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	<title><![CDATA[Naming of Aikido]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[[highlight][I]Yesterday,
We had daily cleaning. And to-morrow morning,
We shall have what to do after firing. But to-day,
To-day we have naming of parts.[/highlight]
Naming of Parts by Henry Reed[/I]

I heard on the BBC that the most advanced nuclear submarine in the world, HMS Astute, ran aground off the coast of Scotland&#1567; Way to go with the naming. By the way that's the first time I've used an irony mark (check out the thread about Omotokyo [url]http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18832[/url]). 

So I was thinking about naming. Judo is a great name. It's short and powerful and it contains the essence of the art itself: the way of softness. Of course a lot of people who do judo forget that. Kendo is a simple clear name: the way of the sword. Karate on its own - empty hand - is a cool and succinct name but when -do - the way - is added it seems like an afterthought: karatedo. In kobudo - old martial arts - a name I always liked is kage-ryu kenjutsu - shadow style of the sword. It became shinkage-ryu - new shadow style - in the sixteenth century but that doesn't have quite the same ring.

The naming of aikido is a little vague. I don't think I've ever seen a good translation of it. Blending + Energy + Way. In Wikipedia it says: [I]Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying (with) life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit."[/I] Well, not often. I've never heard them. It is sometimes called the way of harmony but that doesn't mention the ki part. I have seen the way of harmonizing energy.

Then there are a few names which try to capture the spirit of aikido rather than translate the words. The way of peace. The way of love. The way of the universe. They sound a little trite maybe? So if you have a suggestion please write a comment. 

So perhaps we're back to the way of harmony. But I think I'll go with the way of truth. That's what it is for me.

[I]This is the very cool and powerful poem by Henry Reed, Naming of Parts [url]http://www.solearabiantree.net/namingofparts/namingofparts.html[/url][/I]

[I]News report on Her Majesty's Submarine Astute: [url] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/8079960/HMS-Astute-worlds-most-advanced-nuclear-submarine-runs-aground.html[/url][/I]

[I]cool motorbike photo Bikekido by Chris Patterson [url]http://www.flickr.com/photos/dimmerswitch/3769587250/[/url] photostream [url]http://www.flickr.com/photos/dimmerswitch/with/3769587250/[/url] used under creative commons licence and with his very kind permission[/I]

© niall matthews 2010]]></body>
	<date>10-29-2010</date>
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