Aikido and The Techniques

Most people choose to avoid confrontation if at all possible, but in some instances, confrontation is simply unavoidable. Aikido teaches its students to avoid confrontation, but it also teaches them how to properly defend themselves when confrontation is imminent. Aikido is a martial art that offers individuals an opportunity to learn controlled physical response techniques that will serve to ensure their safety while limiting the amount of damage inflicted upon their adversaries. Martial arts are popular throughout the world and many people choose to practice the martial arts for reasons other than physical confrontations.

Exercise and the relief of excess stress and energy are commonly cited as reasons for studying various martial arts. Karate and Judo rank among the most popular of the martial arts practiced by Americans and both of these disciplines offer instructions for offensive or aggressive striking motions. Tai Chi is one of the more meditative of the martial arts, focusing on form, concentration, and mental balance. Students of Tai Chi practice exaggeratedly slow striking techniques without ever facing an opponent.

Aikido falls somewhere between the aggression of Karate and the spiritual meditation of Tai Chi. However, it is generally considered to be one of the gentler martial arts. Most Aikido schools place no emphasis on offensive tactics and many advanced students are capable of using the offensive force of an adversary against them, often throwing opponents to the ground with seemingly effortless motions. Whether you are an aggressive or a passive personality, Aikido offers a mental and physical challenge that will certainly pique your interest in the martial arts.


Tai Chi - the Taoist Movements


"He who stands of tiptoe is not steady.
He who strides cannot maintain the pace."

Taoism - the philosophy of Tai-Chi:

Taoism, or "The Laws and Ways of Virtue" is essentially grounded on an understanding of balance. Originating from the principles of Lao-Tzu, the Chinese philosopher, Taoism proclaims that inaction, as opposed to action, is a solution to the chaos and anarchy that rules supreme in an advancing world. The lethargic should not take heart, though; the Taoist inaction comes with a lot of fine print.

Though regarded as the father of Taoism, Lao-Tzu was not the founder of the Taoist philosophy. Religious teachers and thinkers such as Shen Tao had first penned down the principles underlying the philosophy; but it was undoubtedly Lao-Tzu who brought their thinking to the fore, thereby attempting to create a new way of life. According to the Taoist ideal, chaos is the result of human action and desires, and inaction is the key to preventing chaos. By inaction, it is not meant that all action should be suspended; the philosophy simply states that human actions should be in harmony with nature and not try to overcome it. Taoism calls people to eschew the pursuit of knowledge and to rely more on understanding nature by harmonizing oneself to her ways. As Lao-Tzu stated:


The Tao abides in non-action,
but leaves nothing undone.
If rulers observed this,
Then several things would develop naturally.
If they still wished to act,
They would act to return 
to the simplicity of formlessness.
Without form there is no desire.
Without desire there is calm.
Thus all things would be at peace.

Thus, Lao-Tzu says, by limiting desires to the basics, the world can return to the tranquil harmony that is of nature.

The Evolution of Tai-Chi:

As Taoism evolved over the years through the teachings of Lao-Tzu and other philosophers, it was realized more and more that spiritual development also called for a sound physical being. Teachers like Chuang Tzu (399-295 B C) first introduced the movement philosophy through their writings, which forms the core philosophy of Tai chi. In the sixth century AD, a Buddhist scholar Bodhidharma (Known as Ta Mo in China) visited the Shao Lin monastery, and introduced the eighteen form lohan exercise to aid the physical development of the monks. Over time, this eighteen form exercise gave rise to the "Wei-Chia" school of exercise, which takes an "external" approach to physical development. The philosophy of Tai-Chi is essentially intrinsic; however, the origin of the movement philosophy was grounded in "Wei-Chia".

Later, in the early 14th century, Chang San Feng of the Wu Tang monastery introduced the yin-yang concept(the concept of duality - male/female, dark/light, etc.) of Taoism to the Wei-Chia forms of exercise, and introduced the thirteen postures of Tai-Chi. These thirteen postures stressed on balance, flexibility and agility rather than on the use of force, and marked the first shift towards the "Nei-chia" (internal intrinsic) school of exercise. The current form of Tai-Chi is an elaboration of these thirteen postures, developed and modified later by scholars such as Wang Chun Yueh, Chiang Fa and Hao Wei Chen.

Understanding Tai-Chi

As stated elsewhere, Tai-Chi differs from other forms of martial arts in that it has an intrinsic approach. By ‘intrinsic’ it is meant that Tai-Chi, as also Taoism, draws on the inherent internal strengths of the being, through an understanding of equilibrium. The Taoist principle of achieving action through inaction is deeply ingrained in Tai-chi, which strives to achieve equilibrium through tranquility as opposed to force. In keeping with this principle, many of the Tai-Chi forms have names as

• Brush Dust Against the Wind 
• Push the Boat with the Current 
• Wind Rolls the Lotus Leaves 

As may be noted, the above forms symbolize the use of an extrinsic force against itself, without using much intrinsic energy. The fundamental principle that underlies each of the Tai-Chi movements is that of "Using softness to defeat hardness". While other forms of martial arts go by the theory of learning to suffer to learn hitting, Tai-chi essentially entails learning to hit by learning not to suffer. Thus, Xian Qi Ran stated:

"It is necessary not to lose position, not to lose direction. (to be) effective. (When) the opponent's control over his centre of mass is lost, having ascertained where the flaw is, from which direction to attack, from that place attacking, then can using less strength gain greater success."

The most important attribute of Tai-Chi lies, perhaps, in understanding nature; how the elements of nature and the residents therein use achieve great strength through seeming effortlessness. Thus, there are Tai-Chi forms such as

• White Crane Spreads Wings 
• Snake Creeps Down 
• Repulse Monkey 
• Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain 
• Grasp Sparrow's Tail 
• Swallow Skims the Water 
• Bird Flies into Forest 
• Lion Shakes it's Head 
• Tiger Hugs its Head 
• Wild Horse Leaps the Ravine

As the names suggest, these movements have all originated from a study of the motions of various animals.

In keeping with the Taoist philosophy, the various Tai-Chi forms call upon the student to achieve a calm and tranquil mental status in the face of adversity. It, therefore, does not remain a "martial" art; when properly practiced it is more a mode of better living through an understanding of oneself. In today’s world where life is hectic and fast paced, practicing Tai-Chi can establish some amount of control and relaxation by preventing the onset of inertia of motion.