So I wrote an e-mail to George asking for clarification. Here's his reply.
George Sensei,
I'm still buzzing from you seminar in Bozeman!
And even better the magic is still flowing, though at 1/10th the rate. I'm calling it my new-aikido, as I have total beginners mind once again. Thank you!
But...would you mind clarifying a few things?
I'm working on kata-dori. In-Up-Out into tenkan.
My questions are:
1) To achieve center-touching connection, that moves across the others frame from near shoulder to far shoulder to far hip to far foot, I think I need hips. Is this where pelvis rotation up (that's directed by the fingers) comes in? Or is that more for generating step #2 "Up"? Or is the hip rotation more in the horizontal plane, not the vertical (yet)?
There are a number of ways that these connections can be made. Despite the fact that what I showed folks seems like advanced technique, it really represents only the start towards real internal power per the discussion on the web. So. To start with go for connection using weight shift and subtle rotation of the pelvis forward and backwards to get he up anf down. Use weight shift side to side and subtle hip pressure to get the horizontal. The big deal with internal power training is to develop the ability to make this happen with no visible outer movement but rather by using the myofascial connections inside your body.
2) Is the "Up" generated by breathing in and/or (?) pelvic rotation up. We did both so much I can't recall the order/steps.
The in breath expands you, fills your body with “ki” (in other words, energizes the myofascial structure). The out breath can be part of the “receiving” process, allowing the partner’s energy to come into your structure. The pelvis is merely giving direction to the energy of he connection. So it’s going to move in the direction you wish the partner to go when you want him to go there. It is very subtle. Evenetually, it’s really an energizing of the structure rather than an overt movement. That’s why you can’t see Ikeda Sensei or Saotome Sensei actually doing what I am talking about. This is just a foundation to get people connecting properly.
3) The "Out" is where I'm failing the most. My first step in the out-phase is to pinch my shoulder blades and subtly exhale.
This is the “receving stage”. The shoulders bring the incoming power to the spine. The out breath allows you to be relaxed and soft so you don’t clash with the partner
That elicits an unbalancing feeling in uke. I see people shifting weight or wobbling around, which is a good sign, but not enough to move into anything. And the second I do I totally loose the connection...dohhhh.
Without feeling it, I can’t say exactly but 99% of the time, people start ok and then lose the forward flow to the partner’s center when they try to turn him. There must be constant flow to the partner’s center. That’s why all movement is from te body, not the arms. If you try to moe him with your arms, you will loser the center to center connection.
Can you explain the release of a hip, in the context of what it's doing before it releases. Is it tight, holding either a hanmi stance tailbone tucking action? And then is free to rotate around the other hip, thus creating an axis of rotation...? Any hint/clues? :)
When you “connect” and brong the power of the attack to your center vertical axis, if nothing else happens, all that power simply grounds out and the attacker is essentially pushing oin the floor through your structure. We donb’t really want to stop at that point. So just as the center to center connection creates a small pressure zone between you, you release one hip (just relax it… this isn’t a big hip turn, it’s a release of tension). The partner will go in the direction of he hip you released. Using weight shifting, you can set up different nuetral pivots points so that either hip can be the axis of rotation. Once again… the REALLY good people don’t shift the weight, they do this internally. I can do it a bit but it’s too hard tyo teach people who don’t already know what’s going on. Ikeda Sensei was doing this the last time I saw him and I think I was the only person in theroom whoi had any idea what he was doing.
For more context, I just posted the extended version of my internal conversation and questions to my class-blog.
I'm having a blast, you should know, uncovering this new-to-me principles that I can see will add an incredible amount to my Aikido.
Unfortunately, these are new to almost everyone principles. A lot of what I am teaching is material that is “hot off the presses” so to speak. I am passing it along as fast as I can figure it all out. There are some people I am hoping to train with next year who are off the charts oin this stuff.
Happy holidays!!!!
- George
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