AIKIDO

The Classification of Aikido

2010-03-01T11:20:00.003+08:00

There are many classification that divide martial arts into different types, as each of them have its unique specialities. Besides all martial art, Aikido is a different kind of martial art, combination of different ancient martial arts. So what is the type of martial art that Aikido is ?

The answer is Therapeutic. Therapeutic is defined as restoration of health, both physically and mentally. This is quite contradicting because all martial arts are supposed to be therapeutic and able to improve health. Well, Of all martial art, Aikido is the art that focus mostly of improving mental health. The cultivation of the body and mind

The Purpose of Aikido is to resolve conflicts and help to unify humanity. The word 'Ai' refers to harmony. Being one with the universe and the surrounding.

Cultivation of the Mind: Alertness, preparedness, ability to blend and react, Calmness before threatening events.

Cutivation of the Body: Evading, Agility, Strength, Liveness

IRIMI NAGE

2010-01-25T11:09:00.003+08:00

Irimi Nage, also known as entering throw, is one of most important and basic techniques in Aikido. It is the technique that elaborate the circular movement, showing the harmony of both the defender and attacker, thus it is the movement of nature. But in other martial art, the techniques of Irimi Nage is known as a neck choking or strangling techniques.

Irimi nage is done through turining and finished with a arm hit to the opponent's neck. If locked, it will suffocate a person, thus immobilize their movement of attack. In real life application, it is easier to turn to the back of the opponent and suffocate the person by the neck. Therefore, Irimi Nage is an effective technique. In Randori or sparring, Irimi Nage comes in handy.

Power of Masakatsu & Agatsu

2009-11-23T12:59:00.003+08:00

Masakatsu means fire, Agatsu means water. These two elements are important in creating the world, just like the balance of yin and yang, the primordial forces that created the universe. We know we need both of them in balance in order to obtain optimal results. But what do the elements of fire and water represents, how do we benefit from them?

First, before using it, we must know what is the concept of the two elements. To explain them, we need to think wider , not through logic, but through spiritual thoughts, metaphorical thinking.

Firstly, Fire. Fire is a destructive force, and a source of energy. It gives life and destroy anything. In expressive terms, we consider fire as a feeling of anger, fury or fierce. In samurai's mindset, fire is the philosophical symbol of courage. Fire spread whenever there is something that it could burn, without it, fire will easily distinguished. Therefore, it is definited as a symbol of courage and forward-looking attitude, going towards a goal with perseverance. Fire is the inspiration that made our fighting spirit lively and active. The spirit of bravery and perseverance.

Water, the elaborative element of Tao. Water is the strongest because it is the weakest. Softness can overcome the hardness. Water is soft but strategic. When being stopped, water will find other ways to flow out. It is the flow that will corrode rocks. Water is needed for us and living things, it nurture the development of living things. Water move smoothly even with obstacles. In expressive term, water represent calmness. Water is the flow of flexibility and calmness.

With fire and water fused togther, both elements helps to empower the techniques. With fire, we have the eagerness to complete the whole techniques, and not do it in doubt or confusion. With water, we are able to be flexible in doing technique in different situation. Different situation is identified by understand the opponent's strength and weakness, the swiftest way is to avoid the strong and attack the weaker point.

O' Sensei once said, "True victory is Self-victory, the day of swift victory." Self refers to the understanding of self and the opponent. Through this, techniques csn be go smoothly and completely.

Hakama, the Samurai's secret........

2009-11-04T10:13:00.003+08:00

THE SECRET OF HAKAMA

Hakama is what we known, as a traditional samurai costume. It was commonly wear in Aikido, Kendo and some other Japanese martial arts. Hakama also means horse-riding as it protect a horseman's leg from any disturbing objects. Hakama is not a skirt, but more of a pants. The Hakama also show the values of the legendary warrior, the Samurai.

On the Hakama, there are seven folds; 5 at the front and 2 at the back. These seven folds represent the seven fundamental values of a Samurai; Courage, Benevolence, Justice, Etiquette, Honesty, Loyalty and Honor. These seven values or virtues are the spirit of the Samurai and Bushido.

