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Aikido Notes
from Hiroshi Tada Shihan
Aikido as a discipline is a continuous learning process. Besides the
teaching of technique and proper ukemi, it is also about
understanding the correlation of what goes on not only with the
opponent but also the aikidoka’s surroundings. Knowledge and
understanding of these serve to make the technique not only
effective, but also purposeful.
Ninth dan Aikido Sensei Hiroshi Tada of Japan, started off as a
member of the karate club at Waseda University. In the year 1948, he
began training at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo and became an instructor at
the Aikikai in 1954. He was promoted to 6th dan in 1957. Tada was
sent to Rome, Italy in 1964 and subsequently established a dojo in
1966. He was promoted to 8th dan in 1969 and was able to return to
Japan 1973. Tada also developed a system of breathing and meditative
exercises to supplement aikido training called Ki no Renma
(Cultivation of Ki).
Below are excerpts of his interview during one Aikido Conference
referring to three vital things aikidokas should keep in mind and
make part of their training:
Pointers from Hiroshi Tada Shihan (9th dan)
1. BUDO
An Aikidoka should be able to consistently CUT DOWN an opponent in
the first blow. This it the true BUDO aspect of AIKIDO. It is
precisely because we are confident that we will always able to do
this. This CONFIDENCE gives us two things, our STRENGTH and the
ability to CHOOSE a less deadly outcome, both of which we should
have as a prerequisite to our keiko practice.
2. SPHERE
When you look at your opponent, he becomes the center of your
Aikido, causing you to stop. When you practice, observe where your
eyes tend to look. You should be the center of your movement, so
when you move, you should see all around you. Question is how far
can you see around you? half a meter? 1 meter? 3 meters? 5 meters?
As far as your eyes can see, that is the SPHERE of your control.
Once someone enters the sphere of your control, he is drawn to you
as the center of that sphere. When O-sensei would hold a session,
one would notice that it was hard to see where he was looking, as if
his eyesight was looking outside of the dojo.
3. COUNTING FINGERS
A sword blade is useless if it is not moving. Once a blade starts
moving, it should never stop moving or slow down too much. If an
opponent can count the fingers on your hand (1,2,3,4,5) then it
means you're moving too slow. In the same way, once your tegatana
starts moving, you should move in such a way that your opponent will
never be able to count your fingers. |
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