Yes,you've cited individuals.I think "the least" is a good summation.Individuals whom you believe tapped into something- which you are at an utter loss to describe how it made anything they did any different than what anyone else does. Hence, merely a belief you have.Not unlike a belief in a state of grace. King Wen??? Remind me to tell you about a Briton warduke with a magic sword sometime.Got some interesting tales of Davy Crockett you'd love too. As to "it has to be felt",that was in post 109 by Phantom Power.He also used the term "internal strength", and a "different way of moving the body".In post 79 he stated "just lots of hard work developing basic body skills and how that relates to ki".Now if one wishes to describe the usage of these skills as ch'i I guess you can,but unless that is simply one's definition of ch'i,which has nothing to do with tapping into some universal energy anymore than running does- I don't know about the other individuals he mentions but as regards Mr.Sigman as he is using the "internal mechanics" utilized by practitioners of various CMAs I would simply ask how do these mechanics make it anymore ch'i powered than Marvin Hagler's abilities? I like Sigman, I've read his writings over the years.He's been critical of the holding back and jive talking amongst the TC teachers. "Internal strength" is a viable term for these things if one wishes to put it that way-(I prefer just "internal mechanics")-as it can be used to describe the result/ability of using these mechanics. "It" chooses to expressed through us?What does? The result of mechanics? Or does your universal energy have a consciousness that it can choose what to do? Sounds like you're speaking along the lines of a diety. Oh,and as to "it has to be felt". I've felt it.Many,many,many,many times.And done it.I was lucky enough to have studied with and been the training partner for one of the better individuals in my TC generation. Or do you feel I'm not doing these things because I eschew the idea that's it's ch'i as opposed to what Sugar Ray Robinson did? (Unless the definition of ch'i is simply being powered by internal mechanics?) So I'm not really executing for example fajin because I just utilize mechanics? You better have as much experience in these things as I do if I'm supposed to think that.Do you? Nothing you have posted so far would lead me to believe that-change my mind,describe something in concrete terms rather than your consistently hazy descriptions which say nothing.So it's humorous of you who seems to know nothing of these things to tell me I might cross paths with "the right teacher". See, what your missing is that the angles,timing,etc still have to be there.To say "happens naturally" is once again a statement on your part which says nothing. If a person throws a rear hand without consciously thinking to do it that qualifies as happening naturally,doesn't it? People do that all the time. I'd opine the terms used today are MUCH more accurate in yielding an explanation than many of the terms used in the past.At least those of us who do these things can describe them concretely.Please note Phantom mentioned in post 79 lots of hard work,and quality explanations.I suppose tho' that contradicts your belief system. You seem unable to describe anything other than in ambiguous terms.A belief system that others wrote about for years? Like the 4 Humours in western medicine-or as the Bunny cited,the Philospher's Stone. You asked if I felt that Aikido was an "external art".I asked why it was moreso than Kenjutsu.Your answer basically tells me that it is too.So all systems must be.Which is why such designations don't mean much-unless you're simply speaking of "internal mechanics". Which you still haven't told me Aikido has training methods for. Breathing exercises alone don't make the grade.So why don't you tell us what it is you're doing in your "infancy",as you put it? Funny I mentioned TC-you did. That story about Yang,-(other than as was discussed by others that teachers hold back except for family and some disciples)- is junk.You are unaware that one of his acknowledged top 3 disciples was Chuan Yuck,a Manchurian?Or are you saying that (new) Wu system is not a true transmission? Guess you don't know that Yang,Cheng-fu trained with and learned from among others,Chuan Yuck's son. So what internal training do you know about that Lu-ch'an did? Other than mechanics.Be specific, no tapping into the universe stuff.Descriptions of methods please. Your founder's verse-perhaps he was mentioning the water/fire training methods in noi gung? My sig-you're sure that it doesn't equate to not trying to delve into that which cannot be understood lest one descend into the mouth of madness? A warning I've heard/read from more than one ch'i gung instructor.Not that I'm saying it does. Anyhoo, I've got very personal reasons for choosing that as my sig. You're teacher's words are true.But until you can give me some real info I must say you ain't pointing me anywhere's.
