Aikido

Aikido, the ‘way of harmony with the spirit’, is a modern ‘budo’ or martial way with its roots in the physical and spiritual traditions of Japan. In this way it is both a system of self-defence and a path to cultivate a humane and tempered spirit. Aikido seeks to control and redirect the force of aggressive action using circular movement to apply joint-locks and projections to subdue the attack.

The basis of learning is partner practice. Each take the role of defender and attacker in turn, rehearsing the skills and technique of aikido. In this partnership of learning, we train to keep ourselves safe by concerning ourselves with the safety of all who practise with us. The aim is to coordinate body and mind, to forge and harmonise the spirit, so that we can ‘defend’ ourselves in all the many arenas of our lives.

Hikarikan follows the style of aikido developed by Kenji Tomiki, a personal student of both Morihei Ueshiba and Jigoro Kano, the founders of aikido and judo respectively. Kenji Tomiki, held the rank of 8th dan in both aikido and judo and perfected a style that used the judo methodology of sequenced kata and randori (unstructured free practice) to teach aikido.

Tomiki’s style is known variously as Tomiki or Shodokan Aikido and is the only major school of aikido to include randori shiai, or free play competition, in its practice. Tomiki believed that it was only through the practice of randori that the effectiveness of technique could truly be tested.

What is Tomiki Aikido?

Tomiki Aikido has been defined as a blend of physical education, sport and self-defence.

Aikido as Physical Education

Kenji Tomiki, in his book Discussions on Budo recognised two important perspectives for the pursuit of aikido as modern physical education:

'Firstly, it is the means by which one maintains good health' through physical activity which involves the whole body, and increases physical strength.'

'Secondly, a spiritual dimension is achievable as a result of physical activity. In other words, through diligence in exercise and sports, free will is disciplined, self-assertiveness is encouraged, importance is attached to respect, and a temperate, conciliatory nature is forged.'

Aikido as Sport

Professor Tomiki suggested that modern international ideals of sportsmanship and humane behaviour, promoted through the discipline of sport, equate to the traditional Japanese practice of gyo, or spiritual exercise. Gyo is physical activity, not introspective meditation and is the means to 'train the heart and discipline the spirit'. Without a context in which to cultivate the heart it is like 'learning to swim on tatami mats'.

Tomiki Shihan argued that the samurai had created budo (martial arts) as a spiritual exercise, to help them come to terms with the constant possibility of death in combat. The exercises in the dojo were given ever present meaning by the dangers faced outside its walls in armed encounters and war. Tomiki observed that it was both unrealistic and undesirable in an open society to practice in this classical budo tradition of 'training to walk with death', yet there must still be a way in which we can test our courage, determination and skill. If techniques are only ever learnt formally in agreed patterns with cooperative partners, then there is every likelihood that over the years they will become misinterpreted, altered, and devoid of effectiveness.

He believed that the sports arena could provide an effective substitute for the arena of war, and be acceptable to a peaceful civil society. The benefits accrued by the samurai in training for war must now be obtained by training for competition.

Technical skills are encouraged by the wish to go higher, faster and be stronger, and are tested in a situation of stressful unpredictability. The use of shiai, or contest, is therefore the most effective way to keep skills alive and effective. Even if they are constrained by rules, they have true meaning in that they fit their purpose.

Spiritual training is reinterpreted as the cultivation of sportsmanship. It is the test of character and determination to win, but not at all costs. You must play to win, but fairly, with humanity, dignity and courteous concern for your opponent. Put simply, it is the code of the samurai recast in the ideals of Olympian sportsmanship. Therefore, Tomiki said, 'the spiritual training, or seishin, of sport is not about winning, but competing courageously'. These are the qualities of Tomiki Aikido, which through international competition seeks in a modest way to establish friendships and promote cultural exchange across the boundaries of nation states.

Of course not every Tomiki Aikido practitioner competes in a full blown competition, but as with judo, the training is orientated towards developing the skills needed for shiai through randori (unstructured free practice) within the dojo. Through these friendly controlled bouts in the dojo, the practitioner learns to take freedom in action to internalise and integrate his or her technique.

Aikido as Self Defence

While it is difficult to eradicate violence from our streets there will remain a legitimate reason for acquiring the skills of self-defence. Tomiki Aikido provides for this training through two extended sequences of grouped techniques, or kata in addition to its basic kata of randori, the kihon junanahon. These are known as the Goshin No Kata, or kata of self-defence (alternatively the Koryu Dai San No Kata), which involves defences against strikes and attacks with weapons, and the Goshin ho, which includes defences against kicks.

Training for sports competition, through randori (free or unstructured practice), provides the opportunity to acquire the skills of timing, tactical thinking and commitment to technique that build confidence in dealing with real aggression.

The concept of self-defence however, is much more broadly drawn than a simple concern for self-protection. Kenji Tomiki saw self-defence as also being concerned with more general aspects of safety, such as the maintenance of our own health and well-being through the physical education aikido provides.

Self-defence should also include a concern for others and a preparation for human crises and natural disasters. Aikido helps us to acquire the mental health and human resilience required to face the ordinary and extraordinary challenges of life.