"Aiki"

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[akiy]

So, what's your definition of "aiki"?

-- Jun

[Chuck.Gordon]

Originally posted by akiy
So, what's your definition of "aiki"?
-- Jun

Good question and a tough one, too.

From my poor understanding, aiki as a term has been around a long time, some references to it in some old religious documents and old sword scrolls and the like.

Apparently, the original use, in budo anyhow, was more 'to dominate the enemy's spirit' than anything else ... I can't say what the old Shinto meaning was, no clue.

Ueshiba seems to have redefined the term in later years to fit his deepening religious beliefs, to more of a sense of harmony than of domination ... but that leaves some question as well as to the definition of harmony to a crusty old Japanese brawler turned religious mystic.

When a nail sticks up and all that ...

I think some (not all, mind you) folks in aikido (especially in the West) want it to mean something like warm fuzzy happy hugs for everyone, but from what I've been able to piece together, even Ueshiba, in later years, didn't quite see it that way.

To others, it's all about getting in tune with the universe, but again, we have to discern what Ueshiba MEANT by harmony with the universe.

It's a very interesting idea that offers many facets, and in typical Japanese fashion, it can really mean various things to various folks in various contexts ...

Chuck
(who leans toward the spiritual domination theory himself)

[Lyle Bogin]

Take what you get and give it back.

A definition in progress ofcourse.

[Mona]

Originally posted by akiy
So, what's your definition of "aiki"?

-- Jun

To me, the Aiki principle is perfectly illustrated in O'Sensei's own words:

"When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him; if he wants to pull back, send him on his way."

and

"Let attackers come any way they like and then blend with them. Redirect each attack and get firmly behind it."

Not to mention "Masakatsu Agatsu".

But most importantly, 'Aiki' means not criticizing other styles in Aikido or other Martial Arts. :D
As long as you don't consider yourself and your Art a cut above the rest, you're in a state of Aiki.

[Chocolateuke]

I have read it somewere that it is the blending of male and female forces the ying and yang ype deal, the definition i got was the blending the positive and negitive forces. negitive dosent mean bead just teh opposite of possitive, but Ill have to look into the subject more to make my own definition. hey how do you get the cool smilie like that in the post??
:)

[Don_Modesto]

aiki=kokyu?

Originally posted by Mona
But most importantly, 'Aiki' means not criticizing other styles in Aikido or other Martial Arts. :D
As long as you don't consider yourself and your Art a cut above the rest, you're in a state of Aiki.

Not sure history agrees with you. Osensei fancied aikido advanced martial art--does that constitute "a cut above"?

He was also barefacedly condescending with regard to Kano's judo, despite Kano's regard for and courtesy toward Ueshiba.

[Mona]

Originally posted by Don_Modesto
aiki=kokyu?



Not sure history agrees with you. Osensei fancied aikido advanced martial art--does that constitute "a cut above"?

He was also barefacedly condescending with regard to Kano's judo, despite Kano's regard for and courtesy toward Ueshiba.

I believe that Jun's question was:
"What is YOUR definition of Aiki?"
And the portion of the post you're commenting on has nothing to do with the O'Sensei quotes I mentioned. It's my own additional definition of Aiki with regard to present-day Martial Arts.
:p

[Don_Modesto]

Originally posted by Mona
I believe that Jun's question was:
"What is YOUR definition of Aiki?":p

Quite right.

aiki = strawberry shortcake

[Bruce Baker]

Consider ...

The universe is energy.

The energy seeks to become matter/mass.

The Mass combines with other elements seeking to become energy, again.

Somewhere in the attempt for mass to have the life force become energy, it attempts to gain the lifeforce which becomes energy.

So, the lifeforce of all things is Aiki.

Even as the mass attempts to recombine into forms that will give energy, this too becomes Aiki. (Although its slow scope of life takes billions of years and is beyond our comprehension with its slowly moving masses.)

So you see, even our lives, which amounts to a millionth of a second in the universal scheme of life becomes Aiki, we are but generators of energy .... Aiki power.

The warmth of your body, the static electricity you get with clothing, and the well of energy in your second and third wind ... these too are Aiki.

