[I:http://www.uniquearticlewizard.com/extras/pics/bowzerimage14.jpg] Morihei Uyeshiba, O Sensei of Aikido fame, is the person who experienced enlightenment. It is he who organized and arranged his martial art, thus, the aikido Ueshiba created is the true Aikido. Well, sort of.
This question, what is the Real Aikido, is the question that concerns practitioners of Japanese Aikido, budo aikido, and all the various branches. There are so many styles, you see, and they can’t all be the one and only truth, right? And this question, of there being many interpretations and schools, does itself question the validity of the Aikido of all styles, for if the founder was right, then how could there be deviation?
The concern can be resolved if one considers the truth of the universe. Morihei Uyeshiba, you see, perceived the truth of the universe from his particular viewpoint, and he did an incredible job of representing that truth with his art. But if one considers the truth of the universe as a single datum one can approach the art from an individually enlightened viewpoint, and not just from one man’s viewpoint of enlightenment.
Just so you know, I mean no disrespect to the founder of Aikido, indeed, I have the highest respect, and I believe he would want me to question, to consider, and not just robot the techniques as the end all. He was not one to robot aikido, after all, he was an innovator and creator of genius magnitude. I think he would want his real students to emulate him on that level, as well as the level of endless and pure practice.
That all said, the truth of the universe, as imaged by the yin yang symbol, and stated in Neutronic text, is: for something to be true the opposite must also be true. We can take this statement and dissect it forever philosophically. The art being one of action, and action ultimately revealing the truth of the universe, we must consider this truth as it applies to techniques, from the aikido basics up.
When an attacker attacks, the defender must perceive the attack. To perceive the attack not as just an incoming line, though that is necessary, but as a completed technique in his own mind. Thus, the defender must see the entire picture of the attack, must have the entire sequence of pictures in his mind.
Once the mental picture is complete, and at the same time as execution, the defender must mirror the move. Right to left or right to right, the mirror of action will fit the attack much the same as a tailored glove will fit a hand, and the defensive attack will envelope the actuality of the attack in the real universe. If this is accomplished, then you are practicing the Morihei Uyeshiba Aikido as he saw it in his moment of enlightenment.
There is perfection in this type of visualizationprocedure, you see. Perfection of motion, and of mind, and of art. The good news is that this procure can be applied to the schools of Saito Aikido, Aikido Aikikai, or any other interpretation of the founder’s vision, the founder’s enightenment was that close to perfection.
The best DVD for exploring the concept presented in this article is Matrix Aikido, which is available at Monster Martial Arts. 2
