I earlier mentioned that I was reading Gozo Shioda Sensei’s book, “Aikido – My Spiritual Journey,” as preparation for writing a review of the book. My actual review of the book will happen some time soon. However, in my opinion the book is worth purchasing for three and a half page a little over half way through the book.
I was reading the sections in Chapter 3 titled “Kokyu Power” when I just about fell off my chair! The section that so caught my attention is innocently enough titled, “Principles of Kokyu Power.”
He writes how you must achieve a “state of complete nothingness”…and you’ll be able to sense your opponent’s movements “in your skin.” And in this state you will also find your own rhythm that is, of course, tied to your breathing. [I can hear my students saying, “Oh, he on that breathing thing again!”]
Then he zeros in: “When you have brought these things together [breathing and rhythm] perfectly, true kokyu power will result.” Then it gets even better.
“Kokyu power is also the ability to lead the opponent into a state in which he [or she] is willing to cooperate with you.”
[He then has a sentence here I don’t agree with but will write more about that later in my formal review.]
Finally, in this section, he adds:
“When kokyu power is displayed, it bears no connection whatsoever to prearranged forms. In the old days when Ueshiba Sensei taught, he didn’t give us detailed instruction. No matter what we did, he would say: ‘Ah. That’s fine. That’s fine.’ However, this just meant that we shouldn’t become overly concerned with forms.”
In these few sentence and what will follow in Part II from the next section of this particular chapter, I think Shioda Sensei has truly put in words much of the essence or power that Aikido can offer. My own experience bears this out: Once my breathing was linked to my body, my being, the resulting rhythm propelled me into a whole new world of uncharted wonder that revealed the incredible beauty and power of this Art.
In other words, he’s hit the nail on the head. In my opinion the book is worth having just to have these pages available to read and reread.
Gozo Shioda - “Aikido – My Spiritual Journey” - Kodansha USA –ISBN 978-1-56836-411-7 Retail price: $35.00
PLEASE REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY COLUMNS. THANKS!
Comments