Courtesy of TrueAiki.com reader and martial artist Dick Willems
There are many further possible combinations that can (and do) occur. Because it is a very important point, I will make the point again now, and in the future, that while one can, by means of using one’s body in the movement of a square, create rotation. And as a result of that rotational movement, force triangles can be created. And if one continues moving one’s body in the manner of a square, thereby creating rotation, a chain of force triangles resulting in destabilization (kuzushi) and eventual collapse can be created in another. That is not really the point. The point is: Aiki in a human body manifests (and can be recognized as manifesting) in the human body in this manner. This is why Aiki produces T.C.S. and T.C.S. (when they are linked causally) produce Aiki.
A word of caution: Please note that T.C.S. MUST be causally linked. In other words, they all must give rise to each other, just as In and Yo are causally linked. One gives rise to the other, and they cannot, by definition, exist in exclusion.
One can begin to see the replicating pattern. One, two, three, four, eight . . . Ichi Rei, Ni Ki, San Gen, Shi Kon, Hachi Riki. Ueshiba followed a predictable model that IS understandable, and he repeated it over and over again. The model has its own internal rational integrity. In other words, once discerned, one part implies other parts and vice versa. It isn’t some random mystical poetry. Rather, any usage of seemingly random mystical poetry on behalf of Ueshiba predictably points back to the model.
Another word of caution: There is false-aiki and, therefore, false-T.C.S. That is to say, one can (and one often does during the process of learning) create replications of “true” Aiki or “true” T.C.S. They look remarkably similar. But that is the key, Aiki doesn’t “look” at all. Only the results of Aiki are visible, and it is these visible results that can be VISUALLY copied. Viscerally, it is usually easy to tell that there is a difference. With a copy, the cause of the result is usually easily traced (and consequently resisted or thwarted should one choose to do so.) With real Aiki, the cause of the result is, by definition, undetectable because there is no resistance and therefore no feedback to detect . . . just a result.
Yet another word of caution: Some say that Aiki is simple. I agree that Aiki is simple in the sense that a singularity is simple. Let me provide an analogy. Walking on a tight rope from one skyscraper to another is conceptually simple. All one must do is maintain one’s balance. Most of us have been doing this since an early age. Simple! However, it is far from easy, as evidenced by the very, very small number of people that do it. Manifesting Aiki is analogous to this. The number of individuals that can, and do, manifest Aiki has always been few. Why? For the same reason, only a few walk a tightrope between skyscrapers. It takes an enormous amount of dedication, thought, study, sacrifice and practice. And even then there is no guarantee one will succeed. An individual that walks between skyscrapers might enjoy some brief fame and maybe hold a record for posterity. While an individual that develops Aiki will likely remain unknown, electing instead to place the majority of their energy in continued self-practice in exchange for further progress, which, to them, is its own reward.
Nope. This stuff is difficult to learn. Period. Full stop. Anyone that says doing this stuff is easy is: a) mistaken, b) doing something else, or c) selling something. They are also, hopefully inadvertently, insulting and belittling EVERY individual that developed true Aiki named in this blog because EVERY individual named in this blog over the years, without exception, sacrificed and spent many decades developing their abilities, never being satisfied with their level of accomplishment no matter how many others recognized it as remarkable.
If you are among those poor souls that are training consistently, doggedly, despite a frustration with one’s rate of progress, and perhaps despite the surprise and admiration of those that admire your progress because YOU know there is SO much more progress to be made . . . my hat is off to you! Please stay strong and keep up the good work. I respect you despite the fact that you may feel guilty that you “feel” that you could, or should, be doing more or could or should be progressing faster. Don’t quit. Don’t die (to the extent that you can prevent that.) You may not become an “Aiki Great.” But as I mentioned before, the “Aiki Greats” weren’t satisfied with being an “Aiki Great” anyway. They just wanted to be better. So why should we be any different? And, after 50 years of martial arts practice I’ve noticed something else. Everyone’s progress depends upon everyone. All the “Aiki Great’s” progress depended upon those they interacted with along the way. We don’t progress in a vacuum. Yes, solo practice is important, but none of us would have gotten anywhere without the help of others. And while we may remember a significant few that had a profound influence upon our training, there were many others along the way that brought us into contact, maintained our relationship, and aided our remembrance of the significant few.
We are all in this together, to a greater degree than we will probably ever know. Therefore, let’s try to help each other as best we can.
I filmed last weekend, but it wasn’t adequate, so I need to try again. Hopefully, before the end of the month I will have some illustrative footage posted for those intersted.
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