San Gen: When push comes to shove!

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These are trained professional stunt dummies.  Don’t try this at home!

Last week we used the three origins (Gravity, Solidity, Mentality) to create Aiki #1 (Use of Ten, Chi, Jin to create linear oppositional forces) and Aiki #2 (Use of Ten, Chi, Jin to create mono axial rotation). We learned how to do this in our bodies using the example of the box squat.

 
This week we are going to practice with an additional force, in the form of a linear push, to measure our success at creating Aiki #1 and Aiki #2.

The linear push will be making contact, horizontally, perpendicular to the vertical line of gravity. Please note that success or failure here is defined in two fundamentally different ways than that of normal standing and/or squatting, box squatting included.

1) When pushed horizontally when standing, people usually maintain their loss of balance via resistance to the horizontal push, although they may lower their center of gravity to do this. We will not resist the horizontal push rather we will see how much force can be absorbed throughout the entire body before there is loss of balance.

2) The resistance load of normal squatting is sourced vertically, while the resistance source of our version is sourced horizontally.

3) In normal squatting success is usually measured by the amount of load that can be lifted via resistance from a squat to a stand. In our version success is determined by the amount of load that can be NON-resisted horizontally from a squat to a stand.

Let’s look at this more closely. In Judo kuzushi is usually illustrated by having an individual stand in a natural stance. Then force is applied horizontally to the individuals front to back (5), back to front (1), both sides and four diagonals. (3,7,2,4,6,8) Usually it is noted that the easiest directs from which to create kuzushi is back to front (1) and especially front to back (5). Normally it takes relatively little pressure either to the back or towards the front to cause an individual to begin to lose balance.

For our exercise we will be applying pressure similarly starting with the “weakest” angle front to back. The indicator of progress will be that greater and greater amount of force can be applied in this vector without disrupting the balance of the individual “receiving” the force.

Aiki #1 Push Test – Receiver Stands

In each of the two types of test Aiki #1 and Aiki #1 the pusher is doing the same thing, pushing. It is the “receiver” that determines which practice is being done.

Before we proceed with testing Aiki #1, please note that we are NOT aiming towards increasing stability by lowering our center of gravity even though that does increase stability. Rather, we are looking to increase stability in any arrangement of the body due to dispipating and absorbing force in the tissues throughout the entire body.

I outweigh Tom by 100lbs, this will be a piece of cake!

In the test of Aiki #1 there will be NO rotation (although the bone’s should not align and so they will rock a bit at the heads of the bones), only extension of the tissues and compression of the bones will be used to dissipate the force. When you begin this practice, the amount of force that can be handled before loss of balance will very likely be quite small. That is normal, and in fact many martial arts are based upon this fact. The idea here though is to measure the capacity of one’s tissues to spread force evenly throughout the entire body.

Hey, I got him to move his toes!

The second type of test uses Aiki #1, but also includes Aiki #2 (mono-axial rotation) taking  the form of a box squat. When beginning this practice, one will likely be able to handle a greater force in this exercise than what was absorbed in the first exercise, because of the resultant phenomena associated with Aiki #2. This is normal as well and indeed the benefit of Aiki #2.

Even before contact is made Tom is moving.

Tom continues to move paying more attention to his balance and alignment than to me.

As Tom nears the bottom of his squat the tension in his body is already pulling him back up. Advanced Note:  He doesn’t follow the exact same path on his way back up.  There is an invisible figure 8 in the movement.

Please keep in mind that what is being measured in this exercise is both Aiki #1, its ability absorb and evenly dissipate force while enabling one to sustain one’s shape without significant deformation) and Aiki #2, its ability to NOT resist the linear force via consistently moving mono-axially, and thereby meeting the linear force orthogonally and forming a resultant force vector while retaining one’s balance and therefore ability to produce power.

Now let’s talk about the pusher. It is usually easier for the “receiver” to take a push on the side of the axis moving in the direction of the push. The next easiest is receiving the push on the axis. And usually the most challenging is receiving the push on the side of the axis moving in the opposite direction of the force.

Also, the closer to the ground one pushes the easier it is for the “receiver” as well.

