US Association of Martial Arts
Zen Beikoku Bujutsu Kyokai
                 全米国武術協会
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Vision & Mission
    • Board of Directors
  • Services
    • Training Seminars
  • Join USAMA
    • Individual Membership
    • School Accreditation
  • Blog

USAMA BLOG

Raising the standards of the martial arts

READ BELOW

Words Matter: An Important Note On Kuzushi And Aiki

12/3/2020

1 Comment

 
Author: Bret Gordon
Picture
Many people are probably familiar with the video of the street performer walking up a stairway of glass bottles. If not, you can view the video here. Her ability to balance on such a small surface is impressive, but that's not why I'm referencing it now. Serious practitioners normally assert the cliché that Budo is life, but that can only be true if we find educational martial value in everyday activities. 

I belong to several aiki discussion groups on social media, through which I've been able to establish connections (no pun intended) with numerous, top level instructors in the aiki community. One such group is led by Bill Dockery, the author of the "Aiki Secrets" book series which I have had the honor to review and highly recommend (to purchase a copy, click here), who is the inspiration for this article. An engineer by trade, Mr. Dockery always surprises me with his ability to articulate the fundamental principles of an otherwise misunderstood and somewhat esoteric practice such as aiki.

Mr. Dockery shared the video of this performer with the following analysis: 

"The two most mis-used words in Aikido: Balance and Stability. This woman was balanced the entire time (she never fell), but had extremely little stability (a good shove from a toddler would have toppled her). Pop Quiz: A flat foot on the ground improves which: stability or balance? Have you though it through? Read on...
You are no more balanced with your entire foot on the ground than you are with just the ball of your foot, or even a toe. In all of these cases, you are not falling, so you are balanced! But they do vary in their stability. Thus, Uke's balance is not broken until you throw Uke, i.e., until Uke falls. What most call a 'balance break' is actually de-stabilization, the reduction in stability. It sounds pedantic, until you ask yourself,
'How do I make Uke unstable?, How do I 'willow' them?'
'What is the measure of stability?'
'If I know, will I know better how to create it in my opponent?'
'When, or at least what happens in that 'break' between stability and falling?'"


Read More
1 Comment

    Archives

    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    Categories

    All
    Associations
    Business
    Etiquette
    Healing Arts
    History
    Instructor Spotlight
    Interviews
    Martial Arts Principles
    McDojos
    Questions For Our Readers
    Rank
    Self Defense
    Sport Karate
    Weaponry

    Sponsored By

    Picture
    www.TrioMartialArts.com
    Picture
    www.AmericanYoshinkan.com
    Picture
    www.AmericanJidokwan.com
    Picture
    www.RyukyuTe.weebly.com
    Picture
    www.KonteiJudo.com
    Picture
    www.WaeKuneDoKarate.com
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.