Aikido was rooted in self defense and Yoshinkan Aikido has remained true to its heritage.  Most of us train and study Yoshinkan Aikido not for self defense but for the many other aspects Aikido offers.  However, if one is to study Aikdio, and particularly Yoshinkan Aikido, one must delve into “self defense”.

Yoshinkan Aikido is meant to be first and foremost effective.  Gozo Shioda himself once said that a proper Aikdio technique is the one that you need perform only once.  Aikido is a martial that flows and yields so by its very nature should be evolving.   Dangers have changed in the last hundred years.

Today, before someone is assaulted there is usually a verbal exchange before  the physical.  In the spirit of true Aikido we should attempt to quell this aggression through words before physicality.  Using Verbal De-escalation we can quite often resolve a conflict.  At the least it will give us a keener sense of our attacker’s intentions.

VERBAL DE-ESCALATION

Before the violent episode or confrontation happens there are always warning signs or cues that the situation is escalating.  When you feel that the situation is starting to get out of hand you need to act quickly.  It is imprtant to recognize the cues that tell you a person is escalating towards violence and act on them.

When a potentially violent situation threatens to erupt on the spot and no weapon is present, verbal de-escalation is appropriate.

There are two important concepts to keep in mind:

1. Reasoning with an enraged person is not possible.  The first and only objective in de-escalation is to reduce the level of arousal so that discussion becomes possible.
2. De-escalation techniques are abnormal.  We are driven to fight, flight or freeze when scared. We need to change this mindset. We must appear centered and calm even when terrified.  Therefore, these techniques must be practiced before they are needed so that they can become “second nature.”

There are 3 parts to be mastered in verbal de-escalation:

A: THE WORKER IN CONTROL OF HIM/HER SELF

• Appear calm, centered and self-assured even though you don’t feel it. Relax facial muscles and look confident. Your anxiety can make your aggressor feel anxious and unsafe which can escalate aggression.
• Use a modulated, low monotonous tone of voice (our normal tendency is to have a high pitched, tight voice when scared).
• Do not be defensive, even if the comments or insults are directed at you.  Do not defend yourself or anyone else from insults, curses or misconceptions about their roles.
• Know that you have the choice to leave, tell your aggressor to leave or call the police should de-escalation not be effective (keeping in mind that at some point, if the situation is allowed to grow, leaving without confrontation may not be possible)
• Be very respectful even when firmly setting limits or calling for help.  The agitated individual is very sensitive to feeling shamed and disrespected. We want him/her to know that it is not necessary to show us that they must be respected.  We automatically treat them with dignity and respect.

B: THE PHYSICAL STANCE

• Never turn your back for any reason!!!!
• Being at the same eye level helps de-escelate the situation but you need to aware of your vulnerability to physical violence from this position.  Encourage your aggressor to be seated, but if he/she needs to stand, you stand up also.
• Allow extra physical space between you – about four times your usual distance.  Anger and agitation fill the extra space between you and your aggressor.
• Do not stand full front to your aggressor. Stand at an angle so you can sidestep away if needed.
• Do not maintain constant eye contact.  Allow the aggressor to break his/her gaze and look away.
• Do not point or shake your finger.
• DO NOT smile. This could look like mockery or anxiety
• Do NOT touch, even if some touching is generally culturally appropriate and usual in your setting.  Cognitive distortion in agitated people allow for easy misinterpretation of physical contact as hostile or threatening.
• Keep hands out of your pockets, up and available to protect yourself.  It also demonstrates non-verbal ally, that you do not have a concealed weapon
• Do not argue or try to convince, give choices i.e. empower.
• Don’t be defensive or judgmental.

