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Excerpt
reprinted with permission from www.bodymindandmodem.com
I
am by no means an expert in either Aikido or basketball, and I don't claim
to be. I've practiced Aikido for seven years and I've played basketball
since I was four. I'm now 25. All I can say is that I'm still learning
about both. Since I started practicing Aikido I have found ways to apply
it to my life in many ways, one of them being my basketball game. I have
found aspects of Aikido that have helped my defense, my passing, my shooting,
my rebounding, and every other part of the game I can think of.
I can my remember coaches of mine saying, "Pauly, you've got to stick to him like glue." My attitude then was, "Okay, coach, whatever." And my attitude was reflected in my defense, because it stunk. But I now realize that what those coaches said is about as true as it gets. You must develop a connection between yourself and the player you're covering so that it truly feels like you are sticking to him like glue. This idea has led to big improvements in that part of my game.
With passing it is the same idea. When you toss a lazy pass to a teammate chances are that it is either going to get picked off or, if the pass gets to where it is intended, nothing beneficial is going to come of it because the defender will already be there. But when you "see" your target, connect with that person, and zip it in to the player's hands, good things happen.
When shooting it is easy to determine if you have a good "ki" feeling or not. You receive immediate feedback by hearing either the crystal clear snap of a swish, or the deadening thud of the masonry work you've just performed. The idea of connection applies again, but there are other parts of Aikido that I've found can make my shooting almost flawless at times.
One way of "connecting" with the hoop is to actually imagine or picture the arc of the path you want the ball to follow. I usually focus on the front of the rim when shooting. If I feel that I am not quite hitting my shots the way I like, I will consciously picture an arc going from my hand to my target - the hoop. I do this from the time I begin my shot until the ball reaches the basket. If I look at the ball after I release it, I lose my focus, my connection, and my picture and (more often than not) I'll miss. If I make a point of having a picture, however, I can move about 25 to 30 feet away from the basket and hit my shots consistently. This isn't to say that I do this all the time, but when I'm working on my jumper or just looking to get that "feeling" in a game, I'll try this.
I use to play pick-up ball with some guys at my old Junior High School. One day one of the guys took it upon himself to instruct me in how to shoot a basketball. He preached, "It's all in the wrist, Pauly, it's all in the wrist," as he wore himself out chasing down his own misses. Well, it's not all in the wrists. As a matter of fact it's really not anywhere. I've found shooting to be a huge combination of parts working together to create that sweet jumper.
For me shooting has become one of the ki exercises that is practiced at the beginning of every single Aikido class. It is called Shomen Uchi Undo or, for those unfamiliar, raising and lowering the arms with a ki feeling. When practicing this exercise you must be stable or, as one of my instructors says, "dependable." The hips begin the movement and their movement forward propels your arms and helps them rise. After that, you let gravity lower your arms. Then you move your hips back. This is a very relaxed movement, yet when used in Aikido technique, it can be overwhelming and very powerful. Maruyama Sensei's idea "minimum effort for maximum effect" is always present.
I have learned this idea also applies to shooting a basketball. First, I am stable, "dependable" and squared up to the hoop. If unbalanced, the chances of the shot going in are already reduced unless compensated for in some other way. Then, my hips begin my movement and my arms rise up with the ball. Just before the peak of my jump, the ball is released. Gravity pulls my body and my arms down, my hips move back, then I hear "whooosh" and get ready to play defense. It sounds involved when reading it (even to me), but doing it is where the results are seen. It may work for you - or maybe you'll think I belong in the same place as the guy who says it's all in the wrist.
I'm
always looking to improve myself, whether it be in Aikido, basketball
or life. There is always room for improvement and it is up to each person
to push him or herself to that next level. I'm not a professional basketball
player and never will be, but I still look for ways to make myself better.
That is part of the foundation of Aikido and it should be a part of everyone's
life. Now I will look to apply these principles to another aspect of basketball,
coaching. It will be yet another way to challenge myself and, hopefully,
help others to be better.
Aikido
and Autism
by Dwight & Sheila Overmoyer
Excerpt
reprinted with permission from www.bodymindandmodem.com
Our
son, Austin has been attending the Rochester Aikido Kokikai class for
the past two years. Austin has enjoyed learning a variety of Aikido skills
and techniques, he has grown within its learning environment and has accomplished
the skills for both the white and yellow belts.