Somewhere in your gut feeling and your willpower is the solution to finding .... Aiki.

All these things are alive with energy.

All these things have Aiki.

If you consider even things that die recombine and again create energy or life, even death can not stop this struggle to reach energy/life. Aiki is pretty awesome!

[IrimiTom]

I think you are absolutely right, Bruce, I believe Einstein expressed the beauty of the universe a lot more easily though: E=mc2 (you know it's squared but i've got no superscripts here)
and I don't remember the ones for time dilation, length compression and mass increase but to me they too express aiki very well sometimes....

[jimvance]

I think that when two or more forces or energies come together they create a third force, an "aiki". It has physical properties and manifests just like any other physical thing, but take away one of its pieces and POOF! ...where did it go? This may be how atoms are formed, how galaxies come together.
A couple of German philosophers called this "gestalt" back in the 1920s, and described it as "The whole is different than the sum of its parts". We think motion pictures are alive, but they are just moving faster than we can recognize them as being still.
It is the wave itself, not the ocean water that makes it.

Jim Vance

[Jorx]

Harmony.

[aiki_what]

Harmony is a state of being. It is my understanding that one of the definitions of Aiki is the "active principle of harmony" which would imply the striving for harmony rather than the state of harmony.

[Jorx]

Striving for harmony = harmony
And as the universe is quite harmonical in the state as such blaah blaah...

just didn't feel like making big and a lot of words...

Jorgen

[Steve]

Originally posted by Bruce Baker
Consider ...

The universe is energy.

The energy seeks to become matter/mass.

The Mass combines with other elements seeking to become energy, again.

Somewhere in the attempt for mass to have the life force become energy, it attempts to gain the lifeforce which becomes energy.

So, the lifeforce of all things is Aiki.

Even as the mass attempts to recombine into forms that will give energy, this too becomes Aiki. (Although its slow scope of life takes billions of years and is beyond our comprehension with its slowly moving masses.)

So you see, even our lives, which amounts to a millionth of a second in the universal scheme of life becomes Aiki, we are but generators of energy .... Aiki power.

The warmth of your body, the static electricity you get with clothing, and the well of energy in your second and third wind ... these too are Aiki.

Somewhere in your gut feeling and your willpower is the solution to finding .... Aiki.

All these things are alive with energy.

All these things have Aiki.

If you consider even things that die recombine and again create energy or life, even death can not stop this struggle to reach energy/life. Aiki is pretty awesome!
Energy seeks to become matter, matter seeks to become energy? It's all aiki? You are trying sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hard to be a mystic philosopher but it's just not happening.

[AskanisoN]

A simple explanation as it was given to me...

The kanji for "ai" represents a pot with a lid on it. Hence, "ai" symbolizes to two things fitting togeter. Not to be confused with "wa" which refers to harmony.

The kanji for "ki" represents a boiling pot filled with rice. Hence, "ki" symbolizes energy.

So, I would have to say it means to fit, join or combine energy.

Its no "circle of life" explanation, but it makes sense to me.

Scott

[Liz Baron]

Aiki is the feeling I get when I take an off-camber corner on my Windcheetah, and the inside wheel lifts off the ground, and I'm leaning in to try and keep it down, and steering with my eyeballs, and there's traffic, and pedestrians and...and...

Well that's the Aiki of cycling, anyway. :D

The only other definition I have is that, given the current world stage, Aiki is what's missing. I may not be able to define it, but I can tell when it's not there.

Liz

[Erik]

"The ability to blend and harmonize with someone in order to get them to do what you want."

Or something like that. And if you don't like it then take it up with Ellis Amdur and that O'Sensei character. You'll probably have to hire John Edward for that latter bit though.

[tedehara]

Originally posted by akiy
So, what's your definition of "aiki"?
-- Jun
:ai: ai means union or harmony and :ki: ki can be translated as will or intent. Therefore aiki means to unite or harmonize with another's will or intention.

This can be interpeted on different levels. When you lead your partner, you are uniting or harmonizing with their will or intention to attack you. It is this leading that allows you to perform the technique.

On a spiritual or philosophical level, aiki means to unite or harmonize with the will or intention of the Universe. This is commonly referred to as "...becoming one with the Universe."