Hakama, acts as a protection for the legs and also a weapon for the person. Besides holding a sword, weapons can be hidden in the Hakama for emergency defense. Covering the legs of the user, it can hide our leg movement, this disallows our opponents to see and predict our leg movement. Though this tradtional clothing restrict some of the bodily movement, it provide us the perseverance to train more in order to overcome the restrictions of the Hakama.

The Way of Open Mindedness

2009-10-19T10:00:00.003+08:00

Aikido is the way of harmony. And to harmonize the world, the usage of the techniques alone will not help, the development of human values and addition of virtues and wisdom will also not be enough for the way of harmony. To totally harmonize with the world, we must not only harmonize with our own mind, soul and body, but also everyone, nature, the world and the cosmos.

Tao or the way is the concept of Taoism, and to gain the world, it is through acceptance and open-mindedness. To win over people's hearts, we must put our disagreement and dislike aside and accept all reasons of everyone. When O' Sensei was creating his own martial art, he studied many ancient text, not only his own religion, Shinto, but he also studied Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism and even Christianity. All these religions have a similar and whole concept, it is virtue, harmony and unity.

In O'Sensei's quotation, Aikido is not just a self defense martial art, it is also a philosophy. Harmony is open-mindedness and acceptance. All martial art have a common goal, sharing, accept and enlightment. Arrogance or Discrimnation shuold not exist. Different schools have different cultures, they have disadvantages and benefits. Putting ourselves in other people's shoes, we are able to understand the feelings and the reason behind their very actions.

Aikido is not to correct others, but to correct ourselves and then share the different experiences to the world.

Joke of the Day

2009-10-07T10:04:00.001+08:00

Anyway, Scabies is a skin infection :)

Weapons of War!!!!

2009-10-06T12:04:00.005+08:00

In almost every martial art. there are needs of weapons. In Taichi, straight chinese swords are used. And in Aikido, we used Jo(stick), Bokken(sword) and Tanto(knife). What are the usage of weapons and how many weapons are there in the world???

Weapons are mostly used by martial artists or warrior. Weapons are the arms of the warrior, the extra expansion of a warrior hand. For example, stick or spear are long ranged weapon. Ever long range will be archery.

In Chinese martial art, there are Eighteen weapons of War:

Sabre
Spear
Straight sword
Staff
Halberd
Axe
Battle Axe
Hook sword
Fork/ Trident
Steel whip
Mace
Hammer
Talon
Ranseur/ Trident-halberd
Lance
Short cudgel
Stick/ Crutches
Meteor hammer

These weapons are long ranged, short ranged and destructive.
For example, the sabre can be long or short ranged. The Green Dragon Sabre used by Guan Yu is a long ranged one and destructive due to it large and sharp blade, therefore it is heavy in weight and hard to handle.

Spears and lances are commonly used by soldiers or knight. They are long and light in weight. Although it is easy to control and have increased agility, but it is a soft weapon, it possess less strength than the Sabre.

The choice of weapon depend on the capabilities of the particular person, the strength, the area of space and comfort.

The Science of YONKYO!!!!

2009-07-23T09:47:00.005+08:00

In the different kinds of Aikido locks, they are used on the bones, joints, ligament and tendon. Among all the different locks, Yonkyo is the most "special" kind of lock. In Yonkyo, the inner edge of the hand (between the thumb and the index finger) is applied to uke's upper wrist. The force is applied to the side of the part above the wrist.

Using the anatomical study of science, the force is applied to the tendon that hold the muscles of the hand and the upper arm. Locating near to these tendon were the ulnar nerve and median nerve. The Ulnar Nerve is one large unprotected nerve. With a certain force applied to the ulnar nerve, it will send sensory impulses to the brain for the sensation of pain. Therefore Yonkyo is known as a nerve pinch. The pain is more of a sharp and electric feeling of pain. But Yonkyo is not a lock that can be applied to every person, firstly the finger coordination must be correct. Sometimes a person arm is protected by a layer of fats or the different position of the nerve.

