Jun
22
Projecting Intent
One effect on me of living a life of leisure was that it made me reactive – not setting many goals, I just basically dealt with what came up. I did various things for fun and intellectual stimulation, like hypnosis sessions and business communications consulting, and while I gained skills from these, I didn’t have the sense that I was moving in any particular direction.
My journey out of this state of mind was given a push one morning at the Honbu Dojo, Yasuno Sensei spoke of projecting intent: Ki wo mae ni dasu!
In the execution of an Aikido technique, there is the nage - the thrower – and the uke – the recipient. Techniques begin with the uke attacking, and the nage accepting the attack and changing its direction, ending with a throw or pin. Yasuno sensei advised us: “Do not wait for the attacker to come before parrying. Maintain control of the situation! Once the attacker moves, go out wholeheartedly to meet him. This includes counter-punching – during practice, your punches mustn’t land, of course, but you should think about punching as part of projecting your intent.” 「皆さんは待っているからうまく行かない。その状況を支配するには、まず相手が動き出したら、全心全力でぶつけていく。当て身の意味も考え直してもらいた い…. 」
This sort of internal shift in feeling made the remainder of practice very different. My partner would come to strike from the side, which I invited, and then I stepped forward decisively to meet and parry, unbalancing my attacker, and while maintaining my balance, redirecting her attack. Though I could not clearly visualize the finish of the throw, I was able to lead the situation. My partner started practicing the same way, too, and the difference was just as noticeable.
A dramatic change in practice, simply as a result of a shift in thought, and it occurs to me that this is the kind of stance we should always take even if we don’t know what the end result will be, because it gives us the ability to lead the action as we see things unfolding.
