Welcome to AikiWeb Aikido Information
AikiWeb: The Source for Aikido Information
AikiWeb's principal purpose is to serve the Internet community as a repository and dissemination point for aikido information.

Sections
home
aikido articles
columns

Discussions
forums
aikiblogs

Databases
dojo search
seminars
image gallery
supplies
links directory

Reviews
book reviews
video reviews
dvd reviews
equip. reviews

News
submit
archive

Miscellaneous
newsletter
rss feeds
polls
about

Follow us on



Home > AikiWeb Aikido Forums
Go Back   AikiWeb Aikido Forums > General

Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history, humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced features available, you will need to register first. Registration is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 08-27-2002, 10:19 AM   #1
chadsieger
Dojo: Minh Sensei
Location: Allentown, PA
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 107
Offline
Talking Tap into the Mind's Power

Consider the quote, "Humans use only 10% of their brain." This often leads to the question, where on earth is the other 90% and how do we use it?

I personally do not have that answer, however, I do see how some of it can be used an manipulated with regard to budo.

Catching a ball. To many of you, catching a ball now seems like child's play, however, this was not always the case. While you were first learning your brain had to first get use to objects in flight. This may not have happened the first time you saw a ball in the air, but soon, your brain got used to a object's ascent and eventual descent on the earth's surface. The next, more difficult, step is to coordinate the body and hand to be in a position to be there when the ball lands. Anyone that has ever been hit with a ball knows that this is not always an easy task.

Experienced ball catchers know that the way to catch a ball is not to stop, calculate the trajectory of the ball, decide which muscle groups to fire to activate the body, then activate those muscles to put the body in the correct postion to be there when the ball lands. This would be far too time consuming to be effective. Instead, simply look at the ball and allow the brain to do the work for you. Your brain, a supercomputer, has no difficulty doing these calculations whatsoever.

Like I said however, your brain cannot automatically do this from birth. It first has to learn the rules that an object in flight, as well as the rules that govern our body's movement.

Theoretically, if the brain had complete knowledge of the "rules" of budo (ie. principles, techniques, body mechanics), one could simply "turn off" their active mind and allow the power of the brain to do its work. That is why it is impossible for Aikidoka to replicate their moves exactly, often they don't even know what they did! Interestingly enough, Ueshiba himself said, "Learn and forget." This means to "learn" the rules, but don't try to remember them when the situation arises. You must do the prep work, but when attacked, allow your brain to do the work.

This is also no easy task, it takes mental disipline. But, one can see that some of the power of the mind can be utilized in Aikido. If you spend time training your body, why not spend at least some time training your mind?

Is this the complete answer to what ki is? No. But the mind can do such amazing things, it would seem no wonder that a word like ki might be used to explain the unexplainable.

Peace,
Chad Sieger

Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is exactly the place to train-
M. Ueshiba
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-27-2002, 10:29 AM   #2
mike lee
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 646
Offline
Cool procreation

Quote:
Consider the quote, "Humans use only 10% of their brain." This often leads to the question, where on earth is the other 90% and how do we use it?
I know the answer! It's between their legs!!!

(Sorry, sorry, sorry -- just couldn't resist.)
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2002, 08:08 AM   #3
SeiserL
 
SeiserL's Avatar
Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
United_States
Offline
IMHO, mental stimulation, mental exercise, mental discipline, and meditation can help tap into more of the mind's potential. Instead of identifying with it, the mind becomes only a tool to be sharpened.

Until again,

Lynn

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!
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2002, 01:11 PM   #4
Kevin Leavitt
 
Kevin Leavitt's Avatar
Dojo: Team Combat USA
Location: Olympia, Washington
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,376
United_States
Offline
To capitalize on Lynn's post. Half our problems as humans is that we allow ourselves to be defined by our own limited experiences and sense of self.

Medidation from my experiences allows us to see that we are part of a bigger picture and experience....which broadens our perspective allowing us to us more of our brain so to speak.

  Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2002, 04:34 PM   #5
Alfonso
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 346
Offline
Quote:
Consider the quote, "Humans use only 10% of their brain." This often leads to the question, where on earth is the other 90% and how do we use it?
Sorry, couldn't resist:

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/tenper.html
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2002, 04:42 PM   #6
Pretoriano
 
Pretoriano's Avatar
Dojo: Aikido Santa Fe
Location: Aragua Venezuela
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 130
Venezuela
Offline
So we are discussing about being smarter produces a better Aikidoka, I agree.

PD: to Alfonso Thanks for the Link!

Pretoriano
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2002, 05:17 PM   #7
Bruce Baker
Dojo: LBI Aikikai/LBI ,NJ
Location: Barnegaat, NJ
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 893
Offline
This is the process of thinking without thinking.

Consider how much memory you use in your computer for any given funtion? 10 percent? Maybe as much as 20 percent? What happens when you get a program that takes up all the memory? Either Freeze, or Crash ... right?

It is said that every moment of your life is stored in your brain, but not all of it is accessable, or properly stored. What about the body functions that keep your body alive, how memory do you need for that?

This 10 percent thing is just a sales come on to maximum memory in use any one time.

As far a the usefullness in training, try to remember the best of what works, let the brain adjust with as little prodding, hints, and pain as possible.

I sure don't want the fear factor of pain from a broken nose, or other inductions from pain from missed catches affecting my ablility to catch a ball, divert a punch, or keep pain to minimum.

