Ki Extension – The Basis of Aikido Techniques

Star Wars and Aikido Techniques: The Force and Ki

What is ki and what does ki extension mean? Being a Star Wars fan, I will relate some of the concepts to you in this context.  In Episode Four, “A New Hope”, Obi-Wan Kenobi spoke to Luke Skywalker of the Force as an energy field, which “flows through all of us” and was “the source of the Jedi’s power”.  While I do not who claim to be a Jedi Knight capable deflecting blasters with ki extension, I do believe that there is energy within each of us capable of generating more power than we can muster with conscious physical effort.  I provided an example in the previous article of a small lady who was able to move a very heavy object under which her son was pinned to free him.  If asked to do this, most of us would agree that this would be beyond her normal physical capability. Ki training is an attempt to harness the power that appears to be the “tip of the iceberg” of what is available to us.  Practitioners of Aikido believe that ki flows comes from our center, which is also called the One Point or hara.  The One Point is the focus because is the center of our mass and is the key to our balance.  “Extend Ki” is one of the Four Basic Principles of Aikido and signifies the projection of this power.  In Aikido we focus on the blending or harmonization of our ki with our opponent’s force or intent rather than to clash or meet it “head on”.

Aikido Master Koichi Tohei, Sensei Demonstrating Ki Extension – Demonstrating the Aikido Technique of Unbendable Arm, Unliftable body.

Ki Extension and the Unbendable Arm.  One of the ways Aikido illustrates the power of ki extension is by developing and testing the unbendable arm.  Imagine that you are standing in a well-balanced posture with one of your arms extend toward the wall that you are facing in a relaxed manner.  Now imagine that your center is the reservoir for a vast ocean of water and that this water can be “directed” by your mind to flow up through your head and out your extended arm as if to put out an imaginary fire against the wall.  You will find that it will be more difficult to bend your arm in this situation than if you were trying to hold it straight with conscious strength.  It is analogous to a fire hose which is supple and bendable when not full of water (in fact it is made ready to use by the firefighters by folding the hose upon itself).  However, once the hose is “charged” with water from a hydrant, it becomes so stiff that it will not distort even if one drives a car over it.

Aikido Techiques: Ki extension is the source of power for Aikido techniques

Why is Ki Extension Important? Ki extension and the power it generates is important because overcoming your adversary is easy if you are bigger, and stronger than your opponent but much more challenging if you are on the other end of that equation.   Women may be considered to be at a disadvantage when confronted by a male of the same approximate height and weight because the male normally will have greater upper body strength.  Utilizing the power of ki extension along with proper balance and body movement can help to overcome this apparent advantage.  This is why women tend to internalize these principles earlier than men.  Their technique is more precise because women do not rely on this strength the way that men do.  The principle is the same when a smaller man practices with a larger, stronger man.

Conclusion – Ki flows through all of us.  Aikido training can help us to develop and begin to harness the power extension so that we rely less on physical strength to overcome the power of a given attack.

Dan Kudo Sensei trains and teaches in Santa Ana, California, located in Orange County, and holds the rank of Yondan (fourth degree black belt).  Click here to read another article about Aikido techniques and ki energy.