Aikido Techniques: The Four Basic Principles of Aikido
Aikido Techniques: Shiho Nage
Smooth, flowing technique appear effortless. O-Sensei and his student, Koichi Tohei, demonstrate amazing power as execute techniques without a substantial expenditure of strength. Mastery of movement and power requires that we always go back to the fundaments. Aikido techniques, whether basic or advanced, always rely on the application of the four basic principles:
- Keep One-Point
- Relax Completely
- Extend Ki
- Weight Underside
One-Point or Center: The Core of Aikido Techniques
Keep One Point – This can be thought of in the same way as remaining centered or in balance. If we are in balance, the power generated by our bodies is maximized. Aikido practitioners focus on the one-point or hara as the source of power, rather than relying on the arms and upper body. If we keep one-point, no energy is wasted.
Master Koichi Tohei demonstrating Aikido techniques in a relaxed, efforltess manner applying all four basic principles of Aikido.
Relax Completely – Excess tension wastes energy. Judo champion, Rhadi Ferguson, describes is this phenomenon with the observation that we have a finite amount of “energy dollars” in our bank, which we must use as wisely as if it were our life savings. If energy dollars are wasted due to excess tension, there will be fewer of them available to apply when it really counts. In addition, excessive tension gives away our intent, by telegraphing your movements prematurely. Contraty to popular opinion power to execute Aikido techniques comes from the body, not the arms. Relaxation permits smooth,complete body movements optimizing the often subtle movements required to gain mechanical advantage over you opponent.
Extend Ki – Aikido practitioners focus on the extension of energy and refer to it as ki. Those of us that remember Star Wars Episode IV will recall that Obi Wan Kenobi spoke of the Force, which is an energy field that flows through all of us. The concept of ki can be thought of in this manner. We have all hear of stories where a mother lifts a heavy object to free her child – an object much too heavy for her to lift under “normal circumstances”. In Aikido we believe that we all have access to such power all the time and our training focuses on our gaining access to this power. A relaxed body generating power from the one-point permits the execution of techniques with power that goes well beyond that which we are able to conciously able to generate.
Weight underside – If our body is relaxed but powerful, we lack excess tension. This permits weight to settle on the “underside” of the limbs. We can imagine that this “heaviness” is a byproduct of our level of relaxation.
Aikido Techniques: The Mind and Body are One
Master Koichi Tohei, founder of the Shin Shin Toitsu School of Aikido, teaches that each of these principles is critical to the mind and body functioning as one unit. In fact he says “If you have one, you have all of them. If you lack one, you have none of them”. Thus a relaxed body is also powerful permitting fluid movement and the maximum extension of ki. This is the reason why O-Sensei was able to smoothly execute techinques even into his eighties.
The four basic principles of Aikido are fundamental, yet essential elements of this art. Without them, its all muscle which has clear limitations. With them, the possibilities are limitless.