Austin is 9-years old. He is what's known in the medical and educational fields as a high-functioning child with autism. Autism is a life-long, developmental disorder. Autism affects the cognitive processes of an individual - which is displayed as limited social language and organizational skills. It is difficult for an individual with autism to discriminate cues or stimuli. Learning, both academically and socially, is a profound challenge. Many educational institutions have developed successful programs in teaching autistic children. Public school districts use modified curriculum/grade level objectives in educating autistic children.
The impact that Aikido has had on Austin has been tremendous! Three vital areas in Aikido that has helped Austin in personal growth has been through structure, repetition and socal interaction. Aikido creates a learning environment of structure and support. Aikido also offers a high degree of structured physical activity which is critical in the development of autistic children and with all children in general.
By learning tasks through a structured environment, Austin has developed a higher level of task retention and mental focus. Developing mental focus through structure allows Austin to improve his critical listening skills by learning the verbal cues of his Sensei. Through Austin's Sensei's instructions, Austin has improved his Aikido skills and has been able to build on new skill objectives.
Repetition
with positive reinforcement at Aikido has also increased Austin's concentration
and focus on perfecting tasks and skills during class. Each task requires
practice and repetition as part of the learning process. Austin interacts
with upper-belt students to practice the Aikido skills of that day. This
interaction involves physical activity, verbalization and repetition of
a task - all vital attributes of successful learning.
Austin practices the tasks and skills with his class partners and with
the careful instructions from his Sensei, Austin's concentration of perfecting
the given task has increased.
Formal testing in Aikido involves discriminating listening and direction from the Sensei. Austin has had successful opportunities to pass through belt levels and receive the immediate reward of applause from his peers and observing parents. This is a tremendous testing activity that raises Austin's self-confidence and self-esteem, which is vital in preparing him for future challenges in the outside world.
By involving Austin with his classmates in practicing Aikido tasks, the social success dimension now comes to focus.
Taking turns to perform a task, listening to instructions from his Sensei, the emphasis on safety with others, the enjoyment of working on Aikido skills with classmates and the fun of playing competitive games after a rigorous class are all vital character building blocks for any child in a social setting.
Austin has applied the principles of Aikido outside of class - in terms of higher self esteem, respect for others, taking turns, appropriate social behavior and sharing - which are all important character traits in society.
Austin
looks forward to his Aikido class every week. He has developed both in
form and character since he started attending class. Aikido has served
itself beyond the walls of its classroom with Austin. The tremendous support,
companionship and learning that Austin has experienced through Aikido
will be a lifelong influence to his development.
Why
Tai Chi?
by "Jing Jing" Evans
I
really love taiji now, and I have a whole lot of reasons why.
The first thing is, of course, that I need exercise. Everybody needs exercise. Without enough exercise, I catch colds and gain fat and never have any energy to do anything anyway. With enough exercise, I feel good and look good and am so energetic that I need to move regularly and frequently anyway. Exercise is great.
But I prefer no-impact, non-UV exercise that does not require any equipment (weapons are fine, of course). I like non-huffy-puffy yet highly aerobic and intensely aesthetic exercise that requires elegance, grace, flexibility, strength, stamina, and Power so strong that, if you practice it right, viewers can practically Feel from any distance and any angle. I like exercise that has a long history and a lot of modern development, exercise that has been researched and analyzed, exercise whose nearly every movement we can dissect and explain in three different ways: martial - the purpose of what we are doing -, physical - why we should do it this way according to the laws of physics -, and aesthetic - we should definitely try to do it this way because it just looks beautiful.
I really love taiji.
Taiji is not what I would call difficult, but it's not easy, either. It takes a lot of practice to coordinate every inch of your body into something powerful and pleasing and carrying the appropriate flavor of whichever style you are practicing. It's not enough to execute every movement perfectly if you aren't radiating power. It's not enough to be overwhelmingly powerful if you aren't fluid and graceful. It's not enough to be fluid and graceful if you aren't solid and strong. You really need to have Everything just right in order to do taiji well. There is always room for improvement. And then you have to be concentrated. Concentrated. Not nervous when you perform for an audience! Else, how do you spread the word and share the beauty?
Yet no matter how you practice taiji, you are sure to reap many health benefits. And if you go out and practice with a group and/or attend tournaments, you get to meet many friends!
