In/Yo the Dynamic Duo part 2

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A classic example of Daito Ryu and/or Aikido disrupting dynamic equilibrium is the often-seen demonstration of Gozo Shioda bouncing back a significantly larger uke that has come to give him a powerful shove. 

This “throw” can be explained using the example of the “castle stairs” trap. When constructing a castle, it was sometimes the practice of builders to make one stair slightly more shallow or deeper than the others in the flight of stairs. 

When using stairs, we use a pattern of losing and capturing our balance to ascend or descend. This is an amplified example of human walking. The regularity of the of the stairs force individuals into a regular pattern. When that pattern is unexpectedly violated one is thrust into an extended state of disequilibrium. This often leads to a result of net-disequilibrium, or in other words, a fall. (Equilibrium is eventually regained, usually after one has four or more points of contact with the ground.) 

In the case of Shioda’s demo, several things are at play, and we will address three of them here. The first thing that happens is Shioda sensei chooses to make the “castle step” that uke plans to land on shallower than expected. This means that uke will not be able to apply all the force he had generated. In fact, he will have to dissipate much of the force that he generated kinetically in a manner he is not prepared for, therefore placing him into a state of unanticipated disequilibrium.  

The second that happens relates to the following:  When we shove on something we consciously or unconsciously anticipate the object shoved to give way. In terms of physics, we anticipate a certain amount of transfer of momentum.  

In Shioda’s demonstration this transfer of moment occurs to a far lesser degree than uke expects. This can occur because the object shoved is far more stable than anticipated (picture Ueshiba Morihei sitting on the edge of the tatami while a sumo wrestler or several ukes pushing on him). In dynamic situations, Shioda sensei usually creates a counter force equivalent to, or greater than, that of his uke. He creates this counter force by accelerating into uke thereby generating significant force while simultaneously “shallowing the castle step.” 

The third thing that Shioda sensei does is vector his and uke’s combined forces in such a way that not only do they cause further disequilibrium, but they are aimed so that uke cannot support the force regardless of how strong he may be. The force can only be dispersed kinetically. Uke has no choice but to regain equilibrium after having fallen. If the force was vectored differently; one might see the force released kinetically and uke recover equilibrium by bouncing across the floor as is often seen in Taichi demonstrations. (Taichi demonstrations often occur where there are no mats, so a skilled demonstrator usually allows his partner to dissipate force in this manner rather than falling suddenly.) 

While part of the force system, Shioda sensei is seen to be careful to maintain his dynamic equilibrium, even if this occasionally requires a hop or two. One can see Shioda sensei’s teacher, Ueshiba Morihei, occasionally hopping in an analogous manner as well during his demonstrations. 

Next, segment we will wrap up with a comparison of Shioda sensei’s demo to that of a typical Daito Ryu disruption demonstration using a kasa (umbrella.) 

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