![\"blackboard-209152_1280\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.searchofpeace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/blackboard-209152_1280.jpg?resize=474%2C324\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Aikido is normally seen as a nonverbal physical practice but Asi Sensei from Jerusalem Dojo describes Aikido as a language, a way of communicating with very limited expressions to represent division and negativity. Asi Sensei sees Aikido as a great opportunity to bridge barriers because we are naturally talking about the good stuff.<\/p>\n
![\"doushu-nikyo-ura-osae\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.searchofpeace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/doushu-nikyo-ura-osae.jpg?resize=474%2C348\")
<\/p>\n
\tAikido is a body language and there are not any inherently negative expressions. Sure, you can do a mean or nice nikkyo (see above) but nikkyo can be amazingly effective without any destructive force because it works WITH the mechanics of the body. Atemi (a symbolic but effective strike meant to facilitate a technique) is the meanest thing an Aikidoist has to \u201csay.\u201d Atemi is really intended to cause the attacker to react to or avoid a potential strike as a method of controlling the attacker’s spacing and balance. The best atemi would never make contact.<\/p>\n
![\"atemi](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.searchofpeace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/atemi-ukemi.jpg?resize=280%2C316\")
<\/p>\n
\tIn our spoken languages (as well as other methods of self defense) there seems to be an unlimited number of ways to describe negative feelings, judgements, destruction, and especially devision. Linguists believe that language defines our experience. Comparing the number of words representing freedom, privacy, rights, individual, etc. in English to the available terms in Chinese is a good example of how language is can define and alter whole societies. <\/p>\n
\tWhat is most interesting about Aikido is that it is most effectively executed when it is delivered through engaged, responsible, caring, maybe even loving movements. O\u2019sesnsei spoke of aikido as the action of enveloping an attacker with the heart of love. Paul Linden has talked about how if he can practice with a feeling of \u201ca smiling heart\u201d where his arms are reaching, his body is expanding, his contact is soft and responsive then he moves better, stronger, and more fluidly. He says it make for better Aikido.<\/p>\n
\tIt helps me to remember that this in not peace and love in a utopian world but instead the expression of Aikido is in response to aggression and violence; practicing meeting something unquestionably negative with the our “best self.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Aikido is normally seen as a nonverbal physical practice but Asi Sensei from Jerusalem Dojo describes Aikido as a language, a way of communicating with very limited expressions to represent division and negativity. Asi Sensei sees Aikido as a great opportunity to bridge barriers because we are naturally talking about the good stuff.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sarete"],"yoast_head":"\n