Coiling power and Aikido

Tenshikei 纏絲勁 is a Japanese term for a Chinese martial arts term Chán sī jìn. “Tenshi” commonly refers to Silk-reeling in traditional styles such as Taijiquan (太極拳).

Coiling power is the result of specialized training method to improve “Elastic Potential Energy”.
Tenshikei is the basic idea of a training method to store energy in the body.

We consider 2 basic forms of energy:

  • Energy generated by muscle action and converts in muscle power useful for creating momentum and leverage
  • Energy stored into the ligaments, tendons and fascia usefull for converting into kinetic potential energy

Elastic energy

Elastic potential energy is stored in ligaments, tendons and fascia and is the result of 2 possible actions of the body

  • the action of compressing and releasing of a springlike movement
  • the action of drawing a bow and shooting an arrow movement

How to use elastic potential energy

We will use drawing a bow and shooting an arrow as an example to explain the converting from eleastic potential energy to the power at the target.
The power must first be stored up by by pulling the bowstring. The energy stored in the archer’s bow represents elastic potential energy. When the bowstring is released, this stored elastic potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, which is then transferred into the arrow, propelling it into flight.

The human body and the archer’sbow

The human body can function like a bow. If there is no string, the body has no inherent power. By dropping for example the body weight into the hara, we create the same as adding a string to the bow.
A body rotation acts as pulling the string of a bow. Rotation is a movement without displacement of space. It signifies a movement without displacement.

Rather than treating the body as one large bow, you must realize that we could compartmentalize the body into multiple smaller bows. A leg can be considered as a bow, the same applies for the arms. And we cannot forget our spine which can act as a large bow.

The characteritics of an archer’s bow
The “back” of a bow, the part that faces a target, is stretched or pulled away from itself. The “belly” of a bow, facing the person shooting it, is pushed together. Not to forget the ever important neutral axis, this runs longways through the bow from tip to tip, it has the job of keeping tension and compression separated. When a bow is unstrung, it is basically like a stick, it has yin and yang in it, but they are not seperated until it is strung. When you put it under tension, by restricting the two ends, it is in a dynamic separated state. If it is well made, the forces of tension and compression will be balanced, and therefore power is maximised.
When pulling the string extra energy is added to the bow. When releasing the string, the stored energy is transferred into the arrow.

Ko-mawari, using compressive force

The exercise emphasizes the rotation of the body and the use of the legs as a compression force. The compressive force is generated by pushing down the koshi in the direction of the foot. The knee has no active role to play, however it is not held in a fixed or rigid position.

Research and Kenji Tomiki

Sometimes, people blame me not to follow the traditional methods of my teachers. In fact, they are shortsighted and they cannot see through the movements and see the basics supplemented by methods to improve efficiency.

Kenji Tomiki created some basic methods derived from Morihei Ueshiba’s art and asked his students and followers to do more research to develop an effective Aiki-randori method.
This research is definitely a key activity for Tomiki Aikido instructors. Of course we have to cherish the work of Kenji Tomiki, but we have to keep in mind that the method was and is still not complete.

Warming-up

The moment you put your foot in the tatami, your training begins. Generally, training begins to warm-up. The concepts of Aikido are integrated in the warming-up exercises explained in this blog.

Body-turning warming up can be used to integrate the “tenshikei-concept”. The upperbody is turning on the bottom of the pelvis. The turning has a diagonal direction. The legs are neither static of dynamic, the movement os the legs is the result of the body turning.


Unsoku-ho – footwork

The are various methods of footwork and the most basic are:

  • Ayumi ashi – alternate stepping
  • Tsuri ashi – sliding feet
  • Tsugi ashi – shuffle
  • De-mawari – forward stepping and turning
  • Hiki-mawari – backward stepping and turning

Step forward and backward with weight displacement and body rotation.