Took another mappers advice and I have added "The Spirit of Aikido" by K. Ueshiba to my library of martial arts books. After I came across it at a discount bookstore I briefly leafed through it, and went ahead and bought it. Can't recall who recomended it to me, but thanks. Some of the book is available on google books, like the first 19 or so pages, and I'm sure it is available online through Amazon if anyone is interested. I'll post the link for the pages that are available on google books if anyone wants to read a little of it, and then I'll post two additional quotes from the book from Osensei regarding his understanding of ki: http://books.google.com/books?id=uEDgHTSZEbQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+spirit+of+aikido&hl=en&ei=T2YATY7zKcL98AbP4tnRBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false "Through budo I trained my body thoroughly and mastered its ultimate secrets, but I also realized an even greater truth. That is, when I grasped the real nature of the universe through budo, I saw clearly that human beings must unite mind and body and the ki that connects the two, and then achieve harmony with the activity of all things in the universe." and... "By virtue of the subtle workings of ki we harmonize mind and body and the relationship between the individual and the universe. When the subtle working of ki is unhealthy the world falls into confusion and the universe into chaos. The harmonizing of a united ki-mind-body with the activity of the universe is critical for order and peace in the universe." okay...a third and final one: "...When one unifies mind and body by virtue of ki and manifests ai-ki (harmony of ki), delicate changes in breath-power occur spontaneously and waza (proper technique) flows freely." There are some other quotes, and a pretty good explination of the founders understanding of ki and ai-ki via his son K. Ueshiba. Hope you all enjoy! There are two quotes from
... I have to say that, to me at least, all of the above quotes sound like the type of nonsense you can find in a bad SF novel to justify magic/supertechnology while trying not to break suspension of disbelief. Pseudo-philosophical nonsense. Maybe my mind and body just aren't harmonised enough, and the relationship between myself and the universe doesn't properly link in to the intrinsic energy field of Xenu's great power plant or something, but it still sounds like babble. Yep. Try it. Cliffs are a good place for this test.
Why didn't the translators translate the word Ki? I think this is an important question to ask when reading these books. Why is the word Ki never translated? What is it they are trying to sell you? I'm no expert on Japanese culture and belief systems. But what I do know is that generally they have little to no distinction between the mind, body and soul/spirit. And to me that is what those passages are talking about. It's not about some magical power. It's simple co-ordination and awareness. The ability to act instinctively without having to think about absolutely every single step. Gymnasts achieve this. Without religion and/or philosophy.
I thought the word "ki" was the translation :evil: The coordination of mind, body, spirit is something I believe is a big part of Aikido too. I don't think it is simple, I think the goal is to make it simple, but it starts off very complex. Even taking a practical definition that "ki = fighting spirit" is not telling the whole story. I could argue that ki is does not equal fighting spirit but instead strong fighting spirit is a demonstration of strong ki. Ki being more along the definition of ki = energy. Even so I would have no evidence to support these arguments that could not be picked apart in many ways as someone else with a different interpretation could do. I think it is more like peeling the onion. Each layer reveals another layer, but is there anything left when we are done? This coordination of mind, body, spirit can be inhibited by internal conflict. In fact, when mind, body, spirit do not agree on action, that is an internal conflict. Where there is internal conflict, people tend to hesitate, doubt, become indecisive, even panic as adrenaline levels rise. In internal conflict, one may want to shutdown, give up... this means the spirit to fight, the fighting spirit diminishes. Back to ki = fighting spirit... with internal conflict, fighting spirit diminishes in hesitation and despair; therefore, internal conflict = weaker fighting spirit = weaker ki. It is related.
For the most part people simply over think the problem of what ki is. Which in my opinion is what creates the internal conflicts. I've trained with people who couldn't even do simple things like put one foot in front of the other because they're constantly looking for something else. Some deeper meaning. I'm not saying it's easy to suddenly put aside all your inhibitions and suddenly become super confident. However I am now thoroughly convinced that all this running around trying to "find" Ki and all that is just a distraction. In principle mind and body co-ordination is fairly simple. In practice it's harder to get your body to do what you want it to do and have the confidence to push your boundaries. But this is what practice is for.
