Kokyu
Yesterday a training partner pointed me to Nelson's "The Original Modern Reader's Japanese-English Character Dictionary: Classic Edition" (Tuttle Publishing, 2004 ISBN 0804819653, 9780804819657) entry about "kokyu".
In said entry kokyu is translated as: breath, respiration; knack, secret; tone, time; kokyu suru breathe. (bold mine) So he left me more confused as I usually am. If someone asks what i.e. kokyu nage means can I say it means "knack throw" or "secret throw" instead the usual "breath throw"? :confused: :confused: :confused: |
Re: Kokyu
Welcome to Japanese. :) Breath and respiration are the primary meanings. There are usually infrequently used meanings for many words.
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But are those infrequently used meanings more or less appropiate than the usual one, in this case "breath"?. Was "breath throw" the chosen translation because breath is the more usual meaning of kokyu?
Anyway, I think I have to read this other thread more carefully (note to self: use search function next time). |
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According to the produers of Keijutsukai Aikido, Kokyu has been incorrectly translated to mean breath.They say the more correct meaning of the Kanji symbols for Kokyu is to be in harmony with the powers of the Universe. So, a kokyu throw would be a power throw.
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Sort of - "kokyu" means "breathing" (as in "respiration"), and saying that people's "breathing" "matches" is another way of saying that they get along well together (ie, they are "in harmony"). I wouldn't read too much into it, anymore than I would to the phrase "get along like a house on fire" .Best, Chris |
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So it says breath and matching ( being in harmony with) their breathing? Hmmm, not harmonious life force?
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All of those things point to rhythm in my opinion, which is also what I would define Aiki to be all about.
It's often said when something is "knacky" that it takes a certain rhythm. Breathing is super rhythmic, time and tone are at the core of rhythm. I don't know about secret.... Maybe added by someone who doesn't understand rhythm (Ha). In an interview by Meik Skoss of Sawada Hanae, in Koryu Bujutsu, Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan. He asked her about aikido technique, she said: "When you speak of matching, if your kokyu, or breathing, does not match then you do not match. You are thinking merely of form, aren't you? But in order to do aiki, both your spirit and that of your partner must enter into play and then come together. When you study aiki, this is what you are studying." Kokyu seems to be an integral part of Aiki(do) from this. |
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http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showpo...3&postcount=21 |
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To me, that's Kokyu and that's where the outlet to Ki is. Now, I'll (gladly) spend the rest of my life realizing it. |
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In fact, pretty much the whole Chinese martial-arts world was shot in the foot for so long because of similar misunderstandings about "jin" and "energy", "qi" and "spirit", "breath", and so on. Not saying the translation is wrong, but I'd be very careful of it until I determined what the translator actually knew in terms of skills and so forth. As we've witnessed in the last few years, there are a LOT of learned opinions by 'seniors' on simple ki/kokyu skills that have not panned out in terms of results/functional-ability. I.e., I'm saying be careful before you wander the graveyard of sayings looking for a headstone that agrees with your own perceptions. ;) Best. Mike Sigman |
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William Hazen |
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Regards, Mike Sigman |
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Regards, Mike Sigman |
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Interesting... William Hazen |
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Mike Sigman |
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He's the guy who wrote/translated the quote I put in above. That's why I said you should look him up, you questioned his understanding.
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Regards, Mike Sigman |
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Mike,
Thanks for sticking around, even a bit. Regards, DH |
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As much as I enjoy some of this vague, airy-fairy, "new-age" stuff, I don't think it'll get people very far...
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But the ones who actually seem to be able to DO keep getting blasted, so one wonders how long they will keep coming back. Oh Well... Best, Ron |
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If Mike Sigman, Dan Harden, Rob John, Toby Threadgill, George Ledyard or Ellis Amdur (and many others experienced and knowledgeable people within and outside aikido, of course) stopped sharing their findings because of the arrogance or the ignorance of some, this would be a terrible damage done to this community.
Some of us beginners follow closely what they offer, even if they are not very vocal, and are able to get past the occasional harsh judgements. After all, Morihei Ueshiba or Sokaku Takeda were not famous for being very diplomatic. I don't want valuable exchange and information here in Aikiweb be replaced by "aikido is whatever you decide to do", "my sensei is more badass than yours" or other types of nonsense. |
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