Bokken – Basic Cutting, Continued . . .

Last time I introduced TDD #13 in the context of holding a bokken. While they are the same empty handed or holding onto a bokken (or something else.) I find that holding on to a bokken, jo, bo, Yari, Naginata, etc. is helpful in the sense that it “extends” the body. One should already be using one’s intent to extend the body, but holding onto a physical object that is connected “into” the body, seems to immediately help one to take “responsibility” outside one’s skin.

We already know that this is neurologically true. With enough time and practice one’s brain/mind maps the extension of the body (a carpenter’s hammer for example) as part of one’s body. The brain/mind doesn’t differentiate between the commands sent to the hand and commands sent to the hammer.

Taking this example a bit further, one can quickly understand that it is far more likely that one’s brain/mind is going to map and thereby “become one with” a hammer if one uses it eight hours a day, five days a week, month after month, year after year. And it is far less likely that one’s brain/mind is going to map and thereby “become one with” a hammer, simply by imagining one is using a hammer. There is a world of difference between me imagining using a hammer and an experienced carpenter mentally practicing using a hammer. I would be exercising my imagination, whereas the carpenter would be reinforcing previously established neural pathways.

Today we are going to move on from TDD #13, to raising and lowering the bokken. While this practice has a strong relationship with how we would actually use a ken should we learn how to apply a ken in a combative context. Don’t make the mistake of confusing those two practices as they are not the same.

This simple movement (done properly and consistently) will help to develop one’s mind/body, and that is its purpose. It also helps one to learn to develop a node of rotational that relates both to bokken and the body. This is the first baby step in learning how to use the ken in an manner that produces Aiki.

That is to say, not all ken cuts are the same. For example some cuts create linear force, some create arcing force, etc. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, if you have read the previous True Aiki blog posts, that Aiki Ken would necessarily involve rotational (Aiki 2) and spiral (Aiki 3) force.

This presentation is only partial. There are both important elements and technical details that are not covered in this lesson. But, when teaching it is often counter productive to try to “give it all” at once. So some has been left for later.

For those that equate Aiki Ken with swinging a stick, or think any school of Gendai Ken or Koryu Ken is equivalent, I suggest reconsideration. Remember there were top Ken teachers that were interested in individuals with far less ken experience. Why? Aiki!

Consider that the tripartite “Ten, Chi, Jin” has an integral relationship with Aiki. And then consider, that Aiki Ken was also known by another, tripartite, name: Cho, Chiku, Bai Kenpo.

Just as I assert that Aiki Jujutsu isn’t simply a collection of techniques, I further assert that Aiki Ken (etc.) isn’t simply a collection of techniques.

“And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Aiki, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Aiki, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

Enjoy!

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