And, as I’m certain you are aware, Daito ryu can use the term kokyu in different contexts as well.
For the very reasons given, I choose to refrain from linking an aikido exemplar demonstrating a similar thing. That would be too easily misconstrued. At least Aiki age and Aiki sage, while general principles in my mind (as opposed to two specific techniques) are a bit narrower in scope than Kokyu ho, which is an even broader referent, or Kokyu dosa which, to me, refers to a large array of exercises rather than simply one.
Oh words! “Can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em!”
Good to hear from you Oisin!,
Allen
Oisin Bourke · March 16, 2017 at 12:22 am
Thanks for the reply. I actually was referring to suwari kokyu ho. It’s a common technique in aikido, but it doesn’t follow that someone doing this are using the body congruent to the principles of what is referred to in daito ryu as aiki age and aiki sage. That’s why i asked for a video for clarity. Fwiw, i haven’t come across the term kokyu in daito ryu referring to the application of technique. I have heard the term kuki as in kuki nage, but i think these terms refer to fairly different things in terms of dealing with uke. Thanks for the conversation!
Allen Dean Beebe · March 16, 2017 at 5:34 pm
I think we agree that:
Kokyu Ho seems to cover a wide range of body usage.
Aiki Age and Aiki Sage are very likely different than much of this usage.
and
Daito Ryu uses the term Kokyu but in a different context.
While I agree that most Aikidoshi probably think of Kokyu Ho as a “common technique in Aikido,” I would argue that the diversity of execution of that technique almost renders the term meaningless.
On the other hand, I have witnessed fairly broad continuum of the execution and teaching of Aiki Age and Aiki Sage between teachers and schools of Daito Ryu. I guess that that is unavoidable and only natural.
While there are those that would like to be, or claim to be, the final arbiter of “What is Aikido” and “What is Daito Ryu,” no such universally accepted arbiter exists to my knowledge. Consequently, we are all our own “final arbiter” of what we think and/or believe.
My understanding of the term “Kokyu Ho” emphasizes the fact that it is a 法 “Ho” (law or principle), rather than a technique. Somewhat similar to Aiki InYo Ho.
I was taught plethora of Kokyu Dosa and/or Undo (both standing and sitting.) These are similar to, but not the same as, another extensive list of Suwari waza, many of which are illustrated in Ueshiba’s Aikijujutsu Densho, but for which there are several variations relating to each technique illustrated therein. Many of these appear to have been preserved in the Takuma Kai’s Soden. This isn’t terribly surprising since Shirata sensei was present, in both an assistive, and teaching roll, from the very beginning of instruction at the Asahi News dojo.
Oisin, please let me know when you would like to contribute some of your insights and experience regarding Daito Ryu. I happen to have blog. Guest posts are welcome! 🙂
Robert · April 9, 2019 at 5:38 pm
So….what is the law or principle of kokyu?
Allen Dean Beebe · April 19, 2019 at 6:14 pm
Hi Robert, If you look through the blog I address that question in several places. Off of the top of my head, I talk about quite a bit it in one of my summative vlogs. I do a much better job talking about it there than I could in a quick response here. Take a look! Allen
Gary Welborn · March 15, 2017 at 8:34 am
Chain Chain Chain……keep up the good work…..
Allen Dean Beebe · March 15, 2017 at 9:41 am
Thanks Gary! 😊
Conrad Veen · March 15, 2017 at 10:39 am
Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🙂
Allen Dean Beebe · March 15, 2017 at 10:51 am
Thank you for your appreciation Conrad!
Allen
Zach Biesanz · March 17, 2017 at 11:31 am
Hi Allen, I really appreciate the work you’re putting into this blog. I have been reading it voraciously and sharing it widely.
For this exercise, what’s the pelvis doing? I find it much easier to make the bow one vertebra at a time if I “lead” by rotating the pelvis forward (aka rotate my tailbone under me). I suspect that that’s cheating, but I’m not sure. I find it much more difficult to manipulate my vertebrae without rotating the pelvic area around the horizontal (left-right) axis, unless I counter-rotate my hips along the same axis–e.g., from a sitting position, lifting my knees while I bow my back to create a counterweight that keeps my pelvis from rotating forward.