How to do a correct Yonkyo???

The angle of the arm must be 90 degree
Press downwards
Ensure that the uke's elbow is below the level of your fingers that applied the lock
Ensure your arms are straight
Do not move the uke's arm sideward
Do not hesitate on pushing down the uke's arm

Videos for GRADING FOR BLUE!!!!

2009-07-02T21:09:00.004+08:00

These short clips are the fundamental techniques needed to be performed during grading from white to BLUE belt

Christian Tissier

2009-06-18T11:54:00.002+08:00

Is Ki for Real?

2009-03-24T05:34:00.003+08:00

Ki, in Aikido, is known as the mental energy that centralized a human body. What about other views.

In Chinese, it is also know as Qi or Chi, lifebreath, that all living things requires to survive. Mencius noted that Qi is essential for human beings to carry out countless activities. It is also known as energy-flow or spirit.

In the book of changs, I Ching, it stated that Ki is the mental wave that create the two primordial forces Yin and Yang in order to develop the cosmo and make the worlds.

If there are many definition, then it is real?

Yes. It is true, According to Acupunture and chinese medicine, when the body fluids were blocked, it is said that the Ki is obstructed. Through the treatment off acupunture and chinese medical methods, the blockage is broken, enable the flow of the fluids.

Ki is the most difficult thing to control in our body, for there possesses no true appearance of it. It is unpredictable. Some people may not even believe it. In Aikido, ki is widely used, unlike strength. Strength is limited while Ki is limitless. It can improve our attacks, movements and positions spiritually and mentally.

As Ki is also the energy flow, the movement of Aikido are circular so that the ki is able to flow easily and blend with any obstacles. While using straight and squarish movement, the hitting impact will be high and at maximum.

When things develops, it will not grow straight, it will started to curve and change shapes.

SELF-IMPROVEMENT

2009-03-06T13:11:00.005+08:00

In Aikido or other martial arts or even whatever we do, in order to improve ourselves, we need to keep up the move. This means we need to PERSEVERE and be persistent in whatever we do. That is why practice makes perfect. But some Aikidokas did not persevere, yet they lost the interest in it and their attitudes started to change.

Some believe that getting black belt is enough for them to finish learning Aikido. But Aikido techniques are more than 1000, how can they finish it, it is simply a lie.

Lao Tzu, an ancient philosophy, said, "The journey of a thousand begins with a single step."

He also said:

What does this quotation means?

Firstly, observe the heaven and the skies above, the sky never stop changing, from day to night and repeatedly. The planets in the solar system never stop rotating and orbiting and the Sun never stop burning. Time never stop running and the cosmos was forever changing. Weather climate changes every time. Even the Earth and its living things never stop changing. Technology is always improving and our mindset is never still.

Aikido is the movement of nature, it flows through everywhere within the universe. If the world never stop changing and moving, we also should not stop. We must have self-development and self-improvement. Therefore we must train in excess in order to compensate the weak and empty spots. When we reached a goal, there are more other goals for us behind, we can never stop developing ourselves.

The way of Aikido -----------------------------------PERSEVERANCE

Combined Training with Horri Shihan

2009-03-02T02:10:00.005+08:00

Consisted of:
NTU Aikido - Aikido Institute
NUS Aikido - Shinso Aikikai
Zhen Qi Shu Aikio

Date:
24th February 2009

Venue:
NUS Sports Hall

WHO SAYS LOCKS ARE UNLESS!!!!

2009-02-17T00:37:00.000+08:00

CALMNESS is all it takes

2009-01-12T23:09:00.007+08:00

In aikido or other martial art. calmness is the most important factor to improvement. When a normal person faces danger, he will panic in response. But if a person, who practices martial art, faces dangers, he remain calm and plan his moves silently.

