Bond Street Dojo Letter 1.2

18 May 2004

On Kokyu

Each month, the dojo letter will present a short essay on an aikido technique or concept, based on conversations from a senior aikidoka. This month's, on kokyu, was written with Paul Kang Sensei. The Aikido in Translation section will match the topic of the essay.

Breath awareness is integral to everything from being a good baseball pitcher to playing a musical instrument. In aikido, breath, or kokyu, is a central concept - but it's one of those things that's impossible to pin down exactly. Our understanding of what kokyu means deepens the more we practice.

For a lot of us, maybe the most important thing point on kokyu is to remember to do it - that is, breathe. Aikido practice often presents us with stressful situations, and our response is often to hold our breath. This will leave us gasping, wear us out more quickly and, worst of all, leave us vulnerable to dangerous lapses in concentration. Something to think about as the hot months approach.

Once we're remembering to breathe, we can focus on other aspects of kokyu. One is its spiral movement, the natural path that energy follows. Another is making the timing of our technique as natural as the cyclic rhythm of our breath. And finally there is the concentration, the focal power, that derives from breath.

We have a number of techniques that we refer to as "kokyu nage." but there is a kokyu aspect in the other techniques as well, and it may be useful to sometimes make finding that hidden kokyu movement a focus of your practice.

We use kokyu-ho techniques, either from sitting or standing, as specific practices for understanding kokyu movement. In performing them, good balance, posture, timing distance and angle all come into play. After many years, our goal is to be able to throw are partner with ki power, not with physical power. But for now what we are interested is applying kokyu to our daily training.

Aikido terms in translation: Kokyu

We usually translate the word kokyu "breath" and in aikido, but a more technical translation might be respiration. The first of the word's two characters is ko, which here means exhalation. The second character, kyu, means inhalation.

So exhale-inhale - the opposite of how we usually think of respiration in the West, but perhaps a more natural one. When we exhale, we bring our diaphragm up, which takes effort. When we inhale, we let gravity pull our diaphragm down, which doesn't need to take any effort. The last breath of our life will be an inhalation.

In Japanese, kokyu shows up in phrases that suggest an ease of movement or an understanding of timing. Kokyu o oboeru -- literally "learn kokyu" -- means "get the knack of." Kokyu awaseru, "combine kokyu," means "keep time with."

Upcoming events:

  • May 27th: Bond Street Dojo Art Opening 8:30 p.m.
  • June 4th-6th: Saotome Shihan Seminar
  • Free Practice: Every Saturday starting July 10th until the August kyu exam.
  • August 20: Kyu Exam
  • Sept. 24th-26th September: Ikeda Shihan Seminar

Training notes:

Summer's on the way. That means three things:

  • Drink plenty of water during the day. Even slight dehydration has been shown to reduce, strength, endurance and coordination. More important, it can break you concentration - not something you want to happen on the mat.
  • Clean your feet. Walking around our great city in flip-flops can get your dogs dirty. Give them a wipe to avoid smudging up the mat.
  • Keep your gi clean. Consider buying an extra gi you don't make enough trips to the laundry to keep the one(s) you have fresh smelling. Spare your fellow aikido the embarrassment of having to tell you directly. Please.

Remember that dues now must be turned in by the fifth of each month. Fortunately, the dojo is moving toward making an automatic debit system, which should help the naturally tardy.

For members without weapons or those interested in getting a second bokken or jo, there are a handful of orphaned weapons in the north-east corner of the mat. Most of the weapons are $20. There are some good deals to be had. For questions please ask Max.

Notes from the April 23 board meeting

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

New Members Report

  • February: Four (4) new members
  • March: Five (5) new members

Auto-debit system for dues is being implemented. This is for membership convenience.

OUR LANDLADY:

We have no information about a memorial service for Callcote. We have inquired whether we can make a donation somewhere in her memory.

LOAN OF ARTWORK FROM SHAUN A. & FRONT ROOM GALLERY SPACE

Board unanimously approves the installation of Shaun A.'s Drawing on the dojo wall

A wine and cheese opening for upcoming show in front room gallery space.

TEEN CLASSES

Bond Street is pleased that there is consistent attendance by teens at Saturday class

WEDDING PRESENT FOR STEVEN & EDELINE KATZ.

Bond Street sends Steven and Edeline K. a gift on 5/3/04

PRINT ADVERTISING

Recent NY Press ad in April.

CHIEF INSTRUCTORS REPORTS

Chris Jordan Sensei: Ken Nissan will be here in August. Specific dates will be available. Proposes asking Nissan Sensei to teach a workshop.

Jordan Sensei will be in Vermont for Mary Heiny workshop May 7-9th.

Paul Kang Sensei: Ikeda Shihan will be at Bond Street Dojo on 24-26 September. Details to be determined.