[Bruce Baker]

By no means, is what I believe Aiki to be ... mystical. It is from scientific fact I have postulated these statements ... by observation of the universe itself.

Kaos, is the prime discourse of the universe. It is the results of energy and matter changing from one form to another. If you are proponent of Kaos, then by all means follow it to its violent end, and re-creation to other forms.

But if you are a practical person, who understands the kaos of everyday life, the destruction of forms to be recreated in other forms, the recombining of different elements to become energy ... you are thus able to see the harmony of this kaos in what we call life.

I believe the question was ... what do you believe Aiki to be?

If you haven't thought about what you personally believe it to be, maybe you should.

Each of us comes from different backrounds, differenct lives, so we see things from our own perspective. The differences of these perspectives is what makes life so interesting, and fascinating? At least I think it is.

So without quoting O'Sensei, or reaching into a book for an easy answer, what is it you personally believe Aiki to be?

Most times, I think the Native Americans have it right. The Mother Earth, the Great Spirit, the Creator of all things ... simple ideas that do translate into the many things that O'Sensei Talks about in his writings and teachings, quite easily.

Many of the modern religions translate into blind obediance to particular groups, or deitys, while pointing to the One God?

The only real God, or deity of us all, is the Universe, the power of that universe, and the life we allowed to have while we are in these bodies. Once these bodies are gone, these spirits no longer generate the same energy as the elements are recombined to form other life. Interpret it as you will, the Aiki, or the life we allowed to posess in our lives, is drawn from the earth, and universe.

If that is not the Aiki of the universe, I don't know what is.

How we use it? That is totally different subject.

If you apply it as a social term of interaction, well ... Then moral conscious, willpower, and social standards come into play with that angle.

Anyway ...

What do you think Aiki is?

[akiy]

Going back to this old thread...

Anyone else want to give us your definition of "aiki"?

Also, for the historically/linguistically minded, what sort of definitions have you encountered in your research regarding the term "aiki"?

-- Jun

[Chuck Clark]

I've heard for a long time that Tomiki-sensei called it "fitting".

A meeting of energy and fitting together harmoniously (meaning, I think, not clashing, good timing, etc.)

Another aspect is "instant victory", taking someone's balance, initiative, etc. at the time of "fitting" that happens at first touch.

First touch may be at some distance, affecting an attackers intent and leading their mind...

aiki-DO is another thing.

[tedehara]

...Also, for the historically/linguistically minded, what sort of definitions have you encountered in your research regarding the term "aiki"?

-- Jun"Ultimately, there is only one state of ki. My father had the following to say about the ultimate state of ki which he had himself attained:

'Through physical training I reached the ultimate understanding of budo. Once the essence of budo had been thus revealed to me, I realized that a person's body and mind and the ki which unites the two should be brought into perfect harmony, and that these three elements should be further unified with the activity of the universe. It is possible to unify one's mind and body and, subsequently, the universe, through the expert use of ki.'

Aiki is, therefore, the unification of the ki which is the basis of the life-force and is made manifest by subtle breath control with the ki which is the basis of existence and which permeates the entire universe, and aiki is to become one with the universe itself."

Conversation with the late Ueshiba Kisshomaru pg 144 The Mysterious Power of Ki by Kouzo Kaku.

[L. Camejo]

Aiki is what I also call the Qigong state.

Perfect harmony with the univerese and all things within it. Matching the vibration of one's personal ki with the ki of the cosmic.

L.C.:ai::ki:

[PeterR]

You scare me sometimes Larry. :D
Aiki is what I also call the Qigong state.

Perfect harmony with the univerese and all things within it. Matching the vibration of one's personal ki with the ki of the cosmic.

Interesting though how these terms are pretty universal. Have you bought the Nariyama/Shishida book yet - right at the beginning they answer the question "What is Aiki" from a historical to conceptual point of view. Very very clear. Like a lot of these things there really seems to be a more esoteric version and at the same time something more practical. When a Tomiki stylist refers to Aiki they are probably refering to the more practical sense see Chuck Clark's comment above. That of course does not negate the more esoteric either. It is one of the ideas the certain Daito Ryu officiados tend to forget when they say Ueshiba didn't understand Aiki. It is clear to me that Ueshiba understood something since the suggestion of the inclusion of Aiki in the Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu came from the time at Ayabe. What he prefered to emphasize latter in life or if he changed the meaning to suit his outlook is another question. I find what some people call Aiki very strange - don't know if it was ever related to what Ueshiba M. believed.