We know that anger or emotions are not to be used with martial arts. If anger, revenge or emotions are expressed in martial arts, a person will lose his morality. To meditate and release the stress and emotion inside you is a wise act a person should have. Meditation help to find space for self-improvement and development. Therefore through meditation, it calm the mind down and help a person to relax and flexible.

To have calmness in mind is to clear the mind of negative thoughts. With calmness, a person regain his/her balance and alertness. And both factors are very important in area of martial art or Budo. Calmness help to change a person's attitude and behavior.

To have calmness in mind is to be flexible. When a calm person face a problem, big or small, he/she was able to plan in silence.

Therefore calmness is all it takes.

Is Aikido always for self-defense ???

2009-01-06T23:59:00.004+08:00

Unlimited Creativity

2008-12-25T13:29:00.002+08:00

In the ages of Morihei Ueshiba, he always emphasized the Takemusu Aiki 武産. What is it?

Takemusu Aiki, also known as Unlimited Creativity, is a concept by O'Sensei about the way of Aikido should be. It must harmonize with all things and be able to do technique as freely as possible.

In Takemusu Aiki, there are many factors, but the three most important factors are Self-development, self- discovery and Flexibilitiy. In other words, we should not train blindly, that will not bring improvement. To improve, we must further develop ourselves day by day as we train. Discover the rights and wrongs on you.

Flexability is the ability to chage in times of different situation. To be flexible, one must be calm and clear his/her mind with emptiness. That is unlimited creativity, able to do techniques so freely that you don't even have to think. For the techniques are dead but your mind is bursting with live and energy. Use your mind to revive these techinques and blend into different situation.

But before flexibility and using many different techniques, we must learn the techinques, from basic to advanced. Pursuit is not allowed, to eager ask for "sercet techniques"should be discourage. One must be patience to what he/she is doing. When he/she is doing a technique, it take times to learn, understand and further develop or improve. By asking sercet techniques, you broke the basic foundations that helps you to further improve.

Can Ki disappear? NOPE!!!!!

2008-12-04T11:34:00.001+08:00

The Way of deception

2008-12-04T10:02:00.007+08:00

The universe consists of the two primordial opposing forces; Yin and Yang. It was the two forces that create the very world we live in. Therefore the world is spilt into two part; heaven and earth, light and darkness, fire and water, and then to the ten celestial processes that created this world fully.

In Budo, especially Aikido, emphasize the borrowing of enemy's dashing forces to counter him/her. It is to use deceptive methods to bring down the enemy. If one do not use deception because people think it is cunning and evil, then he/she does not really know the world well enough. It is wise to use deceptive methods in order to obtain good result. As I said before, Aikido is a hard and soft martial art.

Deception is to look weak when being strong, look strong when being weak. As Sun Tzu said in his Art of War, all warfare is based on deception. Cloak your true intention from your enemy, clear your mind from confusion and thoughts. Disguise where you are going to strike.

One of the most common deception is the "hand-ups" position. To lure your enemy that you are surrendering, while plan to counter-attack him when he/she is distracted. As Aikido represent the balance and unity of yin and yang, therefore deception is needed to hide your true intent from your enemy.

Grading for Blue to Blue-gold

2008-11-29T01:15:00.007+08:00

Grading: Blue to Blue-gold (6th Kyu - 5th Kyu)
Duration: 1hr or so

Requirements:

Yokomen-uchi Shiho Nage (omote + ura)
Katadori Nikyo (omote + ura)
Basic Techniques from the blue belt grading (omote + ura)

Basic:

Irimi Nage
Shiho Nage
Ikkyo - Nikyo
Tenchi Nage

Addition:

Free style

All the requirements above can be found in website of Aikido Zhen Qi Shu.

GOOD LUCK
TO
THOSE WHO ARE GRADING

The BIG word - COURAGE

2008-11-22T23:26:00.007+08:00

A good martial artist may display good techniques and fighting skills, but if he/she face a group of barbarians or fighters that are charging towards him/her, will he be able to display the once good fighting skills.