C: THE DE-ESCALATION DISCUSSION

• Remember that there is no content except trying to calmly bring the level of arousal down to a safer place.
• Do not get loud or try to yell over a screaming person.  Wait until he/she takes a breath; then talk.  Speak calmly at an average volume.
• Respond selectively; answer all informational questions no matter how rudely asked.  DO NOT answer abusive questions.
• Explain limits and rules in an authoritative, firm, but always respectful tone.  Give choices where possible in which both alternatives are safe ones (e.g. Would you like to continue in a calm manner or should we have the police join us?)
• Empathize with feelings but not with the behavior (e.g. “I understand that you have every right to feel angry, but it is not okay for you to threaten me.)
• Do not solicit how a person is feeling or interpret feelings in an analytic way.
• Do not argue or try to convince.  Suggest alternative behaviors where appropriate e.g. “Would you like to take a break and have a cup of coffee (tepid and in a paper cup) or some water?
• Give the consequences of inappropriate behavior without threats or anger.
• Represent external controls as institutional rather than personal.
• Trust your instincts.  If you assess or feel that de-escalation is not working, STOP! You will know within 2 or 3 minutes if it’s beginning to work. Tell the person to leave, escort him/her to the door, call for help or leave yourself and call the police.

There is nothing magic about talking someone down.  You are transferring your sense of genuine interest in what the person wants to tell you, of calmness, and of respectful, clear limit setting in the hope that the client actually wishes to respond positively to your respectful attention.  Do not under any circumstances try de-escalation when a person has a knife or a gun.  In that case, simply comply.

My apologies for not updating in so long but sometimes “Life happens” as they say.  To quickly recount, I am afraid that I missed Mustard Sensei’s las visit to Mississauga.  Hopefully Mills Sensei can lure him back here soon.

When life gets busy look to your training.  Be like water.  Water is soft and yielding but can shape stone.  When you feel yourself being overwhelmed be calm and yielding and you will be open to more opportunities.

I may have been busy but Yoshinkan Aikido has been in my heart.  I hope everyone can take a moment and watch this excerpt from the documentary Budo: The Art of Killing. 

Just enough.  A phrase I have heard repeated over and over again.  My instructor, Bindner Sensei repeats this constantly.  It seems to be the answer to many questions.  Mustard Sensei is also fond of this answer as well.  Inevitably whenever I ask how much I should move to take someone off balance or how hard I should step forward the answer comes back to “just enough”.

In Yoshinkan Aikido the purpose is not to jump out of the way of an attack, but to move at the last moment and move just enough.  You are not trying to not get hit as much as you are moving at the moment of first contact.  In here lies the power of Yoshinkan Aikido.  In moving at this moment you are able to take Uke’s momentum and power and use it against him.  It is at this point that (as recited by a great man) that you are able to “Steal Uke’s Heart”.

As my training progresses my understanding of Yoshinkan Aikido deepens.  I can see how some of the more ethereal concepts begin to overlap.  Mustard Sensei makes a point to state over and over “To truly have power, don’t use power”.  Sounds mystical.  Sounds cryptic.  What does it mean?

In a previous post I discussed how to release your and flow to yeild to Uke and steal his power, to “Steal His Heart”.  This is also accomplished by keeping your frame. 

When we move we need to move as a unit.  The movements in Yoshinkan Aikido may seem as if they flow, well they do, kid of sort of.  This has been the focus of my training as of late.  Bindner Sensei has opened my eyes to something that is so simple yet complex.  At first glance when watching a technique it may seem to a casual observer that the person was thrown to the ground with a closeline or had their wrist bent with Shite’s hands but this is not so at all.

Here is the ethereal part:  It is all in the hips.  I have heard this many times.  Control Uke with your hips.  Keep Uke in your centre (Where your hips just happen to be).  So how do you hold a person’s wrist and drop them to their knees with your hips?  Keep your FRAME!  Move as a single unit.  Keep your body locked and in alignment, then when you move you drive forward with your hips which in turn brings the entire power and weight of your whole being against Uke’s wrist.  Uke is helpless to resist such a movement.  Your entire being targeted against one part of Uke.  This is what makes Aikido so impressive, so magical and to the casual observer almost mystical.

It sounds like such an easy thing to do.  Sure, keep straight.  Not so.  We are not hardwired to move in this manner.  We need to practice moving with our body as a whole, keeping our frame.  We need to overcome the natural reaction to move part of our body and allow the rest to catch up.  This takes practice and focus, the spirit and essence of Yoshinkan Aikido.

Ous!

So at the risk of dating myself I am going to say that Steven Segal is the first and only real action star to hit the silver screen.  Of course this brings up the issue of biais: “All aikido guys say that about Segal”.  Well, yea we do… but guess what?  He still is!

