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A note from the
Editor:
I felt that I should share George's note with all of you. I found it to
be a candidly honest and respectful view on Aikido, Ki, and Aikido
interaction.
Please enjoy,
Cheryl Matrasko
***
Hello everyone at
Aikido-world,
First of all I wish to add my sincere appreciation and congratulations
to the Aikido-world team (and other contributors) for the quantity and
more importantly the quality of the articles. technical guides/tips and
photographs that make up your site.
I regularly recommend to my students that they visit your site and
absorb what they can in order to deepen and further their understanding
of Aikido and it's principles.
Excellent... please keep up the standard!!
Just a couple of points I would like to voice - in response to the
question of the existence of ki. A long time before I began my
training and study of Aikido, I felt or was aware of something, some
essence (I apologize now for sounding either esoteric/crazy/quasi
religious . . . . I hopefully am none of those, but no doubt we all have
our moments), and dependent on the circumstances - at times that sense
of something seemed to be more in 'evidence' or 'manifest' especially on
an instinctual / physiological basis. True it is my humble choice to
state that I for one do know/believe of the very existence of such an
energy (whether in it's dynamic or passive phase) and in truth to even
give it such a 'label' as I have... be it force/energy/essence/ and
since practicing Aikido - ki is simply a way of convenience in
communication. I do not press my own thoughts or beliefs on my students,
if they ask whether I believe such an energy as ki exists then I do
freely admit to that, give one or to anecdotes and demonstrate insomuch
as I am able to, the 'use' of ki within Aikido technique (sometimes
experience is the only way to gain some understanding).... and I am also
aware that after only several years in my practice of Aikido it is a
very long journey with no end, well I do like travel!!!
As with many topics, and human nature being as it is in all it's myriad
ways, people will always find something to contest or challenge (even
when many of them practice a way or art that encourages and fosters the
principle of harmony) Everyone has a right to their own opinion, and
sometimes it is a compromise of agreeing to disagree.
The one thing that I do attempt to gently 'eradicate' is egos - not
personalities, but abrasive and disruptive egos, not always an easy
situation - and of course I have to be aware that my own personality
does not become egotistical.
Sadly I have witnessed so
many times dan grades (of varying degrees in Aikido (and other ways and
arts) that have a disagreement with one another and due to the egos and
temperaments involved it has led to negativity and attempts at
one-up-man-ship and not wanting to be seen to 'back down' creating
animosity and even a 'split' in/from the dojo and in relationships
generally. It is also difficult when those at loggerheads then try to
sway others to take sides in something all to often counter productive.
Oh well . . . no one said it would be easy . . . but as it is often said
- nothing worthwhile is . . . .
Aikido . . . so quietly amazing . . . especially when true harmony and
exciting dynamisms of the purer technique is experienced, even
witnessed.
Thanks again to all concerned,
George McMaster
Zenshin Kokoro Aikido,
Art of Fitness Dojo,
Hull, Yorkshire,
United Kingdom
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