Allen Dean Beebe · March 17, 2017 at 12:18 pm
Hi Zach,
Thank you for your kind words and support!
Your suspicion is correct. I suggest not rotating the pelvis forward. For the most part, we want to keep our pelvis neutral. There are exceptions to every rule, but I think that this is a very good general rule. You can experiment with this yourself. Try a chest push with a neutral pelvis and then try it with a tucked in pelvis. As you progress in your ability to open and close your spine, it is good practice to try doing it why receiving a chest push. If your hips are neutral, your opening and closing should have no effect upon your stability. (If you are able to maintain your neutrality and therefore stability, you will likely notice the results of the presence of Aiki 2 upon the pusher.
This is important, though, your focus should be on creating Aiki 1 and 2 in you. You do NOT “Aiki” anybody even though they may react to the presence of Aiki in you.
Fudoshin · August 2, 2017 at 6:55 pm
Reblogged this on Fudoshin and commented:
¡Ciertmente un golpe de Aikido puede matar!
Jonathan Leonard · September 7, 2018 at 9:11 pm
Looked into the article about Chen Xiang. Saw the video of him doing BajiQuan at the Stanford Lab.
( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN88QIsMHqA&t=81s ). In the video, it states that his foot applies to the ground 2200 N ( 3 x body weight ) of force and a torque of 11,000 N m (16 x body weight ) . Now, I’ve had to do a lot of physics for my education, however, I’ve never thought about it in detail with regard to human body motion. So, when it says he can generate into the ground 11,000 N m of torque, I am not impressed, but only because I don’t have a comparison. How much torque could the average person apply ? How much could a pro fighter apply? How does, ‘force into ground’ equate to, ‘he must be able to strike very hard ‘ ?
I train Internals as well. So I can see the power , but I just don’t know how to equate or compare these numbers.
admin · September 11, 2018 at 1:48 pm
Hi Jonathan,
I have not had to do a lot of physics for my education. I just happen to have had the good fortune of having a lot of engineers for students. I won’t give you a layman’s explanation and leave that job to those better qualified. Or, perhaps you could try to contact the Stanford scientists for your answer and then report back. That would be REALLY cool!
Thanks,
Allen
juan Pinheiros · April 19, 2019 at 4:36 pm
Where did you get this info from? Dan H….? I just wondering out loud because I seen it before.
Allen Dean Beebe · April 19, 2019 at 6:28 pm
Certainly from Dan H. But it is in a lot of internal arts. In fact Dan pointed out that Shirata Rinjiro did it a lot in his Ken work. Which, of course, is true. He taught that one can cut with an open, a close, and a turn, etc. All of them are there. I for decades I would show this with a sword cut I can kick out another’s sword, “suck in” another’s sword, laterally divert another’s sword or, “beat” straight down another’s sword all with what most would call a “kiri otoshi.” But obviously not all Kiri Otoshi’s are not the same.
But not everyone is ready to see or understand when shown. I once pointed folks to an article where the late master of Ono ha Itto Ryu spoke of, and illustrated, one of their signature cuts. (Remember Ono ha Itto ryu is supposed to have a relationship with Daito Ryu.) It was a clear explanation of Aiki with a Ken. I thought people would understand and think it was cool, kind of a “smoking gun.” But nope! Crickets!!
No big deal. For many years I wouldn’t have “gotten it” either. Once one begins to understand Aiki, being able to do Aiki, a lot of inexplicable stuff comes together. But try talking about it and one sounds like a fortune cookie or too technical or whatever. Showing it isn’t that much better. Having others feel it can work. But even then one is more likely to have things explained away in a manner that “makes sense” to the one feeling. “You’re so strong.” “You have great technique.” “You tricked me.” “It didn’t happen.” etc.That is just normal human behavior.