Earth and Heaven throw...

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"All the principles of heaven and earth are living inside you. Life itself is the truth, and this will never change. Everything in heaven and earth breathes. Breath is the thread that ties creation together. When the myriad variations in the universal breath can be sensed, the individual techniques of the Art of Peace are born"

"If you perceive the true form of heaven and earth, you will be enlightened to your own true form. If you are enlightened about a certain principle, you can put it into practice. After each practical application, reflect on your efforts. Progress continually like this"

(The Art of Peace a collection of quotes by Morihei Ueshiba translated by John Stevens)

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Ryote dori tenchi nage (heaven and earth throw).

When static, both are facing each other, if you pull or push, it’s not going to work….Rather to go against the force, let attacker comes and blend with your partner...By making one step forward with your front foot and split the energy up and down, while extending your hand, the strength is now dissipated....
The lower arm faces "Earth" and brings Uke into unbalance and the upper hand facing "Heaven", just cut through Uke's chin!

Subsequently, follows, a beautiful Ukemi!

 

Win against yourself...

"Most sophisticated level of victory is to win against your opponent without fighting. You have to master the type of victory your are looking for in Aikido

•  WIN AGAINST YOURSELF
•  WIN AGAINST YOUR OWN FLAWS AND WEAKNESS

This is your first task in Aikido..."  (Shimamoto Shihan)

 I like these translation: "The way of unifying with life energy" or "The art of Peace"

Keep an eye on the string that links you with your partner!




IKKYO technique, representation of a magnetic field between Tori and Uke (Ura, negative entrance and Omote, positive entrance). Drawing from Mistsugi Saotome.

 


"Breaking waves" created by IKKYO. Drawing from Mistsugi Saotome.

 When I started Aikido about 10 years ago, I got a book entitled “Aikido and the harmony of Nature” from Mitsugi Saotome. To be honest, it is my only ONE book about Aikido…  Every time, I read this beautiful book, I am always amazed about how I interpret constantly and differently the meaning of the author sayings.

According to this book, IKKYO is explained as the following steps (don’t be too hard on me, this is only a minuscule interpretation from my reading and I might misinterpret few ideas…):

·         When we encounter our partner, a meeting point is created, so called DE-AI. At that point of time, we should be conscious of our own center and coordinate it instantaneously with your partner.

·         When the attack starts, movement can be initiated. You partner should lose his balance before his body takes roots

·         Lower your partner’s elbows and wrapped his movements into the space you create. At this stage you can either make a “circular” movement, ura or initiate omote.

[…]

Control your center and your partner’s center, while keeping an eye on the TENSION OF THE STRING that links you together. If the movement is too fast, this string will break or too weak, the string will become slack… The importance is to strike for the right balance, right?

Put in motion your breathing…

Kokyu-ho (breathing excercice) and kokyu-nage (breath while throwing) have in common to be techniques focused on breathing (a beautiful essence of Aikido philosophy or any kind of martial arts). The act of breathing combines with the notion of timing while moving is particularly interesting to develop in your pratice. For example, at the end of Kokyu-nage, the act of throwing by Tori and the one being throwed as Uke , need to exhale calmly and always in motion….

I particularly favorite the kokyu-ho in suwari-waza, the connection between Tori and Uke requires good awareness to build good relationship…

Principle of explosive power...
From a very interesting blog: http://www.aikidosangenkai.org/blog/archive/2012-12-30/yukiyoshi-sagawa-on-bujutsu-and-ki-ryoku


"In order to generate Kokyu you must stand as if you are making your big toe sink into the surface of the ground".  -Gozo Shioda

Spiral stairs...Ushiro ryote dori ikkyo

Ushiro ryote dori (grabs both wrists from behind Tori) ikkyo: Tori steps to the side and Uke grabs both wrists from Tori's back. A very important step, a step to the side first for Tori while bringing Uke's arm and spins under Uke (this is very difficult to put words on this part, watching videos give you better idea...). To apply ikkyo (^^), Tori turns and brings uke's arm vertically (I often have the tendancy to bring down the arm but if you lower Uke's arm, Uke goes directly up...)

Then... nikkyo, sankyo... follow!

This technique (ura or omote) required dynamic steps and it is really nice to do in order to relax arms!

Let yourself FALL!...(ukemi)

Ukemi (falling) , in the variety of all Aikido techniques, ukemi always remains my favourite part...Sounds strange, but just love falling, again and again!!!
Instead of making me tired, this is where and when I get ALL my energy! Let yourself go and breathe deeply... Letting yourself fall without any fear, you will feel very free!


Love this drawing! http://godofwar.deviantart.com/art/Gyaku-Kote-Gaeshi-139965213

Unforgettable memories....

While browsing my folder, I found some old pictures of my trip to Japan (2009, long time ago;)). Initially, I was not supposed to visit Osaka but somehow, I took a spontaneous decision on my way, stopped in Osaka and knocked at the door of the Shosenji Dojo (I was really intimidated!) where Shimamato Shihan and his family live. Well, I practised for one week and the last day...Doshu gave a seminar in Osaka and I got the chance to attend it. I felt a very lucky girl that day ;)), it was a very impressive seminar, almost 500 people gathered together....Unforgettable memories! Now...guess where I am?