One Point
These questions were asked of Shari Dyer on AllExperts.com

One Point

Question: I am from Cancun, Mexico, I am a new student in Aikido, and I have been having a problem trying to concentrate in One point. It is kind of hard to focus on my mid section. what should I think? Or where am I supposed to do to focus? I hope you can give me some tips,I will really apreciate your advise

Answer: Agreed, it is hard to focus on One Point when you begin Aikido. It seems so elusive. The One Point is located at your hara - your center. Most of the time center is described as being about two finger breadths down and two finger breadths in from your navel. Some people have trouble with that.Try thinking of center as in front of the spine, more than behind the navel area. That might help.

Another way to think of center is to think of a thin pole that was inserted at that point, coming in from the front and exiting through the spine. Mentally place it where you know that if you could spin around on it, you would spin freely, with all parts of you moving with equal ease.

Then place another pole going from the middle of the top of your head down through your torso. This time you are placing it so that your body would spin freely on a vertical axis.

Center is where the two poles would intersect in your body.

Now place a small ball at that intersecting point. Color it in your imagination. Make it a warm color. Breathe into that point, so that with every inhalation, the color gets warmer and brighter. With every exhalation, the color streams out through your body, all the way to the tip of your toes and fingers, up through your head, and most importantly, into your heart.
Just sit and breath this way for awhile. Then make the center ball smaller, and do the same thing. And smaller yet. Smaller still. Until you have One Point.

When you train, put your attention on that Center Ball. See if you can feel it as you move. Keep breathing. When you can feel center consistantly, make the ball smaller - maybe half as big. Keep training. Then make the ball smaller, and smaller still. Until you have One Point.

It is the stillest, most quiet place in your body. It is the place that is still when everything else is in motion. To me, it feels like a small, vibrant point of not doing, but being.

Sometimes you will know it's there, sometimes you won't. Just keep training, and pay attention to that Center Ball. If you get bored with it, which might well happen at first, put another color there. Just make it one you want to have inside your heart. And then light up the world with it. SD

Principles

Principles

Question: I'm quite new to aikido (about 4 months) and practice twice a week. I have read a lot of very interesting material on the art and am able to understand many of the principles used in aikido.

The problem I'm having is being able to apply any of them! As soon as I step onto the mat it seems I forget to relax, keep my one point and most importantly BREATHE! Maybe it is because I am concentrating too hard on the technique itself. I would just like to know if this is something that you hear a lot from new aikidoka. I suppose really I'm looking for some reasurance that with time and practice I will be able to apply these principles. s

Answer: Thanks for your email. Yes, your problems are very much what everyone goes through when starting training in Aikido. Frustrating, isn't it? :-)

Please, be patient with yourself. We are so used to instant results in this culture. Not. You are learning a very deep, very profound art. It will take time.

Actually, this beginning time is the best time. The discoveries come so fast! So much wonder to be felt as a beginner. Don't ever forget these days of training. Later, as you become more skilled, the discoveries will come further apart, and sometimes it will be years before you realize how much better you are. Then you will sigh for the beginning days.

There is a book called "Mastery" by George Leonard. It should help you when it seems nothing is happening at all.

Meanwhile, learn to trust your body's wisdom. Even as you are getting frustrated, it is learning. There is no wasted time on the mat.

Yes, with time and practive you WILL be able to apply the principles of Aikido. That's a promise.

Happy training!

Christians

Christians in the dojo

Question: I am very, very drawn to aikido for all the right reasons but am not comfortable in the dojo. Problem? While I can honor and subject myself to sensei and bow low to my partner out of mutual respect and purity of intent, I cannot bow to a shrine containing a picture of O Sensei nor can I call on spirits of the dead. Otherwise, aikido is a natural for those who seek to honor God. Jesus taught, "Blessed is the peacemaker" and harmed nobody during his entire life. I know there are Christians in dojos around the world. How does the aikido community accommodate those who will honor but not worship O Sensei?

Answer: I cannot speak for the entire Aikido community, but I can speak for myself, and from my own experience.

I just returned from a seminar training that included testing a student for second degree black belt. That student is a Jewish rabbi, and he, of course, cannot bow to an "icon" for religious reasons also. He sat respectfully (in seiza - kneeling), facing the picture of O-Sensei, while his partner did bow in, and then they both bowed to the judging sensei (this one was a 'shihan', or master) and to each other.

Bowing to the shomen, which usually contains a picture of O-Sensei, is often seen as a reinforcment the spirit of Aikido within the student, as well as an acknowledgment of the gift of O-Sensei's life. But this attitude does not require a formal bow to the picture, if it is against your religious beliefs. The bow should reinforce the connection you have with Aikido. If it does not, it is a detriment to your training rather than an asset.