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| Aikido
and Conflict Resolution |
| Aggressive
resistance, passive resistance,
positive resistance or negative
resistances, to which of these
are you referring, if any? I assume
we are talking about resistance
in Aikido interaction, resistance
to or from an attack. First let
me say that in resistance one
also finds stability. Without
the resistance of the ground and
gravity we could not walk. Without
the resistance of our body a punch
or kick has no effect. When we
offer resistance from a grab,
a push or a pull we also offer
stability to the one grabbing,
pushing or pulling. The aggressor
has all their internal gyroscopes
set to adjust to the resistance
they expect to meet at the point
of contact. They expect and need
the resistance for their attack
to work. Sometimes our biggest
problem is getting our ego out
of the way. Too often we are not
satisfied with simple resolution
and restoration of "Harmony"
we seek to be part of the conflict
so we can feel physically powerful.
The idea in Aikido, as I understand
it, is to offer no resistance,
or as little as possible. By offering
no resistance you do not become
part of the conflict but part
of the resolution. After all Aikido
is Conflict Resolution on a very
real scale. My partner brings
conflict into my world and I should
seek only to bring resolution
to the conflict. Sometimes the
resolution is not harmful to the
aggressor and sometimes the resolution
may be deadly to the aggressor.
That is his problem I only seek
to find resolution and restore
harmony to my universe.
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| As
I stand facing another human being I am in
harmony with my environment. As that other
person stands facing me he/she is in harmony
with his/her environment. "We" are
in harmony. When that other person decides
to break that harmony of our universe by attacking
I should seek not to offer resistance of any
kind wherein he can find stability for his
attack. I do this by moving to a place where
I am in harmony with my environment once again
(an environment which includes my partner)
all that is left is to the aggressor is his
conflict. If I am skillful I have moved to
a place of safety using correct Aikido principles
with regard to distance and placement relevant
to the attacker and I then can help my partner
find resolution to his conflict. That is,
I join with him and help him disperse that
negative power that was once directed at me
back into the ground from which it sprang.
That is right the ground from which it sprang.
The attacker used his resistance to the ground
to build and launch an attack with the end
result being that his attack finds sufficient
resistance in my body to cause me to go to
the ground. Now using Aikido I take away that
resistance leaving only him and his out of
harmony relationship to the universe. Now
left alone without any resistance from me
to give him stability nature will restore
harmony on its own. Because no resistance
was found where expected the aggressor loses
balance. Given the fierceness of the attack
I may assist nature by supplementing to its
resolution with additional complimentary power
and velocity to cause the attacker greater
impact with the earth. I may also cause him
great pain by cooperating with him to send
his powerful attack back to him. That is a
judgment call, which also should be tempered
by my Aikido training. |
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biggest part of the problem I see in some
people is they never move past nage waza.
They live in with the belief that they need
to "do" Aikido to the other person.
They never move past Nage Waza. I believe
Uke Waza is the next big step in personal
Aikido development. When Nage attacks and
suddenly finds himself as Uke the new Nage
has choices to make. Not just about which
technique to apply but about letting the failed
attacker resolve the conflict unharmed or
not. In the purest Aikido since Uke should
have the choice to resolve the interaction
by offering non resistance to Nage's superior
position and balance? If Nage allows Uke to
resolve the conflict then Uke will know Nage's
intend and submit to it without resistance.
For instance Ikkyo, Uke knows where Nage wants
him to go he can feel Nage's lead. So by cooperation
they together find an Aikido resolution to
the interaction and restore balance to their
worlds. This is Uke Waza not just the ability
to take a fall and survive. |
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Sensei
Dennis Hooker began his budo training
in the mid 1960's while in the military.
Dennis started his Aikido training
with Phil Minton at the Terre Haute
Indiana Judo School. At that time
they would often drive 170 miles one
way to Chicago in order to train at
the Chicago Aikido Club which was
under the direction of the late Isao
Takahashi Sensei.
After
nearly dying of Myasthenia Gravis
in the late 70's Mitsugi Saotome Shihan
took over the
direction
of Dennis' training and
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began to work with him on his failing
health. Instrumental in returning
him to physical integrity, Hooker
Sensei continues to train and teach
as a principle student of Saotome
Shihan (ASU). Hooker Sensei was awarded
his 6th dan in Aikido by Saotome Sensei
in 2000. He currently resides in Orlando,
FL and is Master Instructor of the
Shindai Aikikai Aikido Dojo.
Shindai Aikikai Aikido Dojo
www.shindai.com
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by Dennis Hooker
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