One step back, two steps forward!

Once again I find myself giving a long-winded answer to a short and practical question. I am reposting my answer here in the hope that it might benefit others.

Hi Steven,

Feeling like one seems to stand when shifting mass-forward slightly is normal. It normally happens for one of two reasons: 1) The individual plans to rise so they shift their mass over their supporting leg(s) so they can push their way up. 2) When one loses balance over a supporting leg(s) there is a natural tendency to thrust.

We wish to use the latter, not the former. But it is a little more complicated than that. When one “thrusts” unconsciously it is almost always further into no support. This is typified in the Judo demonstration of Kuzushi. One sees the “uke” rising to their toes in the direction they were made to tilt in. This can be a cooperative feined exaggeration, but it is illustrating a normal human response which is then capitalized upon using leverage to cause a fall.

In our case, we use a controlled balance of this phenomenon in at least two opposing directions. In the case of TDD #2, and #3, it is used in a spiral. Here are a couple of cardinal rules to keep in mind: 1) Complimentary, co-arising, mutually dependent forces must always be present. That is to say, “Yin/Yang.” (Here it is important that the forces not simply be opposite, but they must be co-arising, complimentary, and mutually dependent. Many beginners mistake making opposing forces that do not have these other qualities as Yin/Yang. They may be Yin. They may be Yang (probably Yang). But they are not Yin/Yang. 2) In Yin/Yang, Yang’s force is always expressed into Yin, and Yin’s force always expressed from Yang. This creates non-resistance.

In the beginning, I encourage people to fall backward, to fall upwards because falling forwards to fall upwards is habitual and almost always leads to one pushing against the earth to make one’s self rise. We don’t need to learn that. We already know how to do that.

On a side note, avoiding an oncoming force is not Aiki because the result isn’t complimentary, co-arising, mutually dependent forces. Sure the oncoming force can be characterized as a “Yang” force. And avoiding that force could be characterized as a “Yin” force. But these two forces are independently originated and have no causal relationship with each other. Therefore they are not mutually dependent, they don’t define each other. Therefore there is no Yin/Yang, and therefore there is no Aiki or true non-resistance.

This is the big stumbling block of modern Aikido and Daito Ryu. We see practitioners either reacting with Yin, or with Yang, but there is no Yin/Yang, and therefore no Aiki. For example, we see Aikido practitioners (supposedly) avoiding “attacks” with Yin and then countering with Yang. In some cases, it is taught that Uke should be Yang, and Nage should be Yin upon initiation. (Even linguistically this makes little sense.) Then they are taught that the rolls reverse, Nage is Yang, and Uke is Yin. Obviously to do what one is “supposed” to do requires cooperation and coordination. Some schools teach uke to be Yang and nage to initially be Yin and then to become Yang until uke is forced to become Yin. This requires a bit less cooperation and coordination. Then, some schools teach uke to be Yang, and nage to be Yang. Then nage should be nage through technical power or sheer physical force overcomes uke’s Yang. Finally, there are the few schools that teach uke to feign Yang (which is Yin) and nage responds with Yin (sometimes without touch) and uke feigns being overcome (which is also Yin.). One can see that none of these involves an actually Yin/Yang relationship. Consequently, there is no Aiki being learned, practiced, or demonstrated.

I’m not saying that all of these are inappropriate. Getting out of the way of a sharp object or superior force makes a lot of sense! However, doing so isn’t Aiki. So, to take the example of weapons further, avoiding a slash or a thrust is difficult, but it can save one’s life. Blocking or parrying a weapon attack is less difficult (and therefore more immediately practical) and can save one’s life. Not learning the usage of these, in my opinion, is a big mistake if one wishes to survive. Ignoring these is a lot like the, “I don’t need to learn ground fighting because finding one’s self on the ground is incredibly dangerous in combat.” Finding one’s self on the ground is extremely disadvantageous in most combat scenarios. But that fact doesn’t preclude one from finding themselves on the ground in such a situation. And, not knowing or having trained any practical skills for such an eventuality could be the one factor that turns an extremely bad situation into a fatal one.

Nevertheless, avoidance and direct opposition are not Aiki. Which isn’t to say that one couldn’t use (Yin/Yang) to better avoid, or block. And, if one has the capacity to use Aiki to help one’s self better avoid, block, or parry, once contact with another’s force is made the opportunity for creating Aiki there exists. In fact, if one’s primary practice is doing most everything with Aiki, it is highly likely that that will happen automatically.

Wow! There is a long-winded rambling answer to your short question. I think my short answer, especially in person, would be, “No.”

Try it backward and see if you can’t get it to work. When you fall, make sure you are “falling” into no support. That is when the lifting support will arise in your body.

“Don’t quit, don’t Die!”

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