As I mentioned in past blog posts I like to give my students’ experiences of real success and then move from one success to the next. Consequently, I suggest that the pusher begins pushing on the lower leg, on the side of the axis that is moving in the direction of the push. Next, push on the axis, then on the side moving toward the push. Then, do the same with the upper leg. Finally, do this with the thoracic region of the body until one ends up pushing on the chest of the “receiver.”

The receivers roll depends on which practice is chosen, Aiki #1, or Aiki #1 and Aiki #2. For Aiki #1, the “receiver” should start by slightly bending their joints, allowing all of one’s mass to settle and the tissues to stretch. When the “receiver” is ready, she may ask the “push” to begin. The “receiver” will likely not appear to be doing much (akin to a trampoline being pushed upon). It is important that one keep in mind that one is training their tissues to be put in greater and greater amounts of tension, not contraction.

With Aiki #1 and Aiki #2 the receiver should prepare as described above and then begin to move down and up in a box squat. There is no need to move quickly or terribly slowly. It is important to keep in mind that with this exercise one is training Nonresistance via Aiki #2, not resistance through contraction or avoidance.

For the receiver it is important to realize that EVERYONE will fail at some point. The utility of the practice is hinged upon whether one is staying in “state” (tension, or tension and rotation) throughout the exercise.

Pusher and receiver must have a symbiotic relationship akin to weight lifting partners. If there is too little force to work with one will be unlikely to progress. If there is too much force to work with (leading to constant failure) one will be unlikely to progress. It is best to work around the 80 – 90% of capacity range with a partner. Lower capacity ranges can be trained solo. Finding one’s capacity should be done regularly to adjust one’s training, but not constantly for reasons already given.

Just like any other training, in order to induce neurological change one must push the edge of one’s ability regularly. Mindless repetitions or conversing while being pushed will not provide the amount of stress required for adaptation to be stimulated. The same is true anatomically. Since we are working with the same material (a mind/body) as any other sport theories of periodization, conjugation, macro and mezzo cycles etc. ought to apply. It is just the training that is different in focus.

Recovery is also important, as is nutrition  etc.

Next, I’d like to share a set-up I’ve come up with to be able to move this exercise from subjective progress to objectively measure progress.

I will describe the use of a spring scale to measure the amount of force used in the exercises.

Simply take a spring scale like the one pictured above and have the “receiver” hold it to their chest until the “pusher’s” push will hold it there on its own.  Alternatively, if you can  buy a used or cheap scale, one can attach a strap to it such that it hangs around the “receiver’s” neck.  The pusher notes how many pounds, Kg, or whatever was applied before the “receiver” lost balance.  This way the “receiver” can record progress.  It is important that the “pusher” remove force rapidly at times to assure that the “receiver” isn’t pushing in opposition to maintain balance, that is NOT how balanced is maintained in Aiki.

In conclusion, let me emphasize the fact that this is NOT conventional training. Please don’t make my mistake. When I was first shown exercises to build Aiki by Shirata Sensei I looked at the movements and thought, “Ah, okay! Ancient resistance exercises. I can do that, but with the added benefit of modern sports science and equipment!”

I got in great shape, I got stronger, and I got no Aiki via conventional resistance training. This is not conventional resistance training, cross training, power lifting, body building, modern yoga, gymnastics, etc. It is different and it gets different results.

Think about Ueshiba’s letting a major league home run hitter take a full swing at his bokken and having the bat bounce off. Think about holding out a 4 foot stick with one hand and letting a former lineman for the Green Bay packers take a run at it and hit a brick wall, or let five others push as well. Think about sitting on your butt, legs out in front and letting as many as can push on your head to push you backwards, or sitting and letting a Sumo player (around 3 – 4x your mass) try to push you over, or sit on the outer tatami while a bunch of guys push you from the inside tatami. . . And all of THEIR tatami begins to slip across the floor backwards.

Those kinds of results take a different kind of training. To train differently one must THINK differently. That is the hardest thing of all for most of us.

And, hey! There isn’t anything wrong with conventional in-shape and strong. Far from it! But it isn’t the same as Aiki.

Next week:  Shikon and Hachi Riki (then onto different, but related, stuff for a while.

Thanks for reading!  Feel free to write if you have questions.

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