All martial arts make claims to be the be all and end all of self defence.  Yoshinkan Aikido makes no such claims and instead exudes the “it is what it is” claim.  One need only watch or better yet feel Yoshinkan aikido in application to understand.   Unfortunately those that haven’t are the ones that see Aikido as Segal’s “hand fighting”.  This is quite unfortunate.

Shihan Joe Thambu has released a DVD called Self Defence: The Aiki Concept that would go along way to dispell these myths.  Thambu takes 10 techniques and demonstrates them in the dojo and then on the street or in a bar or dark alley way.  You see the ritualistic perfect timing of a well executed technique followed by proper ukemi that we all see in the dojo.  Then that same technique is taken into the real world. 

Joe Thambu makes it clear that no two attacks will ever be the same and one  can never train to defend all possibilities.  Thambu shows that Yoshinkan Aikido teaches one to move their body with power and to control their own centre and as such to over power and control their attacker.  In the application of this the technique will not be seemless or picture perfect as seen in the dojo but will still be most effective.

The spirit behind this video is encouraging.  It is good for everyone, those that study Yoshinkan Aikido and those that don’t, to see the power of Yoshinkan Aikido outside the dojo.

The first thing learned in Yoshinkan Aikido is Kamae.  Why? 

All techniques begin in Kamae and all techniques end in Kamae.  A strong Kamae is the basis of effective Aikido.  The power of a technique comes from a strong Kamae and stong Kihon Dosa (basic movements).

Most martial arts teach you to turn or “blade” yourself to your attacker to protect your heart and make a smaller target.  Yoshinkan Aikido is different.  In Yoshinkan Aikido we do not want to shrink from the ”attack” as it is the atack that gives us the energy we need to effect the technique.  A strong Kamae allows us to take and harness our attacker’s energy. 

This is where the magic lives.  The stronger the attacker, the more energy we have to execute the technique.  This is how the small can overcome the larger more powerfull attacker.  Keep this in mind during training.  Be a good Uke and practice with vigor.  Give your partner your all as to allow them to execute the technique with power.

By having strong and precise basic movements you will be able to take Uke’s energy and redirect it with greater ease.  You will remain strong and rooted while Uke will be off balance and week.  This will leave Uke helpless to resist your technique and in turn you be able to relax and flow through the technique and execute the final throw or takedown with dynamic power.

Please do not underestimate the importance of Kamae or Kihon Dosa.  Out of these all else follows.

Be a Good Uke

I am glad that Robert Mustard brought this to light.  As a beginner I do not want to fall into the trap of apathy as I progress nor do I want to train with those that have. 

Mustard Sensei made it clear to everyone how a dynamic Uke benefits everyone.  A beginner Shite cannot learn or feel a technique if experienced Uke is just going through the motions and not giving Shite the energy required for the technique.  As such the experienced Uke cannot perceive subtle changes in Shite. 

When Uke is dynamic the technique comes alive and bith Shite and Uke feel the difference.  Just because you have experience doesn’t mean that you cannot learn each time a technique is done.  Don’t go through the motions.  Breathe life into the technique by being an dynamic Uke and as such both participants aikido will grow dramatically.

Aikido is not about meeting force with force.  Aikido is about using your opponents energy to your advantage.  This first begins by off balancing Uke.  This offbalancing can be small but if you are relaxed it should be perceivable by you.  

As Uke fights to keep his balance and push forward with his attack steal his energy.  Feel where Uke is strong and you will know also where he is week.  Even a small movement to Uke’s area of weakness is enough to steal his energy.  The harder Uke resists, the more energy he gives you and thus the more energy you have to redirect to take him down. 

Don’t meet Uke’s force head on, redirect his force/energy by redirecting it in a circular pattern around Uke towards his week point and down into the mat.  This is an important concept as it helps form the foundation of effective aikido.  There is no need to out muscle your opponent.  This is how the smaller and weeker can easily overcome the larger and stronger.  Mustard Sensei demonstrated this adeptly by taking down multiple people using one finger, myself included.  To feel is to believe!

