On Ki Aikido - Keeping Centered and Zen in Daily Life

By James S Apps

For years I have practiced the principles of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido and applied them to everyday life. As Tohei Sensei said, the way of harmony is through keeping one point, your centre and therefore the centre of the universe.

The centre of the universe?

By letting the Ki of Aikido pass through our center we can tap in to the Ki of the universe and use its power to direct our physical actions. With the addition of Zen thinking you can use Ki to control your perception of time and make a second last as long as you need it.

Impossible?

Not really if you sit in the seiza position, that is with your legs folded beneath you Japanese style, and with your hands together locked in the church and steeple manner with your thumbs crossed and your index fingers gently touching at eye level. Breathe deeply and steadily taking at least a minute to complete each breath first breathing in through the nose and then exhaling through the mouth with a pause at the change over.

You can use a Zen mantra if you wish. Silence is better, the mantra is a distraction because you need to empty your mind of all thoughts.

How can I do that?

Simply by concentrating on breathing and becoming aware of the circular contact between your fingertips. How does this aid keeping centre and what is keeping centre anyway?

Your centre is a small place about fifty millimeters below your belly button. This is the point in all martial arts movements around which your body pivots. It is also the channel for Ki (or the Chinese Chi) that makes the proper practice of Aikido, Tai Chi and Kung Fu so powerful. It is the point from where the sword takes its power, or the Karate open hand gets its force.

Ki is the means of keeping centered.

Ki meditation; proper breathing is the way of learning how to use that power.

Okay, so what is the benefit of keeping centered?

When Mohammad Ali won his big fights he was young, strong, quick and light on his feet, incredibly fit and articulate. His famous saying, Float like a butterfly; sting like a bee, summed up how he used his centre to direct his power to his devastating straight left.

Benefit one. You can concentrate power by keeping centre.

Watch a racing motorcyclist closely and see how he shifts his weight to take advantage of the least bit of room on the track and cut that extra hundredth of a second. His balance and therefore his centre controls the cycle getting the best out of the optimum engine speed, gear selection and braking to sling-shot around the bends.

Benefit two. You can ride a motorcycle extremely fast.

And now back to Ki Aikido.

As Instructors we translated this centering (keeping one point ) into our own study of self defense and effective combat techniques. As a result we taught our students how to remain calm in a rough situation.

First recourse. Defuse the situation with reason.

Second recourse. To walk away.

Third recourse. If walking away is not possible then by keeping centered use the minimum amount of force to resolve the situation. In the third situation above all make sure that the antagonist(s) do not get up again and then walk away.

Benefit Three. You can beat the daylights out of somebody without them realizing how the heck you did it.

Of course it is best not to pick a fight in the first place, after all Aikido is a gentle art, but that depends on your lifestyle and beliefs.

Finally. How does this help your daily life?

By applying the principles of Ki and centering in your everyday life and not just for the Dojo you will find tasks become easier, that daily grind becomes a pleasure and you are happier. In addition by approaching your life centered with Zen of taking each moment as it comes that second you want to stretch becomes a regular and enjoyable experience.
James Apps is a poet, writer and artist who loves Cats and Motorcycles. James practiced Aikido for over twenty years and has only recently decided to take up Tai Chi. James lives on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, United Kingdom and is the chairperson of a local writer's group. Interested in how people think he invites you to visit his site and leave a comment on any of the articles relating to Zen and the art of living. Visit the site and follow the links to his Kent based blog for ideas of places to visit in Kent and Sussex and to see how this guy ticks.

As a motorcyclist of many years standing James is also ready to hear from bikers all over the world to share experiences. Young or old have your say.