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Old 05-13-2007, 11:04 AM   #1
jennifer paige smith
 
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What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

After reading many insightful posts that relate to O'Sensei's practice of "Japanese MMA" in other threads ( Ueshiba on the Future of Aikido) I came to a point where I want to ask the above question:
In all of this myriad training of martial methods, farming methods, spiritual methods and community methods what was the binding feature that tied it together for him? In your view, please.

Jennifer Paige Smith
Confluence Aikido Systems
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Old 05-13-2007, 11:40 AM   #2
dps
 
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Quote:
Jennifer Smith wrote: View Post
In all of this myriad training of martial methods, farming methods, spiritual methods and community methods what was the binding feature that tied it together for him? In your view, please.
Unending practice moving from the center.

IMHV

David

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Old 05-13-2007, 12:54 PM   #3
tedehara
 
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Ki development or what others would call kokyu or internal power is the prominent feature of Morihei Ueshiba's teaching and training.

Some people on these forums look to the founder as the source of aikido. However if you look at the founder's writings, he looks to the universe as the source of knowledge. He had a almost Platonic understanding of the universe in that there are absolute principles that lie beyond the relative world.

An irrational learning can be reached through physical training and practice. An irrational learning means not being able to put the experience in just words, thus it is a full understanding that enables the student to perform based on those principles.

It seems people have been misdirected by the founder's mystical approach. They look closely at each tree and cannot see the forest.

It is not practice that makes perfect, it is correct practice that makes perfect.
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Old 05-13-2007, 01:09 PM   #4
heathererandolph
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

embracing conflict
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Old 05-13-2007, 01:44 PM   #5
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Quote:
Jennifer Smith wrote: View Post
what was the binding feature that tied it together for him? In your view, please.
IMHO, congruency.

Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
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Old 05-13-2007, 02:11 PM   #6
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Fitting Appropriately.

Chuck Clark
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Old 05-13-2007, 08:58 PM   #7
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

An interesting question.

Personally, I think it is.... depth. Ulitmately, perhaps, it became spiritual depth.

I think that, at some level, he was always looking for a deeper experience, and that was what lead him forward.

Not something that is easily described, but he knew it when he found it. And it seems that, to him, he found it several times in his life - in something about what he experienced and learned from Takeda, in something that he experienced and learned from Deguchi, and in something that he learned from his own path that grew out of those experiences.

LN

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Old 05-13-2007, 09:40 PM   #8
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Kisshomaru Ueshiba's biography of his father (Aikido Taiso Ueshiba Morihei Den) is at present being translated into English. When it appears, you will have a much better basis for debating this question. The biography, though written from a certain viewpoint, contains a wealth of information.

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Old 05-13-2007, 09:47 PM   #9
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

I would say, from what I have been able to gather up until now, it would be a "union with God" and/or "a reconciliation of fear" and/or "a personal embodiment of Love" - all the same thing.

David M. Valadez
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Old 05-13-2007, 11:12 PM   #10
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Quote:
Jennifer Smith wrote: View Post
In all of this myriad training of martial methods, farming methods, spiritual methods and community methods what was the binding feature that tied it together for him?
Your answer is in your question. Musubi (結び), of course. Tied up. With a lovely bow.

Cordially,

Erick Mead
一隻狗可久里馬房但他也不是馬的.
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Old 05-14-2007, 04:11 PM   #11
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Awesome thread...

Harmony with and reverance for all creation.
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Old 05-14-2007, 05:07 PM   #12
Nafis Zahir
 
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

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Awesome thread...

Harmony with and reverance for all creation.
I agree. It was harmony of mind, body and spirit. And it was also harmony of self, the world, and others.