Steal Uke’s heart.  Once you have harnessed Uke’s power and have begun to use it against him he will resist.  Then comes the moment when Uke realizes that he is powerless to resist.  Uke’s will to resist is broken, you have stolen his heart.

Lets take a moment to discuss “relax”.  As I interrepted Mustard Sensei this is the key to harnessing Uke’s power.  Mustard Sensei tried to get across how important it is to just relax, when you are practicing aikido.

When we are realxed we are strong.  When we are relaxed we can focus our energy where we want it to go.  Our first example begins in Kamae.  Kamae – where all techniques begin and end, the base of effective aikido is a strong kamae.  Stand in good posture with tense shoulders and your energy is being wasted and forced elsewhere.  Stand in good posture with relaxed shoulders and your energy is focused forward, where you want it to go.  As Uke pushes into simply lifting your front foot will drive Uke back and down into the mat.  This cannot be done without first learning to relax.  The most dynamic demonstration of this is watching a line of 10 people pushing into a steadfast Mustard Sensei.  Because he is relaxed and holding a strong kamae, all that energy being pushed into him is directed down his back leg rooting him to the ground. 

Such a simple concept – relax.  You would think that it would be easier to do but you must make a concious effort to do so.  If you relax as you perform a technique you will flow with a lot more ease.  You cannot perceive subtle changes in Uke if you are tense, you cannot tell where Uke is weak if you are tense and meeting force with force.  Just relax.  Then at the moment you are about to throw Uke release your energry into the one focused point.  Don’t squander your energy.  Use it when appropriate and Uke is helpless to resist.  Watch the masters and see how tight they are when performing a technique.  Mustard Sensei will turn Uke and flow with Uke’s strike and motions redirecting him to where he is strong and Uke is weak then as he throws he will release his energry into the throw.  This is why it looks so effortless.  It takes practice but we all need to just – Relax.

Wow!

Where do I begin? The Robert Mustard seminar at the Sendokan dojo in Mississauga is over. Did you miss it? If so then that is a real shame. Those in attendance will echo my sentiments.

The day was filled with an incredible amount of energy and wet willies. There turn out was fantastic and everyone came focused on training. The classess flew by leaving everyone wanting more. The mirrors were fogged and everyone was breathing heavy and dripping in sweat and loving every minute of the experience.

Mustard Sensei is as complex as he is gifted. At first glance one might be intimidated by Mustard Sensei and if that was not enough then his “reputation” might be enough to put some on edge. Mustard Sensei commands everyone’s attention from the moment he strides out onto the mats. Then within seconds he puts all at ease. The seminar was not only informative and inspirational but it was extremely entertaining. Robert Mustard has a “way” about him. Robert Mustard is extremely easygoing, relaxed and a dynamic speaker. When Robert Mustard speaks, his passion for aikido cannot be hidden.

Saturday consisted of two classes and a demonstration. The underlying focus of the day was to teach us how to use the energy given to us by Uke and to show us that to do this we need to relax, “The easiest thing to do in aikido is to relax and the hardest thing to do in aikido is realx”. “If you want power then don’t use power”.  The importance of a strong kamae and strong basic movements was shown as well.  These principles were demonstrated through nikkajo, tenchinage and timing throws.  These concepts may seem simple but I believe their importance is quite often overlooked.  I am fortunate that in my training thus far, Bindner Sensei has stressed these ideals with me and instilled in me their importance.  Seeing them used again in such a dynamic environment only helped to drive home their importance.

The day took a look at smaller aspects of Yoshinkan Aikido that are important but easily overlooked.  As Mustard Sensei said at the start of the day, “you can learn the basic movements at your own dojos, lets make them powerful”.  From that point on it was one fantastic insight after another.  Subtlties with our direction of Uke’s energy that take a technique from “kind of worked” to “Wow, do that again!”

I want to take a moment to again thank Mustard Sensei for sharing his Aikido and stories with us and Mills Sensei for organizing this event.  I can’t wait for next year!

There were several different aspects of Mustard Sensei’s classes and I think it will be best if I discuss each one in an individual post.  The topics include the impact of being relaxed, how to control Uke by stealing his heart, and the importance of being a good uke.