How We Learn

When it comes to Aiki, learning what it is is fairly simple, just read TrueAiki.com.  Developing a body/mind that can do it, do it well, and do it under stress is an entirely different manner.

Initially one begins with flawed ideas and pre-conceptions.  Even with a skilled teacher, all that is taught is initially filtered through our flawed ideas and pre-conceptions thereby rendering the skilled teachings less useful.

Initially one begins with a body/mind that was not created for the purpose of generating Aiki.  It is flawed for that purpose because it never was required to adapt to facilitate that purpose.  Therefore, when one begins one tries to run one’s filtered and flawed ideas of what one should do through a body that is flawed and ill-suited for the purpose.

Most “think” they know what they are doing, and don’t.  Most “feel” like they can do what is asked for with their body and “can’t.”  And, many individuals progression stop at this point.

An unbalanced few continue on despite being told what they are thinking and doing isn’t quite right.  In time a few of these unbalanced few even begin to “get it” as evidenced NOT by their self-perception by their ability to produce  Aiki phenomena, even in uncooperative environments.  Sometimes they do this with the aid of a talented teacher or teachers, and sometimes despite their teachers.  In the end, they all wind up teaching themselves, coming up with new ideas, models, methods, etc. that work for them.

Here are some ideas I have found useful:

We start by moving bones:  We see what is visible on the outside and that is mainly skeletal movement.  So, that is what we copy.  It is a start.  Of course, we move the bones by moving tissue.  So in an effort to better move our bones, we begin to better move our tissue.

We move tissue:  After a while, or at the direction of a teacher we begin to notice that better tissue movement leads to better total movement.  So one begins to explore this.  Some tissue is active and some passive, some moves a lot, and some moves a little.  Over time one begins to notice that there is a change in the amount of movement and the quality of both the movement and tissue.  Of course, this activation and release of tissue is facilitated by neurological messages.

We move the mind:  With continued practice one begins to notice that how one uses one’s neurology has a direct and profound influence on tissue movement and therefore bone movement.  So, one may begin to focus on creating more “granular” control over activating and inhibiting signals to one’s tissues.  Of course, the organs are also constructed of tissue so one might discover that one also can begin to control these tissues as well.

When it comes to Aiki, we are speaking of a particular kind of force relationship.  These force relationships can occur within and without the body and in singular or multiple places.

As one progresses from the skeletal movement to tissue movement, to neurological movement, one can begin to facilitate the creation of Aiki both inside and outside the body, and with both the conscious and unconscious will.

Of course, these things are all interconnected.  One really doesn’t begin with just one’s skeleton.  One begins with one’s body/mind and progresses from there.  Nevertheless, I have observed that those that try to begin in the middle or at the end (wherever that is) tend to make no real progress and eventually quit.  There are those that begin at the beginning and quit too, but I haven’t ever met anyone with any actual skill that began anywhere but the beginning.  So that seems like a necessary place to start.

More than likely one will return to the beginning over and over again, but those that seriously train never return to the beginning in the same way.  Progress tends to spiral.  In other words, it is cyclical but progressive.  As a consequence, there is an advancement.  Cyclical progress implies a stable center, and in the case of a spiral stably progressing center.

In this blog, I mentioned visual observation as the place where most people start.  I want to emphasize again how important physical contact is.  It is VERY important.  This is why I recommend others to go out and “feel.”  Therefore some might rightfully ask, “Why then a blog?  Why videos?”  The answer to that question is simple.  Consider one’s time spent at a seminar.  One may spend a considerable amount of “hands-on time” with others.  How much time is spent “hands on” with the teacher?  Likely, at the most, minutes.  (Potentially valuable minutes, but minutes none the less.) The vast majority of the time spent is watching and listening to the teacher.  Watching is visual and listening is auditory.  It would be misleading to claim that all of that watching a listening was a waste, just as it would be misleading to claim that remotely watching, listening, and reading teachers (past and present) is a waste.  It may not be the best.  But it is a LOT better than nothing!  And truth be told, history teaches us that it isn’t the students that have the most hands-on with a teacher that are their most capable students.

The path is challenging.  Use what you can to your advantage and continue to do your best now and better later.

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