In this Issue... The S.O.S. (subject of the season) • Kudos • The Shameless Plug
The S.O.S.
Aikido and Effective Non-Resistance
by Dave Goldberg
One of the buzz words associated with Aikido is "non-resistance." Okay, so if Aikido is non-resistant, then what is non-resistance? This is a topic that in my experience is often misunderstood. So lets first start with what it doesn't mean in order to quell any initial misconceptions. Non-resistance does not mean soft or passive. Many people, in fact, classify Aikido as a "soft" art, or a "soft style." This is a huge simplification that misses the point of non-resistance, and ultimately the dimensionality of Aikido. Aikido does of course include soft qualities, but it also seems to transcends those labels, and here’s why. When we say “non-resistance,” what we mean is that action and response is in complementary accordance with what's actually happening. That means that non-resistance in action, for lack of a better word, is simply appropriateness. That includes hard, soft, slow, fast, direct, or any other relative quality. It just depends on what's actually happening. Effective non-resistance cannot and does not deny the reality of violence. Neither does Aikido. "Hard" is just another one of those relative qualities that just might be appropriate under certain conditions (like if the plane is about to fly into the building). Non-resistance deals with what IS. While the whole thing sounds very subjective, the spirit of non-resistance is not. In order to deal effectively with what IS, it requires action and response (given your relative skills) that's out of clarity. And that objectivity requires a calm, unattached relationship to the event. A hard response does not have to come out of anger or hate. It just might be necessary. If you ever find yourself in a situation where a hard and uncompromising solution was necessary, ask yourself the question, "Did I not care, or did I not mind?" That'll give you some insight into where your spirit is. Without that awareness, I’m afraid that the space provided by active non-resistance could be misinterpreted to mean that anything is okay (the end justifies the means).
In Aikido, we practice non-resistance on the mat by injecting ourselves into the stream of attack and then redirecting it with techniques that naturally flow out of the stream itself. Practicing this way is a choice to see conflict in a certain way, and that has a profound effect on us whether we’re on or off the mat. Does it mean that if you're attacked on the street it's going to happen the same way? Maybe, maybe not. You might include your attacker beautifully and defend yourself without any harm to him. You might also squash him. The tools are there for either outcome. The point is that on the mat you're practicing non-resistance at a very intentional level, and hopefully evolving. All the tools for an appropriate response are found in that training, and we have choices when we’re confronted in whatever form life presents. So, if we're going to walk our non-resistance talk, there’s some necessary things we can always have a look at in our own training in order to make better choices. Here's the biggie in my opinion. In order to make effective non-resistance manifest in your practice and in your life you must value receptive qualities just as much as assertive ones. That's a trick for most of us, because most of us come from a culture that values an aggressive competitive spirit. The fact, though, is that you cannot expect to effectively enter into attack without a commitment to receptivity and expect positive results. That's like communication without listening. It's going to be a train wreck. So do you? Do you value receptivity as much as activity, Yin as much as Yang, soft as much as hard? Do you value ukemi (receiving technique) as much as the opportunities you get to throw someone? Are you willing to step out of the position that you're attached to and into the stormy antithesis in order to discover better solutions? Non-resistance is a warriors path. It is not for wimps.
Kudos
Congrat’s to the following Aikidoka who recently passed exams for promotion. Thanks for your good work, and thanks to the mentors who helped you do a fine job.
Megan Palm (2nd Dan), Jonathon Purcell (1st Kyu), Dodge Williams (3rd Kyu), Laura Fleisch (4th Kyu), Jon French (5th Kyu), Jack Holdeman (5th Kyu), Jennifer Purcell (5th Kyu), Cathe Young (6th Kyu), George Parker (6th Kyu).
And also...
Congratulations to our friend, Patrick Cassidy Sensei (Aikido Montreux), who was recently promoted to 6th Dan. Come see him at ASD in February (see the Shameless Plug).
Thanks to Robert Nadeau Shihan and all the participants of April’s seminar. As always, it was an inspiring event.
The Shameless Plug
Did you know that Aikido of San Diego offers a weekly low-impact class? It’s both challenging and easy on the body. The same quality of natural and centered action and response is explored, except without all the falling. The class is presently Tuesdays at 7:30 PM. Later in the spring it’ll move to 6:15.
The Aikido of San Diego Picnic is on Saturday, June 21 at Rohr Park in Bonita. There will exams at 9:00, including Michael Hancock’s shodan exam. The picnic is immediately after, and you’re invited. Bring the family and friends if you like...and wear a dojo T-shirt if you’ve got one. More info and directions will be available at the dojo the week before. If you’re not going to be around just email and the information will magically arrive on your computer.
The Annual Aikido of San Diego Camp is scheduled for September 12-14. This is always a really fun Aikido/camping event, so save the date. Location and possible co-instructor to be announced soon. Check the website in mid-June for details.
Patrick Cassidy Sensei will be visiting for a seminar on February 27-28, and March 1, 2009. If you’ve been to one of his seminars, then I’m sure you’ll be making it again. If you’ve never been to one, then treat yourself. He’s only coming once every two years now, so I hope you take advantage of it. The alternative is flying to Switzerland, so save some money and time by seeing him in San Diego.
Visit us at http://www.aikidosd.com/
Copyright © 2008 Dave Goldberg
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