Posted by: Bossman
Now that's what I call Ki - 04/26/04 01:39 PM
I wrote this about 6 years ago, but it still has value....
Well, I’m not a scientist, or an intellectual, or a historian so I can’t give those views, but then I think that those have been pretty well covered and I’m not about to argue with them.
I can only give my humble opinion (IMHO in Internet speak) for what it’s worth (FWIW in Internet speak).
Speaking of the Internet, my “net friend” (what a nerd I’m getting), a Japanese senior grade Shito Ryu stylist living in the US and self proclaimed “Devils Advocate” concerning issues like Ki, asks whether anyone can make a pencil move by just using Ki - any takers?
The best translation that I can come up with for my understanding of the word Ki is “animation”. It is the way that you “animate” your mind, your awareness, your postures, your movements, your eyes, your breath etc. When you can co-ordinate these animations and function to your optimum, then you have Kiai. When you can do this continuously, then you are a person of Aiki.
This “it” factor that all the sportsmen rave about, that “moment” that everything just “becomes one” and they perform their best….. As Martial Artists we have understood that in the form of “Kiai” for generations!
My “Devils Advocate” friend says that is just awareness, concentration, co-ordination, training etc. And I say yes! Yes! Yes! Kiai! Of course it’s the same, we are speaking in different languages! It’s not just those things, it’s the way we “animate” them!
Of course these qualities can be separated, broken down, analysed and explained scientifically (apart from the “original life” thing, but let’s not get religious) but for our purposes “Ki” (or “animation”) covers it quite well.
Remember my story of the rose, (you don’t? you must have missed an issue!) On finding a beautiful rose the scientist picks it, takes it back to his laboratory and breaks it down find its component parts. The artist sees it as it is in all of its fragility and draws it and writes songs and poetry about it. The mystic sees the entire universe in it. As Martial Artists we need to be a combination of all three.
When you “animate”, you “emanate” and we are able to influence our emanations by our ability to animate. Our “aura” can feel threatening, nasty, sexy (I’m still working on that one), peaceful, pleasant and so on, depending on our ability to control our thoughts and emotions, this is where our meditation and training can help.
If the ultimate way to win a fight is not to fight, then it depends on our abilities to influence people on a subtle level (the art of fighting without fighting…..) so that they don’t want to fight in the first place.
We can also help to heal in this way (Reiki) by influencing people on a subtle level. Sometimes just being with someone who has a peaceful, tranquil, positive aura is healing in itself. Sometimes just a touch or to be held can be a healing. Sometimes just the right word at the right time can do it. Any of these things can influence someone to begin the self-healing process, often we just need a “jump start” from someone else.
The more senior a Martial Artist becomes, the more he/she should be able to influence people and situations to “heal and harmonise” on this subtle level. It’s a case “Doctor, first heal thyself”, only when we have undergone the right training first with ourselves can we influence others on a positive level. There’s nothing worse than someone offering to “heal” your headache when they are undergoing a nervous breakdown themselves! And there are plenty of those “New Age” nutcases around!
Ki is a good subject for Martial Artists to discuss because it makes us look at all the essential qualities that we need to possess. We need to doubt, we need to challenge, we need to verify and we need to keep an open mind.
I am probably one of the world’s biggest cynics, so my explanation is based only in my own opinion and that is drawn from my own experiences, if we have any “pencil movers” I would be pleased to see them demonstrate their abilities. This is to take nothing away from Ki, my whole life and training is based around the “quality animation” that is my translation of it. I just feel sorry for the “Walter Mitty” brigade of life’s losers that think that they can get some sort of “superhuman” power without having to put in any effort and “attract girls” and “drop any man with a touch”…..
To “open your channels”, work on my 4 x 4. The directional pressure of the feet against the floor, the postural alignment of the body, correct breathing and the awareness and concentration of the mind. This will give the optimum and complete use of the body, breath and mind, try too hard and you will fail, try too little and you will fail, practise resolutely over a reasonable period of time and your patience will pay off. Every practise session will give you an improvement, whether you feel it at the time or not.
Remember that your enemies are dullness and dissipation, you want animation and concentration. Remember to have a happy demeanour, with liberal sprinklings of patience and tolerance, gentleness and compassion. All these qualities are signs that you are able to “yield” to the flow of what’s natural and right and instinctively do the right thing at the right time with the right amount of effort in the most natural manner.
