Aiki The Art of Body Power Kyusho Aiki Jutsu Int l -- vol. 3-2012 Aiki Principles??? Sensei Okamoto Roppokai 1. Conditional Reflex 2. Breath Power 3. Circular Motion KYUSHO Aiki Jutsu is a powerful martial art in which the old masters teachings and secrets will face the modern world threatening situations. Re-discovered old lessons are hidden in the katas which were greated by old masters. Aiki teaches to a practitioner, usage and knowledge of the own body and combines the mind and the intent management, and seamlessy integrate them to control the attacker's strength and body. Kyusho Aiki Jutsu is a self-defense method, where the most important areas are Tuité (art of grabbing hand), KYUSHO (art of striking hand) and the AIKI (the art of body power). The hallmark of the system is using the benefits of the attacker s body weaknesses and the reactions and your own body's natural use. This article is third part of the series of articles, the first part of it, was in the issue 2/2012, and covered the TUITÉ principles. The second part of the magazine 3/2012 dealt with using of the nerve points and application of the principles of KYUSHO. This article discusses about the concept of AIKI and related principles. Both previously written artickles are also reflected in this one, as Kyusho Aiki Jutsu, and in other traditional arts where, these three areas are blended in to be one natural complete package. Student of AIKI, tries to avoid conflict and to act in self-defense situation - as well as in other areas of life - without physical tensions or mental stress, muscle strength or fears. When using aiki in the self-defense situation, the attacker loses its strength and balance at very first contact. See the statement from Sumitomo Arima on next page.
His skills were such that, as soon as he was touched by his opponent, his opponent seemed to lose all control over his balance and strength, and would be thrown with ease. How he accomplished this was hard to explain, even if one saw it with one s own eyes. Sumitomo Arima What the aiki is? Aiki is a technique? Aiki is described several different ways in different sources, some states it as a mystical force that needs to do years of meditation at sacred place to being able to learn it. We dare to say that this is not the case, but we can see aiki from a very practical point of view. We can say that aiki is like fishing, chopping the firewoods, heating sauna at lakeside or even the walking in the nature trails. AIKI is - or at least can be - a part of all our activities or while doing nothing. AIKI is not an isolated mystical element or energy, and the using it in the self defense situation, does not require any external energy. AIKI is not a matter of faith, but it is based on the human body's own mechanisms and reactions. For the student of aiki is a comprehensive use of the whole body and the natural power of the body in everything we do. Self-defense situation AIKI is using your own body power as well as the power of neutralizing an opponents power and/or turning it against him. Principles of Aiki will allow to neutralize attackers force and the control of an attacker using their own natural reactions. Causing the aiki reactions to the opponent is only possible thru the right kind of training and education. Training the aiki, requires patience and an open mind mind has to be free of fears. Fears and pressure of perform will create physical tensions and the need to force the opponent. Also the misconception that in the real battle one must look strong and use a lot of physical strength, is an real obstacle to learning the true aiki. In real aiki techiques the opponent is not forced, pulled or pushed. Causing the reaction is the main key to being able to control the opponent. The right kind of training teaches the use of relaxation and to use strength to where it is needed. Aiki is a natural, free, and real skill. AIKI concepts is presented in a variety ways and has been opened by using different principles. This article deals aiki with consepts of Okamoto Sensei s (Daitoryu Roppokai) three main principles. These principles are: (1) Conditional reflex, (2) Breath power and (3) circular motion. 2 Kyusho Aiki Jutsu Int l Publication
Learn to understand the principles and combine them in free motion. Kyusho Aiki Jutsu Int l 1) Conditioned Reflex At the first, it should be noted that the official definition of conditioned reflex with Pavlov's dogs, will give a slightly distorted picture of what we are meaning of conditioned reflexes in this context. We wanted to still use the term, at it is, at least in Englishspeaking sources, chosen to represent the Okamoto Sensei's first principle. AIKI - such as Kyusho - the attacker's force and the body is affected by causing reactions to his body, which he can not prevent of happening when they appear as a surprise. This means the body's natural protective mechanisms and reactions are used to stop of the attack. By provoking the reaction, attacker can be guide away, throw or control to stop the situation. The right kind of usage of your own body, one can take away the attacker's attacking power and at the same time to break his balance, then situation becomes as a struggle of balance for the attacker. This is the point where attacker can be controlled within very small amount of force. Strong face impressions or willing to look strong prevents from learning true Aiki. Why does this work then? Explanations and principles of the various reactions to cause the attacker is presented in previous articles (using the points, the two-way action, combining points). In addition, it should be noted that the use of possible involuntary reflexes causing reactions to attacker, he can not prevent from happening - unless they know in advance, exactly what is going to happen. In aiki therefore we apply one of the main principle of Tuité - cause confusion. The using opponent's body reactions allows also to direct his mind and the control of balance " harmonizie his energies". Causing right type of reaction to the opponent requires the right kind of body movement (body power / breathing power), as well as natural and free movements of using the circular motion. 3 Kyusho Aiki Jutsu Int l Publication
