Welcome to DAITO RYU AIKI JUJUTSU AUSTRALIA

Senior Shodan ( Black belt) Grading's were held on 1/12/06 at the Highton Dojo

Back Row ( from left to right): Christian Sheriff-Smith, Adrian Menzel, Mitchell Bailey, Geoff Smith, Hugh Matthews and Anh Thy Tran Ngoc (Brenda) .

Front Row ( from left to right):Peter Troop,Paul Boeders, Leigh Dicker, and Kevin Malberg

Congratulations to the following members who achieved their next level sanctioned by Kawabe Sensei at the November 2006 grading event.

Author’s note: The following is no more than my own thoughts, accumulated from readings and talks heard from various masters and teachers. I am no more qualified on the subject than your own study and experience. Please read this food for thought with an open mind. Enjoy.

The topic of the “ego” is not new to the martial arts or to those who have undertaken the challenging path to become a complete human being. Yet, it is one that is often and easily forgotten.

The term, “ego”, in this context is not referring to over-confidence, arrogance or vanity. It is the “ego” of the “ME”.

The ego is where most of us operate from in the course of our daily lives and in the dojo. If you stop for a moment to think about it, don’t you always find yourself thinking from a point of, “I, my and me”? It is easy to do. We are so habitualised to live and relate to the world around us from this standpoint of “ME”. It is as simple and as unconscious as, “Hey, he cut into my lane,” or, “Well, I hold the opinion that…” or, “That car space is mine.” This is the ego relating to the world, not our innate and natural self. When we relate in this dualistic way to those around us and situations of everyday life, we miss the actual reality and instead, insert our own perspective on reality. These alternate or personal realities are based on our self-serving ideas, experiences and time hardened attitudes and behaviours. While it is true to say that we are all indeed individuals and have had our own unique experiences and lives up to this point, there is an inherent danger in an internal dialogue that originates from “I …”. We are all smaller parts of a larger whole.

If you stopped and thought for a moment of the all the people in your household, then all the people in your street, then neighbourhood and city, having their own internal dialogues, perspectives and reactions each day as they go about their lives and their plans, ideas, hopes and misfortunes…that’s a lot of I, my and me’s, interacting with the world isn’t it? How then, is there space in our day-to-day existence for anything or anyone else? The sad answer is, not much. And this is also true when we step into the dojo.

Although there may be opposing views, the martial arts are considered by some to be more than physical movements for self-defence and the protection of loved ones and others unable to defend themselves. We can and should view the martial arts as a unique vehicle for growth and newfound balance in all aspects of our daily lives. The martial arts are a perfect tool for confronting the deeper aspects of the self. Once we know who we truly are and not just who we imagine ourselves to be and we strip away all the filters of past experience and future desires, we’re left with the innate and natural self, able to experience the present moment with greater honesty. Through meditation and our martial training, we can continue to remain in moment-to-moment awareness. This enables us to see unbiased reality. Slowly we become accustomed to this new way of relating to the world, just as it is, without all the baggage of our inherited and accumulated opinions. This will give us balance to react appropriately and honestly in all situations whether they be peaceful or combative, happy or sad, tragic or joyful.

One of the most essential keys to “deconstruct the house that Ego built,” is consistent and sustained meditation practice. Meditation helps to calm the choppy surface of the ocean that is our discriminating and dualistic mind. Meditation centres the breath, body and consciousness, allowing us to remain grounded and not be overturned by the first large swell that threatens our ego sitting at the helm of our every action. If we displace our ego from the rudder of our lives then the buffeting waves of life will be handled calmly and naturally, instead of our emotions swinging wildly from one direction to another as our feelings are hurt or insecurities surface. Over time, meditation will cultivate the natural and true self. We will then no longer feel the need to fight against the currents and we’ll find the surface of our mind returning quickly to a mirror-like calm. Objective reality will be right before our eyes and we will be able to see it as plainly as the nose on our face. Our mind will still be rocked from time to time by life’s trials and tribulations, but with constant training and meditation, it will settle quickly, unperturbed by the threatening storms of life.

If we train in the dojo without the notion of, “ME”, and strip away thoughts of, my defence, my timing and my technique, what will we be left with? We will find there is only, … defence, … timing and … technique. We must attempt to, “deconstruct the house that Ego built.” Then we will get what we truly need from our training and not be caught up in what we desire.

Philosophy is a way of viewing the universe at large. Martial artists can use philosophy to explore the how and why of things. In order to be effective martially, an understanding of cause and effect is essential as well as keen perception. Philosophy is a tool to hone understanding of the world around us and focus perception on principles that are important for development both martially and personally. Looking deeply into seemingly small things can lead to a broadening of worldview and conversely, broadening ones view can help with understanding small things.

Below is a collection of principles and thoughts related to the practice of martial arts as understood by traditional Jujutsu, Aiki Jujutsu and Aikido practitioners. Chinese philosophy has strongly influenced the Japanese so included here are some thoughts and approaches gleaned from Tai Chi and Bagua.

For the author martial arts is a way of self-improvement enabling the enhancement of mind and body through focused practice. Concurrent with this is the development of capacity to effectively defend from aggression on physical, mental and even spiritual levels.