De-mawari and hiki-mawari

Tsugi ashi and basics

Posture and footwork

Essentially, “Mushin Mugamae”* is adopted at the outset of a confrontation. During the confrontation, different situations may arise and require different postures and different footwork.

We may go forward and back in a straight line or we may use a zigzag pattern.
The straight line will be used especially in the absence of physical contact. The zigzag line method will be used mainly during physical contact.

*mushin mugamae

Bodyweight shift

Shizentai is an essential posture to begin with.
Body weight can be moved left or right. Keep the centre line to the opponent’s centre.

At times we may put the two feet parallel when adopting a posture in randori.
When moving the body weight, hold the center line towards the opponent.

To move the body weight, we need to lower our body weight center by releasing the tension in the groin area. The area of the groin in the body is where the upper thighs meet the lower abdominal area. By releasing tension, we create a rounded crotch that is necessary to shift body weight without losing balance.

Body turning and Tenshikei

During Aikido training, body turn is frequently used to avoid an incoming attack. But body turn is more than avoiding an attack, it can be used to improve your power used during a confrontation.
Important is the correct timing when using body turn.
Another important item in body turn is the use of the “koshi”.

Koshi
All good martial techniques arise from the Koshi 腰.
The ideograph is read in Chinese like Yao and into Japanese like Yo or Koshi. In martial arts literature, Koshi/Yo* is typically translated as “hips” and Yao as “waist.” Those translations are incomplete and deceiving.

*koshi / yo =waist, hips – 腰部-Yōbu= pelvis, pelvic region, hips, loins, waist

A good place to start is not trying to translate these words in your native language. Any translation will inevitably lead to a restriction of our comprehension.

Tenshikei
Turning body does not always create “tenshikei” or “coiling power”. To coil is to circle around a point, area or axis using a spiraling motion.


Tenshikai is explained by Akira Hino, a Japanese Budo researcher as follows:
To explain Tenshikei, I’ll give a metaphor of a rifle. Think of it as having the same mechanism as a rifle. Your body is the rifle barrel, and Tenshikei is the spiral grooves cut in the inner surface of the gun barrel. The spiral grooves create a longer distance for a bullet to travel, and by gaining frictional resistance during the travel, the bullet increases its force and precision.
Hino , Akira . Don’t Think, Listen to the Body!: Introduction to the Hino Method and Theory of human body and movement control (p. 97).

Coiling power is not easy to generate. A great deal of training is needed on how to use the flexibility qualities of the body. The arms and shoulders are just used to transport the power to the target. Fundamentally, they are not used to generate power.

Kyokotsu – Using the sternum

The use of kyokotsu has no energy output. The lower part of the body (koshi-tanden) is the source of the power coming from the legs. Koshi is the one who started it.
The role of kyokotsu is to prepare the upper body to transmit power from the legs to the arms.
By moving kyokotsu, the power can be guided toward the arms through the front or the back of the body.
See also the picture about vertical cutting with a sword.

Aikido waza

Step, shift and turn

Fundamentally, when practising techniques, we will perform a step, followed by body weight shifting and finishing with body turning.
In Tomiki’s Basic 17 Kata, “step,shift and turn” is often used to perform waza from the tegatana awase distance.

Of course, it is possible to practise bodyweight shift and bodyturn with a partner without stepping. But in most of the cases, we need some stepping to finish with a technique.

You can find a few examples from Hideo Ohba and Itsuo Haba in the next video clip – Yawara Dojo 1978.

Koshi mawari and basics

Integration of koshi mawari is necessary to generate coiling power. There are several ways to enhance koshi mawari and tenshikei.
Solo exercises as mentioned above in this article are the first steps when you like to enhance the effectiveness of your basic techniques.

Kote gaeshi

Kote mawashi

Aikido waza within the framework of Randori

Before you can get into randori, you need to learn how to apply techniques when the situation occurs.
It’s a pretty unique concept in Tomiki Aikido to do randori where we put Aikido waza against Aikido waza. The goal is to use Aikido concepts in a randori setting.
Of course, you must have a basic skill set.