[Guest5678]

Aiki = That which is possesed by everything yet eludes the multitude and can only be found in the most natural of movements...

-Mongo

[Chuck Clark]

Interesting though how these terms are pretty universal. .... When a Tomiki stylist refers to Aiki they are probably refering to the more practical sense see Chuck Clark's comment above. That of course does not negate the more esoteric either.
I see absolutely no difference in the "practical" and the "esoteric". They are the same thing expressed in different language, examples, metaphores, etc. I tend to wax a bit philosophical at times (so I hear...) however we must not get so lost in the large poetic and spiritual view that we forget to actually apply the smallest expression of the whole.

[Don_Modesto]

FWIW: I was intrigued by Kondo Katsuyuki's definition of aiki as basically unbalancing as given in Stanley Pranin's book on DR Aikijujutsu. During the DR seminar last weekend I asked Stanley--with tongue somewhat in cheek--during his talk about the translation of aikido. Usually translated as "the way of harmony, what do you think of the translation: 'The way of unbalancing.'"

He answered straight that this is obviously not what the founder was thinking when using the term.

Still, it's interesting to see the permutations of meaning that occur with time and personalities. The Japanese love their punning: Osensei saying Asahi-ryu was a fine name for what he was teaching but that for the students to find different kanji for writing it from the kanji for the Asahi newspaper where they were practicing; Osensei say AIkido is the way of love; Okamoto riffing off the many possible meanings of his "Roppo"-kai (in the same book cited above)...

[PeterR]

Hi Chuck;

I agree on all points.

As to the difference between "practical" and "esoteric" however, if one tends to the extremes of either end the connection gets lost. I am very comfortable with Don's quote of Kondo and I am pretty sure Kondo would also, under different context, use something more metaphorical.

I don't see Aiki as just kuzushi for instance but then I also have real discomfort when I hear talk of the "Aiki way of life".

PS. My new adventure starts November 9th with unbelievable facilities.


I see absolutely no difference in the "practical" and the "esoteric". They are the same thing expressed in different language, examples, metaphores, etc. I tend to wax a bit philosophical at times (so I hear...) however we must not get so lost in the large poetic and spiritual view that we forget to actually apply the smallest expression of the whole.

[Edward]

I don't know if someone said it above (I don't have the patience to read the whole thread ;)), but for me Aiki is the synchronization with the attack of the opponent...

[Chuck Clark]

Greetings Peter,

It's good to hear things are going well for you. As you know, I'm a bit jealous...I often long to wake up to the calls of the kakko (cuckoo) in the bamboo forests.

I also felt like I instantly understood and recognized the "feel" of Kondo's definition of aiki. It works for me, but then so does mine and yours and some other folks' too.

"A rose by any other name..."

Take care,

[L. Camejo]

You scare me sometimes Larry. :D

Interesting though how these terms are pretty universal. Have you bought the Nariyama/Shishida book yet - right at the beginning they answer the question "What is Aiki" from a historical to conceptual point of view. Very very clear.
Hi Peter,

I think the question was "What is MY definition of Aiki", not my style's definition of Aiki:).

The definition I gave is what I felt comfortable with at the time. It can change, like all things.

Yes, I have read the Shishida/Nariyama book-very concise and practical in the tried and true Shodokan way. Could use some better english though :).

The examples of Aiki from the book include: "A situation in which two people stand facing each other", "When facing an enemy, this gets to the point of Aiki, waiting and seeing how one beats the other", "It is important to avoid fighting directly with an opponent's ki".

The oldest known book on Aiki states that "tekijin dokushin no jutsu (techniques of reading an opponent's mind) and kiai (yelling) are the most important parts of aiki."

Finally in the Taisho era: "They say aiki is the technique in which you can take advantage in a battle by reading an opponents's mind".

