Quote:
Tom Verhoeven wrote:
David,
It just struck me that you might be thinking about a particular Chinese or Japanese word or kanji when you are talking about "power" and that this has a particular relevance in your training?
Tom
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No. I'm talking about physical human power. It's a necessary part of life and it's a necessary part of aikido. What I'm criticizing is people who are drawn to the power but have to deny that fact. And this confuses their practice and, if they teach, confuses their students. And if they present this to the world, it confuses potential students. That is, if they appear to have power. If they appear to be weak and then say that aikido is not about power, it just confirms people's image that aikido is weak.
If someone is already strong and comes to aikido to learn to be smooth and graceful, well, they already have power and they're not trying to lose it. They're simply trying to refine it.
It is only with those who deny the nature of power in aikido that I have any disagreement.