“Would the real Aiki please stand up!”

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The lack of manifestation of True Aiki is what makes the martial artist of the past and present, that claim(ed) to to use Aiki, so uniquely unremarkable among martial artists.

Aiki isn’t:

• Magical
• Mystical
• Proprietary to any culture, art, or individual
• Visible (only the results of Aiki are visible)
• Time dependent (timing is not a factor in Aiki)
• Techniques
• Scrolls
• Tactics
• Religion
• Philosophy
• Science
• Conflict/Avoidance/Cooperation
• Martial

The manifestation of True Aiki is what makes martial artists of the past and present, that use(d) Aiki, so remarkably unique among martial artists.

Aiki is:

• Real
• Impressively Powerful (Power = Work/Time)
• The conscious manipulation of codependent, mutually arising, oppositional forces.

I noticed when reading first hand sources of Ueshiba Morihei that he would speak of Aiki in more than one sense. This initially was quite frustrating. When I first met Dan Harden, he too would speak of Aiki in more than one sense.  Just as I began to think I understood what he understood Aiki to be, he would give another example that seemingly did not reconcile with the first. It was about this time that I went back to reading first hand sources of Ueshiba Morihei.  I began to write down each of the meanings of Aiki in the different instances and soon discovered that there were three main examples of Aiki that he would refer to repeatedly. He would often rephrase the examples using different vocabulary and/or contexts in the same way that one might rephrase an explanation, use different vocabulary and or contexts to try to teach a challenging idea to a child. These three examples  I termed Aiki 1, 2, and 3, they are:

Aiki 1: Linear oppositional forces that are 1 dimensional created by Ten, Chi, Jin

Aiki 2: Circular oppositional forces in 2 dimensions created by Ten, Chi, Jin

and

Aiki 3: Spiraling oppositional forces in 3 dimensions created by Ten, Chi, Jin

As can be seen by the dimensions, each instance of Aiki builds upon the next in succession. It is important to understand that this isn’t simply a theoretical construct. It is a description of actual physical experience.

Each is an instance of Aiki, and each is related to, yet different from, the next.  One can easily see how this quickly can become confusing.  Add to that the fact that the different results of Aiki were often labeled “Aiki this” and “Aiki that,” and the situation becomes even further abstruse.  The “coup de grâs” to comprehension was delivered when non-Aiki things/actions began to be labeled “Aiki.”  This was done knowingly by some in a purposeful  effort to obfuscate any real comprehension by the masses.  And, as a consequence of this campaign of misinformation, many, many well intended people passed on the misinformation they learned.  This increased exponentially until the misinformation became the commonly recognized “truth.”

Next we will discuss the utility of each of these three instances of Aiki:

Ike 1: Linear Oppositional Forces in one dimension (created by Ten, Chi, Jin)

Bones are strong in compression (converging dual opposing forces) and tissues are strong in tension (extending dual opposing forces). Most individuals use their tissues primarily in contraction only. While this usage can be quite strong, it isn’t as strong, nor is it as efficient, as using the tissues in tension and the bones in compression. When used in contraction, tissue segments the body into origins and insertions. Used in tension, tissues can unify the entire body. A unified body with tissued used in tension is capable of producing much more power than the power produced in sections, from tissues in contraction.

Benefits of Aiki 1 are:

• Increased Power
• Increased Endurance
• Injury Reduction
• Rehabilitation
• Increased Joint stabilization and mobility

Aiki 2: Circular Oppositional Forces in Two Dimensions (created by Ten, Chi, Jin)

When force travels in a circle, at any point on the circle, there are two forces. There is an incoming force and an outgoing force. If a linear force comes into contact with the circular force, at the point of their contact the forces will be at 90 degrees to each other or “orthogonal.” When two forces meet in this way they form a resultant force vector. The utility of this is that neither force will impede the other. In other words, there will be “no resistance,” but there will be a change in vector. This is true for two linear forces meeting orthogonally and also for a circular and linear force meeting orthogonally. The advantage of the circle is that the circle will not be pulled into the resultant force vector from its center of support, but the linear force will. Also, it is much easier for a circular force to form an orthogonal relationship with an oncoming force, because it will be orthogonal anywhere on the circle’s circumference.

Benefits of Aiki 2 are:

• The power remains centered
• There is no “attack” or “retreat” consequently there is no “timing” of attack or retreat
• Any oncoming force is re-vectored into the resultant vector without resistance spontaneously
• Since there is no resistance, the circle’s force potential is preserved rather than diminished

Aiki 3: Spiraling Oppositional Forces 3 Dimensions (created by Ten, Chi, Jin)

If one were to take Aiki 2’s circle and spin it about an axil it would form a sphere while retaining many of the properties of Aiki 2. However, it would still be vulnerable (unable to produce Aiki) at the two points at the end of the axis. But if one were to spin the sphere simultaneously around an additional axis, any linear force that it came into contact with the sphere would be met orthogonally.  Thus, the sphere would remain centered while the linear force would be compelled to follow the resultant force vector.  There would be no resistance, hence no resistance feedback.  The sphere remains on center as if nothing involving conflict ever happened (because it didn’t.)  While the linear force is off on a new force vector without a clue (resistance feedback) as to how it got there.  Aiki coolness!

Human beings, however, are not spheres. But wait. . . This problem can be solved by a spiral! If one were to take our original moving circle (Aiki 2) and move it through space, it too would form an orthogonal relationship with any linear oncoming force. If the spiral moved through space in a circle, there would never need to be a stopping point.

Trace your finger around the rubber band depicted at the left and you will notice that there are dual opposing spirals!

Thus, Aiki 3 embodies all benefits of Aiki 1, and Aiki 2 while adding to them the benefit derived from a second axis of rotation AND being able to be manifested by the human body AND lending those qualities to objects manipulated by a human body expressing Aiki 3!  Aiki coolness for human beings!!!

Next, let’s compare and contrast these descriptions and their results with that of the described experiences of people having interacted with those noted for having Aiki (those recognized as remarkably unique among martial artists.)

To be continued. . .

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