All of this mind reading sounds more esoteric than practical to me, but then I'm only a beginner in this thing :)

To me, the only way to read someone's mind (that is, if you're not Miss Cleo:)) is to become totally in tune with that person. If "every man is a universe" so to speak, isn't aiki about being in tune with the universe?

I would not even begin to assume that I know what I am talking about :).

Just train hard and all :).

L.C.:ai::ki:

[Chuck Clark]

Larry,

Great stuff! That all fits in the package of what it takes to understand what "aiki" is and can be.

I must add that my experience of "what it is" is limited and I'm still looking and learning.

Thanks,

[PeterR]

I think the question was "What is MY definition of Aiki", not my style's definition of Aiki:).
Understood Larry - I actually like your definition. Actually at the Shodokan you never here a statement like "apply Aiki". You do here things like apply kuzushi, tsukuri, sen no sen and we all know about sen sen no sen. When we hear the term Aiki in the practical sense it is all of these lumped togeather. As I mentioned in the previous post Aiki is part practical part esoteric and when you go to either extreme the connection is lost resulting in something else.
Yes, I have read the Shishida/Nariyama book-very concise and practical in the tried and true Shodokan way. Could use some better english though :).
You should have seen the first round - that was really really bad. Except for the parts I did of course. It was smoothed out but basically it was a direct translation from Japanese and that will always sound strange.
The examples of Aiki from the book include: "A situation in which two people stand facing each other", "When facing an enemy, this gets to the point of Aiki, waiting and seeing how one beats the other"...
This is my favourite of all. I really like the imagery here and if anything it defines my view Aiki (as sen sen no sen).
I would not even begin to assume that I know what I am talking about :).
You are doing pretty good. I have yet to read anything you put down that hasn't been food for thought.

[PeterR]

I must add that my experience of "what it is" is limited and I'm still looking and learning.
A model which I endeavor to follow.

[L. Camejo]

I agree Peter, extremes either place one's mind in a box, or makes it so etheric that there is no substance to make meaningful decisions from.

BTW, did you ever read the book written by Scott Allbright from Shodokan UK - Aikido and Randori I think was the title. A great complement to the Nariyama/Shishida book.

Chuck, I too am still looking and searching... will let you guys know if I find anything :) If I get lost you'll find me on your dojo step :)

Arigato Gozaimashita

L.C.:ai::ki:

[PeterR]

BTW, did you ever read the book written by Scott Allbright from Shodokan UK - Aikido and Randori I think was the title. A great complement to the Nariyama/Shishida book.
Briefly looked it over, did not have the chance to look in more detail.

[Paula Lydon]

~~First off, I consider Ki the same as Chi, Mana, Prana, Life essence, etc. So Aiki to me means how I feel, access, harmonize and move with Ki. :)

[Tom Peña]

:ai: :ki: - encompasses a lot of things in aikido (and in life) in all its levels, whether it is the practical side or the esoteric side, whether it is in relation to an opponent(s) or with one's "SELF". You will never be able to flow with any attack if you are not in harmony with yourself. Simply beacuse you have allowed anger, fear, hatred, frustration and so forth to be a hindrance in responding with the proper mindset, thus delivering poor technique.

From whatever perpective we take it, and even from whatever style of aikido we practice the principle of :ai: :ki: as taught by O'sensei will always manifest in various level of practice. When we focus on being "centered" or just by achieving a certain posture with a stability harmony within our physical, emotional, & mental state is already being emphasized. Whenever your sensei tells you to move as "a single unit" or "as one" aiki is given emphasis. Remember, before we can say that we can blend with our opponent we should learn how to blend with our moves first. Otherwise we wil find our movement colliding with that of our attacker. Or in the larger scale we find ourself trapped in the middle of two attckers because we seized to see the fact that their actions are not totally independent from one another. That they are based on each others movement which we can treat as just one movement. As O'sensei said "use the one to strike the many"

[PeterR]

On a related note this weekend was the All Kansai Aikido Championships (Tomiki). I was watching both the male and female world champions (the male also does really well in shoot fighting) and one thing both had in common was a certain calmness when dealing with their opponnent. This of course, especially in the case of Yu (male) translated into an explosive application of technique at the correct moment.

