Английская Википедия:Aiki (martial arts principle)
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Infobox martial art term Aiki, a Japanese budō term, at its most basic is a principle that allows a conditioned practitioner to negate or redirect an opponent's power. When applied, the Шаблон:Lang practitioner controls the actions of the attacker with minimal effort and with a distinct absence of muscular tension usually associated with physical effort.
Etymology
In Japanese Aiki is formed from two kanji:
The kanji for Шаблон:Lang is made of three radicals, "join", "one" and "mouth". Hence, Шаблон:Lang symbolizes things coming together, merging. Шаблон:Lang should not be confused with Шаблон:Lang which refers to harmony. The kanji for Шаблон:Lang represents a pot filled with steaming rice and a lid on it. Hence, Шаблон:Lang symbolizes energy (in the body).
Thus Шаблон:Lang's meaning is to fit, join, or combine energy. However, care must be taken about the absolute meanings of words when discussing concepts derived from other cultures and expressed in different languages. This is particularly true when the words we use today have been derived from symbols, in this case, Japanese kanji, which represent ideas rather than literal translations of the components. Historical use of a term can influence meanings and be passed down by those wishing to illustrate ideas with the best word or phrase available to them. In this way, there may be a divergence of the meaning between arts or schools within the same art. The characters Шаблон:Lang and Шаблон:Lang have translations to many different English words.
Historically, the principle of Шаблон:Lang would be primarily transmitted orally, as such teachings were often a closely guarded secret. In modern times, the description of the concept varies from the physical[1] to vague and open-ended, or more concerned with spiritual aspects.
Martial arts
Шаблон:Lang lends its name to various Japanese martial arts, most notably Aikido,[2] and its parent art, Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu. These arts tend to use the principle of Шаблон:Lang as a core element underpinning the bulk of their techniques. Шаблон:Lang is an important principle in several other arts such as Kito-ryu, Judo, Yamabujin Goshin jutsu and various forms of Kenjutsu and Japanese Jujutsu.[3] Techniques accomplished with Шаблон:Lang are subtle and require little mechanical force with the Шаблон:Lang arts generally classed as soft internal martial arts.
Concept
Шаблон:Lang is a complex concept, and three aspects have been used to describe it in relation to a martial situation:
1) Blending, not clashing
- Шаблон:Lang typically describes an idea of oneness or blending in the midst of combat. In aikido it generally describes the more elevated notion of blending rather than clashing. "Blending" is often described even within aikido as Шаблон:Lang (合わせ).[4] Many definitions for Шаблон:Lang seem to be based around Шаблон:Lang due to the complexity of the word usage in a particular Japanese context; the exact English interpretation would be hard to describe. Emphasis is upon joining with the rhythm and intent of the opponent in order to find the optimal position and timing with which to apply force. To blend with an attack, many believe it is necessary to yield to incoming forces but basic practitioners of Шаблон:Lang understand that there is a difference between 'blending' and 'giving way', and they instead train to 'take the line' of attack subtly and control it. Шаблон:Lang is closely related to the principle of ju though the latter places more emphasis on the active physical manipulation on a mechanical structural level.
2) Leading the assailant
- The Шаблон:Lang practitioner is able to lead the attack, and thus the attacker, into precarious positions. The influence over an assailant grows as the assailant's balance deteriorates. Body movements (tai sabaki) used for this may be large and obvious or small and subtle, internally generated movements. Subtle weight shifting and the application of physical pressure to the assailant enables one to lead them, keep them static, or keep them unbalanced (kuzushi) in order to employ one's own technique. In the same manner, through deceptive movements, the Шаблон:Lang practitioner may negate a defence response from the assailant or create a defence response from the assailant that puts them even further into peril. There is a strong degree of intent, will or psychology[5] to this aspect of domination. Mind and body are coordinated.
3) Use of internal strength – Ki energy
- Kiai and Шаблон:Lang use the same kanji (transposed) and can be thought of as the inner and the outer aspect of the same principle. Шаблон:Lang relates to the manifestation, emission or projection of one's own energy externally (external strength), while Шаблон:Lang relates to one's own energy internally (internal strength). Thus Шаблон:Lang is the union of external energies while Шаблон:Lang is the union of internal energies. This use of Шаблон:Lang will involve the use of Шаблон:Lang power, i.e. breathing is coordinated with movement.[6] Шаблон:Lang is the natural power that can be produced when body and consciousness (mind) are unified. The term Шаблон:Lang (呼吸) can also be used to describe a situation in which two opponents are moving with appropriate timing.
Thoughts on the concept
Шаблон:Lang is considered to be an ancient practice, and its practice is often kept within a particular individual or two from a family/school lineage. Culturally, and due to certain necessities of the time period, the Шаблон:Lang knowledge was usually a very well-guarded secret and rarely disclosed.
The oldest book to have historically discussed Шаблон:Lang was the 1899 Budo Hiketsu-Aiki no Jutsu. On the subject of Шаблон:Lang it was written:
The Textbook of Jujutsu (Jujutsu Kyoju-sho Ryu no Maki) from 1913 stated:
The term Шаблон:Lang has been used since ancient times and is not unique to Шаблон:Lang. The Шаблон:Lang in Шаблон:Lang is Шаблон:Lang, meaning to respond to an attack.
References