Now that’s what I call “Ki”.
Well, I’m not a scientist, or an intellectual, or a historian so I can’t give those views, but then I think that those have been pretty well covered and I’m not about to argue with them.
I can only give my humble opinion (IMHO in Internet speak) for what it’s worth (FWIW in Internet speak).
Speaking of the Internet, my “net friend” (what a nerd I’m getting), a Japanese senior grade Shito Ryu stylist living in the US and self proclaimed “Devils Advocate” concerning issues like Ki, asks whether anyone can make a pencil move by just using Ki - any takers?
The best translation that I can come up with for my understanding of the word Ki is “animation”. It is the way that you “animate” your mind, your awareness, your postures, your movements, your eyes, your breath etc. When you can co-ordinate these animations and function to your optimum, then you have Kiai. When you can do this continuously, then you are a person of Aiki.
This “it” factor that all the sportsmen rave about, that “moment” that everything just “becomes one” and they perform their best….. As Martial Artists we have understood that in the form of “Kiai” for generations!
My “Devils Advocate” friend says that is just awareness, concentration, co-ordination, training etc. And I say yes! Yes! Yes! Kiai! Of course it’s the same, we are speaking in different languages! It’s not just those things, it’s the way we “animate” them!
Of course these qualities can be separated, broken down, analysed and explained scientifically (apart from the “original life” thing, but let’s not get religious) but for our purposes “Ki” (or “animation”) covers it quite well.
Remember my story of the rose, (you don’t? you must have missed an issue!) On finding a beautiful rose the scientist picks it, takes it back to his laboratory and breaks it down find its component parts. The artist sees it as it is in all of its fragility and draws it and writes songs and poetry about it. The mystic sees the entire universe in it. As Martial Artists we need to be a combination of all three.
When you “animate”, you “emanate” and we are able to influence our emanations by our ability to animate. Our “aura” can feel threatening, nasty, sexy (I’m still working on that one), peaceful, pleasant and so on, depending on our ability to control our thoughts and emotions, this is where our meditation and training can help.
If the ultimate way to win a fight is not to fight, then it depends on our abilities to influence people on a subtle level (the art of fighting without fighting…..) so that they don’t want to fight in the first place.
We can also help to heal in this way (Reiki) by influencing people on a subtle level. Sometimes just being with someone who has a peaceful, tranquil, positive aura is healing in itself. Sometimes just a touch or to be held can be a healing. Sometimes just the right word at the right time can do it. Any of these things can influence someone to begin the self-healing process, often we just need a “jump start” from someone else.
The more senior a Martial Artist becomes, the more he/she should be able to influence people and situations to “heal and harmonise” on this subtle level. It’s a case “Doctor, first heal thyself”, only when we have undergone the right training first with ourselves can we influence others on a positive level. There’s nothing worse than someone offering to “heal” your headache when they are undergoing a nervous breakdown themselves! And there are plenty of those “New Age” nutcases around!
Ki is a good subject for Martial Artists to discuss because it makes us look at all the essential qualities that we need to possess. We need to doubt, we need to challenge, we need to verify and we need to keep an open mind.
I am probably one of the world’s biggest cynics, so my explanation is based only in my own opinion and that is drawn from my own experiences, if we have any “pencil movers” I would be pleased to see them demonstrate their abilities. This is to take nothing away from Ki, my whole life and training is based around the “quality animation” that is my translation of it. I just feel sorry for the “Walter Mitty” brigade of life’s losers that think that they can get some sort of “superhuman” power without having to put in any effort and “attract girls” and “drop any man with a touch”…..
To “open your channels”, work on my 4 x 4. The directional pressure of the feet against the floor, the postural alignment of the body, correct breathing and the awareness and concentration of the mind. This will give the optimum and complete use of the body, breath and mind, try too hard and you will fail, try too little and you will fail, practise resolutely over a reasonable period of time and your patience will pay off. Every practise session will give you an improvement, whether you feel it at the time or not.
Remember that your enemies are dullness and dissipation, you want animation and concentration. Remember to have a happy demeanour, with liberal sprinklings of patience and tolerance, gentleness and compassion. All these qualities are signs that you are able to “yield” to the flow of what’s natural and right and instinctively do the right thing at the right time with the right amount of effort in the most natural manner.
Now that’s what I call “Ki”.