Courage is the word when facing your enemy. Courage overcomes any obstacles you face, it help you to feel confident and be forward-looking. Courage of a general may rise the morale of the army. Courage may make the enemy fear and think twice before attacking you. To dash forward an attacking blade is courage. Courage is not fierceness or wildness. To solve a problem with courage, one will face risk without fear and will tackle when situation changes. Wildness is daring without a direction, you may rush aimlessly, but you may fall in the enemy's trap or get caught easily.

Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm
Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow."
Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be
Courage consists in the power of self-recovery
Courage is the solution to fear.

Way of a warrior

2008-11-05T11:02:00.002+08:00

Tao of martial

Train in excess to compensate the weak
Excessive illusive compensates the empty spots
Energy become internal strength, then become power,
and lastly become nothing
See not with the eyes, but the soul in the liver
Hear not with the ears, but the spirit in the kidney
A wise one will sit in solace for self-improvement

Shall the four limbs be motionless, feeling:
The wood of the west soul
The gold of the east spirit
The fire of the south deity
The water of the north spirit

Attempts to enhance one's capabilities against heaven's will
Are but foolish notions doomed to failure
Meditate faithfully and attain success by humility
Utilize the functions and power of the body well
Sharpness of the eye, Clearness of the ears
Smelling of the nose, Sensing of the touch
Harness the senses into immense power
Power becomes nothing while the eyes become soulless

Be one with the universe and cosmos
Maintain a stable and comfortable stance
Have a behavior of calm and quietness
With the mind of nothingness
Represents the balance of Heaven and Earth
In the left hand, hold the qi of Yang
In the right hand, amass the qi of Yin

The Values of Aikido

2008-10-17T00:39:00.007+08:00

Aikido is the way of harmonizing one with the universe, therefore there are many hidden values inside. Respect is a very important value in Aikido, but are there any other values that are important to Aikido or other martial arts?

Aikido is also related to the art of 武士道 Bushidō , the way of a samurai/ warrior. In Bushido, there are seven types of virtue, they are:

Rectitude 義
Courage 勇,
Benevolence 仁,
Respect 礼
Honesty 誠,
Honour 誉,
Loyalty 忠,

These are the seven virtues that a samurai, warrior or a person who study or practice martial arts. The information was inspired by the four Confucian classics - the Analects, the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean and Mencius.

Bushido, also known as the way of warrior, stated that a true warrior should have frugality, loyalty, martial arts mastery and honor until death. During the era of samurai, they were a gropu of violent warrior. It was Confucianism that inspired them to become wise and non-violence to others. There are other codes such as Filial piety, wisdom and respect and care for the old ones.

The true way of Aikido, is not to oppose nature, heaven. Expressing violence unnecessarily is opposing Heaven, Earth and Humanity. Jiang Ziya during the Zhou Dyansty said that the world is not the possession of a person but to everyone in the world. It gain the world, one must win the heart of the people through virtues such as generous and care/ concern.

Aikido is the movement of nature, therefore one must be with the universe, with the cosmos, then can they truly decipher the meaning of Aikido. Noted that people who try hard to mediate and study long hours on it, will never find the true meaning of Aikido. Aikido is truly deciphered by people who act compassion and use action more than words in the book. You can read but if you never show through action, you are not knowledgeable in Aikido.

The true meaning Aikido lays in the movement, not the words.............

Introduction

2008-10-14T01:41:00.002+08:00

Welcome to My blog, Aikido sg, the blog dedicated to martial arts/ budo such as Aikido. Aikido is defined as a self-defense art founded by the great martial artist, Morihei Ueshiba. Here are the things I will show during my 5 years of training Aikido.

Firstly, i'm from the Singapore school of Zhen Qi Shu. Zhen Qi Shu was founded by Sensei Awyong 6 years ago until now. Zhen means upright and filled with spirits, Qi mean Ki, the mental energy and Shu means the school. Zhen Qi Shu consisted of members who devoted in Aikido, who not only train Aikido, but also find friendship and wisdom.

Here, i will share with u my opinions and experiences i got, about the way of budo and aikido. What is the secret behind Aikido. And things about ZQS.