Connection.

Connection.

During a seminar from Mori sensei from Aikikai Hombu Dojo he would stress this point continuously. A connection has to arise during the contact of tori and uke. This connection will allow both body structures to become one. Also referred to as " One body". Ikeda sensei explains this phenomenon by saying unity and unity become one unity. Also a book from his lessons has been created about this center to center contact. Once this connection is recognized by feeling sensitivity the appropriate techniques will become available.

My Aikido training at this moment is mainly about creating this connection, maintaining it and use it to execute the movements which are most natural and effortless. I guess a lot of Aikidoka will make a lot of progress once they will shift their attention to connection instead of forcing techniques. Connection is a feeling which every newcomer to an Aikido class will recognize instantly and can be "learned" within 5 minutes. In the Aikido community it is seen as an advanced skill, but I think the usage of connection under stress is advanced, the recognition and feeling of connection isn't. It's a human skill which is a natural feeling and therefore available to every living human being.

In my view the most appropriate training method would be Suwariwaza Kokyu Ho. Once accustomed to this feeling all Aikido techniques will be filled with energy, ki, aliveness or whatever word is used to describe this feeling.

Following a clip which contains the ingredients for connection work in kokyu dosa.

Yoshi Shibata sensei in action.

Enjoy practice.

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