My mom watches me practice and shows me how to move better. She teaches me new forms just in time for tournaments. We watch professional tapes together - Gao Jiamin, Chen Sitan, Huo Dongli, and "the man in yellow who does Wu style" (we can't figure out his name) are our all-time favorites - and analyze what they do versus what we are doing and how we can improve. She sees every detail, and I try to change accordingly. It's great fun. More of a bonding experience than going shopping could ever be, and we always have so much to show for it afterwards!
It's
really fun teaching taiji, too. Sharing my enthusiasm for taiji with other
people who are honestly enthusiastic is always a pleasure.
Ms.
Evans has won five Internal grand championships in 2001 (27 gold (first-place)
medals) and was named the USAWKF 2001 Internal Athlete of the Year.
Benefits
of Tai Chi, an early student's perspective
by Joanne Schutt
Although
I have a relatively short duration of experience with Tai Chi, I have
found it both physically and mentally beneficial as well as fun. Tai Chi
requires continuous precise movement, so I find it necessary to focus
and clear my mind of any distractions while participating. On completion
of the exercise, I feel refreshed, renewed, and ready to do any kind of
mental or physical activity. Other, more strenuous forms of exercise leave
me feeling exhausted. However, with Tai Chi, I find that I have sufficient
energy to participate any time of day, even in the evening, when I would
not usually feel energetic enough to engage in other forms of physical
workout. Over the months that I have been learning Tai Chi, I have also
noticed an improvement in my flexibility and balance and look forward
to achieving increased results in these areas.
Jujitsu-Do:
The Way of the Peaceful Warrior
by Professor Don Cross, M. Ed.
Excerpt
reprinted with permission from www.jujitsu-do.com
I
have been taught that the primary purpose of studying Jujitsu is to complete
and perfect the character, to become a better person and a productive
member of society. My Sensei always taught us that we need to be healers
in this world, to bring peaceful solutions to adverse conditions rather
than perpetuate violence and chaos. We should always be ready to give
peace a chance. Jujitsu is an intelligent and sane approach to self-defense,
since the techniques can be applied in non- violent ways in order to create
opportunities for peaceful reconciliation.
As my Sensei, Professor Ray Law, taught me, a great secret to life is to approach all challenges with calmness of spirit. His teacher, Professor Henry S. Okazaki, directed his students to practice calmness, "Whatever the trials or dangers, even 'Hell under the upraised sword.'" I would describe this state of calmness of spirit as 'being in your center', which is a state of inner balance . . . equi-poise. This is the foundation of true confidence, which, in turn, is the foundation of all peaceful action. When faced with a life threatening physical challenge, your fear of death could debilitate you. Fear is the mind killer, the little death. Fear literally takes your breath away -- you forget even to breathe when fear grips you. Without breath there is no oxygen to the brain; your thinking is not clear and your decisions are reactive and poorly timed.
How do we develop the calm confidence we need to create and promote peace? Professor Okazaki explains in his Esoteric Principles that calmness of spirit is attained by letting go of our fears and preconceived ideas -- a state of open mindedness he calls "kyoshin tankai." He goes on to explain that if you are caught in the rapids of a fast flowing river, you must abandon your fear of death by making yourself void and simply float through the danger. We must have an inner dialogue convincing ourselves that all our fears are groundless, and simply let go. When faced with an intense challenge, first straighten your back to free the energy in the spine, take a breath, and affirm to yourself: "I'm all right now, and I'm in my center."
In my 42 years of study of Kodenkan Danzan Ryu, I have concluded that the way of Jujitsu is not about fighting and having power over others. It is rather, a very personal lifelong journey of growth and transformation of character, truly an evolutionary process. The objective of training is to gather the very personal insights provided by our experiences on the mat, and direct them into new ways of interacting with others and within ourselves. Jujitsu, then, becomes a powerful tool for self-development.
My Sensei told me once that Professor Okazaki often taught his students that the only way the martial arts should be used was for the benefit of others. Okazaki used to tell him that if a man were to break into his house and try to injure his family, he might have to break the man's arm to stop him. But that he should always remember he must also be the first to render that man first aid and help him any way he could afterwards. It takes real strength of character to let go of your anger over what someone has apparently done to you, and then to forgive and offer your help. Professor Law taught me that compassion and humility are the two most important virtues we need to practice in our lives.
Undoubtedly,
Jujitsu is a very effective self-defense art. But it is also a profound
personal journey to self-discovery and actualization. It is truly a balanced
approach to physical, mental and emotional health.
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