Ju from the word jujutsu means soft, pliant or giving. This can mean, when someone pushes a jujutsuka will pull, when someone pulls a jujutsuka will push. Also it can mean accepting the aggressive force of an opponent in order to guide or direct it. Not attempting to directly resist a force but to softly but firmly deflect it or channel it in a desired direction. This physical manifestation is only a small part of this principle, which also encompasses the mind. The principle of Ju comes from an understanding of opposites. This understanding can encompass many aspects of martial art, yin and yang, soft and hard, internal and external. There are no absolutes in this, just relative measures. Things are never completely black and white. Ju also comes from the idea of harmony, which was originally espoused by Taoist monks and then reinforced by Buddhist teachings throughout Asia. Being in harmony means to flow with and not against, thus minimising the amount of effort required. Harmony extends to the internal, being in harmony with yourself as well as external being at one with the world around you. This harmony should manifest itself in a relaxed state, the body is not held rigidly because the mind is ready for anything. Tension or rigidity implies that the mind is already set on a course thus manifesting itself in muscle tension. Ju can be said to be an understanding of conservation of energy, if you receive energy freely why not use it.

Understanding of Ki is always a work in progress. This concept can provide an esoteric element to martial arts. While many of the functions of Ki can be explained physically there is also an internal and a spiritual aspect to the understanding of Ki. In order to fully appreciate the benefits of Ki development an open mind is required.

Ki can be viewed as a harmonious unity of mind, energy and direction. Ki cannot be forced or rather Ki is not forced.

This is the use of Ki to deliver powerful linear strikes blows or blocks. Ki is concentrated and used like a hardened Japanese sword to cut through an opponent or object. This use of Ki can be explosive in terms of its application. Compared to striking arts, the use of this type of use of energy is less frequent in Jujutsu than that of soft Ki. Importantly the development of hard Ki should not be neglected, as it forms a significant part of the skill base of a Jujutsuka. Examples of the use of hard Ki include the atemi strikes that are used to distract a martial opponents.

This use of Ki is circular guiding or deflecting. The development of soft ki martially requires a great deal of mind/body coordination and timing. The extension of ki outwards from the centre is a critical aspect of this application. Soft Ki is used to dissipate the energy of attack and to redirect the motion of an opponent. Examples of the use of soft Ki include; blending, throws and projections and classic moves such as kote gaeshi. It is a good idea not to over analyse soft Ki, but to allow it to happen and to feel it. This will help with developing an intuitive sense of how Ki works. An uncluttered mind is a relaxed mind – soft ki, like water, follows the path of least resistance. When movements are executed well with soft Ki the doing is effortless.

Harmonious unified movement that can be achieved through mushin. Flow is a ceaseless transition of movements where the practitioner responds seamlessly without pause to the requirements of the changing nature of attacking force(s). Flow can be simultaneously defensive and offensive or polarised as offence or defence. All that is required is to move according to the principles of harmonious energy. Good flow of movement conserves energy and is efficient. This type of movement is only attained after repetitive training, which leads to neuromuscular patterning. The end result of effective martial training is mushin.

Elite Jujitsu is a non-competitive self-defence martial art neither is Takumakai Daito Ryu. This means that the focus is not on learning how to beat another person – it is on learning how to control aggression and the aggressive energy of attack. Competitive sports have their place if you are seeking to prove yourself against others. Competition is also useful to test yourself. It is in this later category that Elite Jujitsu uses carefully designed randori. This is a form of free play intended to test and improve skills – not determine who is the better fighter. The Dojo is not a place to glorify the strongest of us, it is a place to empower the weakest.

Relax – a relaxed mind is able to respond spontaneously and effectively. A relaxed mind is not asleep but receptive and aware – listening, looking, feeling, tasting, smelling – open to any signals it may receive from the senses.

Tension makes it harder to respond spontaneously – often tension creates a rigidity that hardens the mind/body against a pre-determined event. Sustained tension in effect can dampen awareness because it hardens in one direction. Tension is utilised fleetingly as a transitional state because the Jujutsuka’s goal is remain balanced and relaxed. Jujutsuka will utilise tension as part of a movement or strategy but rarely is the whole body (or mind) held in sustained tension. This holding of tension results in tests of strength, which may ultimately rob a practitioner of the ‘skill’, required to overcome an aggressive force.

1. Zanshin – “remaining spirit” – or remaining mind this is related to completion or finishing a thing. In the execution of a martial technique it means to ensure completion in terms of the technique and the situation. Being in the moment and giving all thus not scattering energy – no hesitation. The mind of Zanshin is like a deep still lake ready to reflect whatever is before it.

2. Mushin – “no mind” – Its spontaneity permits instantaneous action without conscious thought.

3. Fudoshin - "immovable mind" –during times of confrontation the mind of fudoshin is calm and serene and able to think clearly .

(P.S. This edition has been some what rushed out yet again to meet the deadline for the Web Site publishing updates ( Will this ever change). Contributions for future editions of the News Letter are most welcome).

EDITORS NOTE