Originally Posted by
glad2bhere
If its any help, the approach that I take to the matter of "ai-ki" is less as a force to be harnessed and more as a tactical or strategic approach. In this way I view it, at its most basic expression, as simply the counterpoint to "ki-ai". Plain and simple.
Now, before I get tuned-up on for not knowing what the hell I am talking about let me also say that I have a view of "ai-ki" as a combative methodology. In such a case, the skill level of the practitioner is such that he is able to attune himself to the response levels of the attacker so as to not just anticipate, but use that anticipatory skill to control and overcome his attacker. However, this is more of an original thought and not one that I have found much discussed. Thoughts?
I belive that this view/interpretation of aiki has been covered in one or more of the previous "what is aiki?" type threads here at E-Budo and also over on the AikidoJournal forums; Toby Threadgill on the Bugei forums has a well-written short essay on the subject.
From the The Bugei Sword Discussion Forum FAQs section on Aikido, Aikijutsu & Aikijujutsu (http://swordforumbugei.com/phpBB2/vi...c.php?t=1202):
"Aiki" is actually an old name for a group of kenjutsu tactics that employed mental inertia, disruption and involuntary reflex to defeat ones opponent...
In taijutsu, aiki principles are most effectively employed in conjunction with jujutsu waza....hence the name aikijujutsu. At its highest level of execution aikijujutsu is characterized by sophisticated jujutsu waza which employs mental disruption and soft joint locks to throw or immobilize an attacker. Aiki taken even farther in taijutsu becomes the aforementioned aiki no waza (aiki jutsu) which almost totally eschews joint locking in favor of very subtle kuzushi and mental disruption to defeat an attack. Most aiki no waza should be viewed as a study of physical and mental dynamics as opposed to effective self defense."
-Tobin E Threadgill / Kaicho
Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin Kai
Respectfully,
Jim Yang