Resilience, a balance…

Budo Aikido: the Art of Aikido

“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.”
Gustav Mahler–

Can we improve our Budo Aikido with exercises? Yes, but unfortunately there are too many for practising during 1 training session.
As we all know, prof. Tomiki is famous for rationalizing aikido and created logical structures for practising. Some of the movements can be catalogued as exercises, other are catalogued as martial techniques.

Well known are:

  • Unsoku ho: foot movements
  • Tandoku undo (Nagashi kata): hand and foot movements
  • Tegatana awase: moving with a partner when “tegatana” are joined
  • Shotei awase: using hand palm as a flexible power exercise
  • ……..

Some problems with the standard exercises

If we follow Tomiki’s scripts do you think there will be some improvement? Kenji Tomiki studied for many years with Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan Judo and with Morihei Ueshiba the founder of Aikido. The question arises: Did he incorporate all the skills he learned in his concept of Aikido?

Maybe the way of training he compiled is an ideal method for Sports Aikido, but certainly not for Budo Aikido. Some elements are missing in the training model.

  • How to attack a “physiological” weak point.
  • How to use tanden/koshi/yōbu (hara)
  • How to connect arms and legs to the central body
  • more……

atemi 005

There are some pictures of goshin-jutsu atemi, but there is not any explanation about how to use a body-part as a weapon (fist, handblade,….). There is also a belief Koryu no kata will give you a better understanding of self-defense (goshin). Without proper instruction, the positive effect of koryu no kata will be minimal on your training.

How to solve these problems?

Because the old masters are gone, we cannot ask them for advice. Some of the present day “shihan” are trying to incorporate their “cross training” ideas into Tomiki Aikido, either Sports Aikido or Budo Aikido.

Cross training for Budo Aikido

Not every martial art is compatible with Budo Aikido and not all the components of a martial art are usefull for Budo Aikido.

20190501_161157Study Group Tomiki Aikido instructors have a broad experience in different martial arts. A very compatible method is Hino Budo, a composite martial art created by Akira Hino.

Martial arts like Iaido, Jodo, Karate (Wado Ryu), Hakko Ryu, Renshinkan Daito Ryu…. have also an impact on the training syllabus.

Renshinkan Daito Ryu is briefly mentioned in the blog article of Koryu no Kata Dai Yon (3)

The challenge is of course “How to integrate?”. The answer is not that simple because we need to understand physically and mentally the compatible components. These problems are not only for martial arts, but also for other fields of society. To solve the problem we have to look at the Toyota Kata , and in particular the Improvement Kata.

The Improvement Kata according Mike Rother.

The improvement kata is a routine for moving from the current situation to a new situation in a creative, directed, meaningful way. It is based on a four-part model:

  1. In consideration of a vision or direction…
  2. Grasp the current condition.
  3. Define the next target condition.
  4. Move toward that target condition iteratively, which uncovers obstacles that need to be worked on.

In contrast to approaches that attempt to predict the path and focus on implementation, the improvement kata builds on discovery that occurs along the way.

Improving martial movements

As mentioned in another blog post, the body can be divided into 3 part.

3 system body

The axial skeleton is the central part of the body and “kyokotsu” is the control panel. When we control the kyokotsu , we can control the spine. Besides controlling the spine, kyokotsu is also the entry to the abdomen – koshi, tanden & yōbu.

Connecting “kyokotsu” with elbow

Connecting the kyokotsu with the elbow is a matter of using your mind. Focus on the kyokotsu and on a specific point of the elbow. Once you notice the connection, you have access to the power of the central body.