2) Breath Power "If you master aiki, you will be able to apply the techniques using very minimal force. A calm spirit and settlet breathing are necessary. At the same time the body must be supple." - Seigo Okamoto Breathing is the body's "life support system", which allows the human body to function. Breathing is connected to the blood circulation and liquid circulation systems, as well as muscle energy intake and at the same time in their natural functions. This is easy to test - try to hold your breath while jogging or in your kata-training while making the natural movement without losing naturality of move (do not select too long drills). Breathing is the key for body's normal function and allows the body to use normal muscle activity without unnecessary tensions. Breathing allows for the right kind of relaxation or freedom, which, again, is the key for body's natural use. Relaxed and free body combined with the natural circular movements, as well as the correct distance and timing for optimal utilization of the power of the body. 3) Circular motion Circular motion is a natural human movement. Circular motion is a key part of the AIKI. Full circular motion allows to control the attackers power and movement in the way that collision is avoided. Circular motion is capable to control and direct the attacker without losing contact with him at anytime. Round and natural body motion allows the use of body force to control the power of the opponent, as well as to enhance your own techniques, because the circular motion of your body is the key to the transmission of full body power from your own body while going around, avoiding the opponent's power lines. The circular motion is also a key for the right directions and angles to access and use the targets in the body to produce the desired reactions and control of the opponent upon it. Bear in the mind, this refers also to previously discussed topics of Tuité and Kyusho. Careful study, constant training will lead to the Temple of Shaolin. Breathing is also "the key to controlling your own mind", the key to control your own fears and the reactions from fears. By maintaining natural breathing at all times to calm down your mind and, above all, to reduce the impact of the fear reactions to your body's functions. Breathing allows for sufficient energy supply for the mind (in this context, the mind may be attached to same packed than the brain and central nervous system). The mind controls all the functions of the body, so the peace of mind achieved has a direct effect on the bodys relaxation and its natural functions. 4 Kyusho Aiki Jutsu Int l Publication
Conclusion Can aiki then be taught? Many of the old masters have said that aiki can not be taught to another person. This is entirely true, because making the real aiki-techniques requires from trainee good knowledge of your own body the individual management in a way that the other person can not teach this to another. A good teacher can, however, open up the the principles for a student for the understanding, and then with the correct exercises to guide students in the right direction. For the true skill of true aiki, there is no shortcuts - it can take years to learn, and the need for training in addition to plenty of thinking. Kyusho Aiki Jutsu students will learn first fully mechanical and physical exercises through the power lines, the correct input directions and angles as well as good body control. techniques, will increase their effect on the opponent. In addition, exercises focus on you self, internal and external development then the techniques will change again more and more natural direction. Observing, practice and researching the teachings of Kyusho Aiki Jutsu one hast to remember that these was not originally developed for the competition, but for situations where conditions has been a struggle of life or death. For this reason, all trainining must be under the authorized and certiied instructor. Thru the training of Tuite and Kyusho techniques, one gains a basic understanding of the human body's physiology. This knowledge is utilized in full in the aiki techniques. These principles mentioned in these three articles, we combine in the training of Kyusho Aiki Jutsu to become as a natural activity of a student. This is a precondition for that all actions during the self-defense situation are efficient and intuitive - however taking into consideration the nature of the threat. To apply the principles of Kyusho Aiki Jutsu and the teachings of the old masters, with careful research and practice anyone can get extra power for techniques of other styles and arts. We claim this to be true, because the correct use of body mechanics and using real targets for the 5 Kyusho Aiki Jutsu Int l Publication
There are two different types of technqiues life giving and life ending. Kyusho Aiki Jutsu Int l Publication Toni Kauhanen, Hämeenlinna, Finland Photos in this article are by Jussi Sinisalo & Marko Simonen. I am responsible all mistakes in the translation. About the Author Toni Kauhanen is 43 years old martial arts instructor. He lives at Hämeenlinna, Finland. Toni started to train martial arts back in 1982 and gave his first lessons 1989. Pressure Point study started at 1993 under George A. Dillman. During his path he has been promoted to: 2nd degree black belt in the Shotokan karate. The board of grandmasters, Prof. Wally Jay, George A. Dillman, Leon Fong and all ready passed away Prof. Remy Presas granted to Toni 4th degree black belt in the Art of Ryukyu- Kempo. In the Summer Camp (MP 7) 2005 grandmaster Sir Jack Hogan, 9.dan promoted him after years and years of training, teaching and because his constant work to spread the art around the world, first grandmaster level, 7th degree black belt in the Art of Ryukyu- Kempo. Because he are willing to constantly learn more, he has participated several seminars in USA and in Sweden to learn directly from the other masters. He has demonstrated his method of Kyusho Aiki Jutsu, several times in various locations in Finland, USA and the latest in Disentis, Switzerland in Judo-club 40 years anniversary and in "Idrætsnatten" at Esbjerg, Denmark. Also he has demonstrated the founding's in front of seminar attenders and public audience, and has gotten a lof of feedback of his, almost, unbeliavable skills. Kauhanen has taught his method of self-defense in Finland over 70 cities and in several seminars at Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, USA and France. He has also wroted two finnish books on pressure points, also he has produced several educative DVD's which are mainly filmed in live seminars. "There is nothing mystical" says Toni, "Many times I have been asked to show something abnormal or even paranormal things - I can not do that, all what I do is natural and easy, of course it takes years to train and learn to do this kind of things, but my firm believe is that anyone can learn it." Teacher like he is, has gotten hundreds of students who follow him around the Finland and Europe to attend in his seminars to learn more from him. But, Toni considers himself as student which will constantly seek better and smoother techniques. Currently Research and further development continues with three gentlemans Kai Arola, Janne Tähtinen and Santeri Aura. We have a board of masters to promote all black belts in our art. Distribution and Copyrights Distribution of this PDF-file is permitted. You can print copy for your own archives. Reprint, copying or changing the document and its information is strictly forhibited without written permission from Kyusho Aiki Jutsu Int l. All pictures are permitted to go only within this article. Any comments and questions about the article are welcome.