Interesting weekend - the next day was my town's Judo tournament. The All-Japan Juniour High School champion hails from here. Damm he was good. I also couldn't help but admire the physique. You could tell he was just 15 when you looked at his face but other than that he looked absolutely dangerous - not an ounce of extra meat on him. He fought the same way the Aikido guys did - calm, calm, explosion.

[sanosuke]

So, what's your definition of "aiki"?

Masakatsu Agatsu, maybe?

[mike lee]

So, what's your definition of "aiki"?

When a freight train is coming, get off the tracks.

[L. Camejo]

On a related note this weekend was the All Kansai Aikido Championships (Tomiki). I was watching both the male and female world champions (the male also does really well in shoot fighting) and one thing both had in common was a certain calmness when dealing with their opponnent. This of course, especially in the case of Yu (male) translated into an explosive application of technique at the correct moment.

Interesting weekend - the next day was my town's Judo tournament. The All-Japan Juniour High School champion hails from here. Damm he was good.
Oh how I envy you Peter :) Hoping to get to the Internationals in the UK in 2003.

I agree with that calm before the explosion tactic - great practical manifestation of yin/yang principles too. I use it a lot in tanto randori when I get cornered (basically becuz I have no other choice).... remain calm, relax and harmonise with tanto's breathing and as the tsuki comes, just before the tanto makes contact... BOOM! textbook Uki otoshi (randori no kata style), unquestionable ippon :cool:

Talk about :ai::ki: :)

We now take you back to your regularly scheduled programming :)

L.C.:ai::ki:

[Greg Jennings]

Masakatsu Agatsu, maybe?
More like "Hatsu haya hi" = "Victory Faster Than Light" (or something like that).

Best Regards,

[Richard Elliott]

Aiki: an attempt at definition.

being in the zone.

being by myself, but not alone.

where things slow down

where taking time to mark what's in-here and out-there seems superfluous (and stops the technique!)

what makes misogi worthwhile

being able to forgive oneself and others (this makes aiki attainable)

taking the initiative to assert non-violence (this, derived from the Nishio approach. I think Gandhi and King would have cringed to have their non-violence labelled "passive.")

whatever it is, it must (or should be) more than just harmonizing with "the way things are" or the status quo. Otherwise, blending with any group no matter how racist, righteous, powerful, seductive, artful or bloodthirsty would be an expression of aiki.

Therefore, I would think that a component of a more exact definition would have to be it is more than what "I" or "WE" may perceive it to be-at some particular time.

So, how to define?

So, how are "the way things are"--Really!?

It seems to me that O'Sensei attempted to point to what could make a definition possible, in theory anyway, and that is a goal, a destination, an end: Love.

It seems to me that some "end" or goal must be, in theory at least, be definable if not in creedal form then in the quality of the activities, the results of training, the quality of relationships.

Can an adequate definition of "aiki" be without definitions and distinctions of values? I hope not. Otherwise, when we talk about "being one with the 'universe'", or the "cosmos" can mean anything--and nothing.

Whatever aiki is, I would hope that holding life sacred does not mean treating all goal, all ends, all values as holding equal value because the perception of these heuristics are absolutely--Relative.

[aikilouis]

Aiki = fluidity

[Creature_of_the_id]

aiki= how can I word this... Harmony with that which you are aware of.

I was trying to write it as a computer program in which life was a function of intent and focus.

function life(intent,focus)

to show how entering into life with a harmonious intent and a focus on 'ki' (choose your own definition.. mine is too long) creates an outcome directly related to both.

[thomasgroendal]

Here is a completely new definition:

One of my Japanese students recently had a baby. He and his wife wanted to be able to call her Ai-chan. And so they settled on the name AIKI. Different characters, but quite an unsettling bit of news. Now I suddenly feel like I have to get serious, or when this Aiki is 18 and asks mom, what she was named after, the only thing they will be able to point to is a balding 42 year old fat white guy and a story about some old dojo... ;)

I will have to do my best to show Aiki a meaning to be proud of in her name.

(Maybe the next baby can be kokyu, NAH...)

[Thalib]

Out of curiosity, what is the kanji for the baby's name...