Connecting “kyokotsu” with knee
††

As with the elbow/kyokotsu connection, it is the mind that makes the connection. When you feel the connection you have access to the central body which included “Tanden- Koshi-Yōbu”, the power center of the human body.
The power from earth can be directed to the arms into the opponent via the controlpanel: kyokotsu

Tanden- Koshi-Yōbu

The power center of the human body is mentioned many times in martial arts. But can you feel this center?
To make it simple or more complicatied, the center of gravity in the human body is located in this area. If this is disturbed, we have difficulties to keep our balance. A solution is to tense all the surrounding muscles of the center. This is of course not the best solution because our movements will be limited. Using the kyokotsu as a tool to move the spine is restricted. Tenshi movements of the central body becomes limited and in some cases can damage the body.
Learning to relax the body is a skill to be learned for all facet of human being. A skill to find balance between relax and tension.

Resilience, a balance between relax and tension

Making the connection is not always easy. Mind and body need to be in a state of resilience. When someone is relaxed, there is no power. When someone is strained, there is too much power. To make the connection between kyokotsu, elbow and knee, resilience is the first condition.
But what is exactly resilience?
Resilience is the ability to cope with a crisis or to return to pre-crisis status quickly. It is a skill useful during martial arts training and its application when you have to deal with an aggresive movement, physically and/or mentally.

How to obtain the state of “Resilience”?

Among the many exercises, Ritsuzen occupies a place of first choice and is a prime for finding the center of the human body. It requires no special equipment, it requires very little space and especially because it can be practiced alone. Then, it is one of the very few exercises that, from a medical point of view, has no harmful side effects for the body.

There are some scientific studies on the effects of ritsuzen on the body. What is interesting is that, in general, we do not speak in too abstract terms when we try to explain this extraordinary exercise. Expressions such as “ki” are not used. It is all about good oxygenation and increased circulation of blood, nervous relaxation, strengthening of the immune system and heart muscle, increased sensory perception.
The body becomes in a state of resilience after practising ritsuzen on a regular base.

Zhan zhuang is the Chinese word for Ritsuzen. More info on Wikipedia.

Other exercises to obtain “Resilience”

The Study Group Tomiki Aikido exercises are not fixed and will change slightly or dramatically according the experiences we encounter during our training sessions. To follow in the footsteps of Kenji Tomiki and Hideo Ohba just by copying the methods is not creative and our aikido will become meaningless. And as Gustave Mahler said one time: “we must maintain the fire alive“.

  • Routines to locate “kyokotsu”
  • Routines to connect “kyokotsu” with elbow and/or knee
  • Ido ryoku, creating power from stepping movements
  • Tenshikei, creating power from rotational and spiral movements
  • ……

Kata, the ultimate exercise

The practise of kata is always controversial. It is the representation of an ideal aikido image and for this reason it can become a delusion.

Kata can be viewed as a group of exercises. But the exercises are not fixed, their nature is very dynamic and during your training in the long term it will change. Kata in the beginning is very simple if we look at the outside. During training we will discover more and more the many possibilities of our mind and body, our kata changes from a 2D image into a 3D image. Because there is also the dynamic nature, this will also affect the final form. Of course we can ask ourselves “is there a final form?”.

Training make wonders

old pictures shizuoka shihan

1976 – Shizuoka City
Korindo Ryu Dojo

“You don’t have the skill to understand me” Hakamatsu Shihan

Korindo Shizuoka kopie

How to become skilful?

I realize that there will be no end to my training to become skilful. The interesting part is “the way” to become skillful. It is not a large “boulevard”, no it is a road along small squares, interesting people and much to fall and get up.

Don’t take falling down too literally…….

Every time I come across interesting people, I try to listen to them in an empty mind. The goal of this empty mind is to absorb as much as it can. That information has to become a part of my body………

Improving our aikido by practising and understanding the language of our body

When we do not improve something, it tends to degenerate and worsen as time progresses.

Therefore, I firmly believe that it is up to us to try to understand the many exercises and their objectives. Unfortunately, the creators have already left us a long time ago and only a few written documents or movies, mostly bad quality, are available or were left behind. This means that we must rely on our intuition and understanding of our anatomy and kinesiology to discover the wisdom and true teaching hidden within the exercises.