Let your practice be remembered as the best of what you do, so your natural talent to improve become cognizant with pleasure, not pain.

I sure there is room for storing some good training in the old noggin before it gets filled up, and you have to erase something to make room for more.

Now that is a feature I would like to improve, the erase feature. Any ideas?
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-28-2002, 07:27 PM   #8
SeiserL
 
SeiserL's Avatar
Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
United_States
Offline
Quote:
Bruce Baker wrote:
Now that is a feature I would like to improve, the erase feature. Any ideas?
Actually, if you store your information visually, you can unlearn by reprocessng the information by stepping out of the picture (spectator position), make the color movie and small black and white print, push it out some distance from you, slide it down your time line into the past. Replace it with a full color movie right in front of you and step into it (participator position)of a more effective and efficient response.

Until again,

Lynn

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!
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2002, 01:57 AM   #9
opherdonchin
Dojo: Baltimore Aikido
Location: Baltimore
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 586
Offline
Lynn,

That's a nice idea. Where did it come from?

Yours in Aiki
Opher
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2002, 07:38 AM   #10
Bruce Baker
Dojo: LBI Aikikai/LBI ,NJ
Location: Barnegaat, NJ
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 893
Offline
Actually, usless information is still there, but in a foggy way it is always just out of reach. Kind of like ... I see the blurred image, I kind of know what it is, but no details are readable or accessable.

Half an erasure?

Oh well ... focus on what is important for the recent to near past. Eventually important stuff is ingrained, and unimportant fades away.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2002, 08:02 AM   #11
SeiserL
 
SeiserL's Avatar
Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
United_States
Offline
Quote:
Bruce Baker wrote:
focus on what is important for the recent to near past. Eventually important stuff is ingrained, and unimportant fades away.
Agreed. One way to help train the mind and tap into its power is to "focus" and "fade" consciously on purpose.

BTW, the patterns come from Neurolinguistic Programming. I also do sport psychology.

Until again,

Lynn

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!
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2002, 10:06 AM   #12
mike lee
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 646
Offline
does it even have a brain?

Facinating. In one instant Alfonso completely debunked the "using only 10% of the brain" myth with a slew of facts, but this thread just keeps going on and on like nothing ever happened. What accounts for that? (Maybe Einstein really was right.)
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2002, 10:26 AM   #13
Erik
Location: Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,200
Offline
Quote:
Mike Lee (mike lee) wrote:
Facinating. In one instant Alfonso completely debunked the "using only 10% of the brain" myth with a slew of facts, but this thread just keeps going on and on like nothing ever happened. What accounts for that? (Maybe Einstein really was right.)
Since when have facts ever gotten in the way of belief?
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2002, 11:05 AM   #14
chadsieger
Dojo: Minh Sensei
Location: Allentown, PA
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 107
Offline
I believe that the "10% of our brains" expression is simply just that, an expression. I only used it to demonstrate that the brain can do incredible things, ie. instaneously calculate the trajectory of a ball in flight.

Try to do it on paper. Chances are, the ball will hit you before your pen hits the pad.

You can utilize this brain power not only to catch balls, but eventually it can be used in budo. Then you will see some progress to your art!

Sieger

Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is exactly the place to train-
M. Ueshiba
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2002, 11:47 AM   #15
Alfonso
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 346
Offline
Smile

Hey , I agree with most of what's been discussed by Lynn, Bruce, Chad and others that support mind development. I think the subject is fascinating and doens't need the adornment of urban myths.

I was made aware of this particular one while researching memetics and there's a whole 'nother game going on there.

In any case to me at least, the dojo is a place where I've had the chance to experience and observe the process of forming neural connections. One of the things I enjoy about Aikido lessons outside the martial aspect is this, the mind-body link.
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2002, 08:10 AM   #16
SeiserL
 
SeiserL's Avatar
Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
United_States
Offline
[quote="Alfonso Adriasola (AlfonsoI was made aware of this particular one while researching memetics and there's a whole 'nother game going on there.[/QUOTE]Ah yes, the contagious "thought virus". There are more then a few of them floating around the Dojo. My compliments for being that aware.

Until again,

Lynn

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!
  Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2002, 12:53 PM   #17
Alfonso
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 346
Offline
Quote:
There are more then a few of them floating around the Dojo
and even more floating on the forums. Which has probably more to do with why I even open my cybernetic mouth at all.

and this is also why I wish there were more intervention by senior aikidoka.

Lynn, for me at least you nailed it in the self-doubt thread, about allowing others' ideas to take center.
  Reply With Quote

Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Omoto-kyo Theology senshincenter Spiritual 80 06-10-2022 08:32 AM
What is Weight Transfer(Taijuuidou)?? Upyu Training 87 10-17-2008 10:13 AM
Training the Body for Martial Movement Upyu Training 25 01-03-2007 11:24 AM
Discussion of Summer Camp 2006 on AJ Mike Sigman General 20 11-24-2006 08:04 PM
Spiritual power Jonathan General 46 01-31-2002 02:39 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:14 PM.



vBulletin Copyright © 2000-2024 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited
----------
Copyright 1997-2024 AikiWeb and its Authors, All Rights Reserved.
----------
For questions and comments about this website:
Send E-mail
plainlaid-picaresque outchasing-protistan explicantia-altarage seaford-stellionate