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Old 05-15-2007, 10:33 AM   #13
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

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David Valadez wrote: View Post
it would be a "union with God" and/or "a reconciliation of fear" and/or "a personal embodiment of Love" - all the same thing.
Congruency

Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
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Old 05-15-2007, 10:38 AM   #14
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Quote:
Nafis Zahir wrote: View Post
It was harmony of mind, body and spirit. And it was also harmony of self, the world, and others.
Congruency

Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
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Old 05-15-2007, 10:39 AM   #15
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

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Fitting Appropriately.
Congruency

Lynn Seiser PhD
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We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
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Old 05-15-2007, 05:51 PM   #16
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Different students

I might slide a bit off topic here, judging from how the above posts have responded to the question.
One thing about Osensei's teaching that never ceases to impress me, is that his students developed in differing directions. Although they had the same teacher, and no doubt an impressive one, their aikido differs immensely.
As a teacher, I try to remember that.

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Old 05-15-2007, 06:14 PM   #17
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Does congruence really imply "union"? Can you really say to your wife, "I so congruence you my darling." She might slap you! ;-)

d

David M. Valadez
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Old 05-15-2007, 08:27 PM   #18
Larry John
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

True, but she might not if you say, "You and I are in congruence."

Back on topic, though, at this point, my view is that the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching is irimi--to enter unafraid--where, when and how needed.

So, irimi complete, I tenkan ...

Larry
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Old 05-19-2007, 12:15 PM   #19
jennifer paige smith
 
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Quote:
Lynn Seiser wrote: View Post
IMHO, congruency.
Would you please elaborate on your thoughts and provide examples of 'congruency'. I enjoy this response and would like to hear more.
thanks

Jennifer Paige Smith
Confluence Aikido Systems
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Old 05-19-2007, 12:22 PM   #20
jennifer paige smith
 
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Quote:
Erick Mead wrote: View Post
Your answer is in your question. Musubi (??), of course. Tied up. With a lovely bow.
1st let me achnowledge the rhetorical nature of my question.
Of course the answer is the question.

But what quality connects these practices? What features create musubi between farming, art and budo?

Jennifer Paige Smith
Confluence Aikido Systems
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Old 05-19-2007, 12:27 PM   #21
jennifer paige smith
 
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Quote:
Peter A Goldsbury wrote: View Post
Kisshomaru Ueshiba's biography of his father (Aikido Taiso Ueshiba Morihei Den) is at present being translated into English. When it appears, you will have a much better basis for debating this question. The biography, though written from a certain viewpoint, contains a wealth of information.
I think we have a wonderful basis for discussion given the beautiful volume of information that is already available. If you have pre-insight into the contents of this text, than you have the information available at this moment and it certainly is coursing within you. So, give. I suspect many of us are aleady hot on track.

Jennifer Paige Smith
Confluence Aikido Systems
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Old 05-19-2007, 05:28 PM   #22
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Quote:
Jennifer Smith wrote: View Post
Would you please elaborate on your thoughts and provide examples of 'congruency'. I enjoy this response and would like to hear more. thanks
Congruency: body, mind, and spirt in agreement, aligned, in harmony.

Lynn Seiser PhD
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Old 05-19-2007, 05:39 PM   #23
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Quote:
Lynn Seiser wrote: View Post
Congruency: body, mind, and spirt in agreement, aligned, in harmony.
Ki, Ken, Tai, Itchi is an old budo discription of the the same thing.

Chuck Clark
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Old 05-20-2007, 04:25 AM   #24
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Quote:
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Ki, Ken, Tai, Itchi is an old budo discription of the the same thing.
Osu Sensei,

IMHO, incongruency is a major problem, going in opposition to what we know is true and what is the right thing to do.

Re, Domo.

Lynn Seiser PhD
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Old 05-20-2007, 07:52 AM   #25
jennifer paige smith
 
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Re: What is the binding feature of O'Sensei's teaching and training?

Quote:
Lynn Seiser wrote: View Post
Congruency: body, mind, and spirt in agreement, aligned, in harmony.
Thank you, Lynn. I am aware of the definition of congruency as agreement. I was hoping for a concrete example from your own experience that would color your notion that the binding feature is agreement.I would seek to ask anyone what creates congruency? Where is it displayed in all of the above arts? Specifically.

Jennifer Paige Smith
Confluence Aikido Systems
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