Gradings
Altrincham Sports Centre
25 May 1990
Jon Evans 6TH KYU
Phil O’Mally 6TH KYU
Hepzibah Yohannon 5TH KYU
John Cox 5TH KYU
10 June 1990
Chris Shepherd 3RD KYU
THE RULE OF THE SKIN, FLESH AND BONE
(As defined in the 15th Century by ZEAMI, the greatest NO Master Japan
has ever known)
The skin is that which is external; the surface of the body, corresponding
therefore to things. Insofar as I have been able to observe the artists
of today, said ZEAMI, I have realised that their interpretation corresponds
to the skin alone, and scarcely so . . . they are actors with an impersonal
style.
One can understand without difficulty that this stage is where the great
majority of people stop, once formal interest (in the case of the Martial
Arts we shall say as soon as concern for skill) takes precedence.
I shall call flesh the appearance of the finished style which draws its
strength from the study of dance and song. ZEAMI explains that the skin
corresponds to sight, the sense of hearing to flesh and the spirit to
bone. The flesh appears as a stage when considerable accomplishment has
been reached, for form has been surpassed, conceding to rhythm. We also
find the idea expressed by MIYAMUTO MUSASHI, who explains that subtle
art is knowing how to make one’s own rhythm, or have to make the
opponent a prisoner of his own rhythm. When form is surpassed, then the
rhythm becomes the second active force. Every man who achieves rhythm
in the practice of his art, knows that at that moment it is as though
he is controlled and that no further effort is required of him.
I shall call bone the existence of an innate depth and expression of inspired
power, said ZEAMI, pointing out that rare are the actors who manage to
combine these three elements. The bone is the point at which a ZEN Master
would say that man acts by not acting. It is he who knows intuitively,
from alpha to omega, who, according to ZEAMI, “shows not the slightest
sign of weakness”. MIYAMUTO MUSASHI said that it is the man freed
of all fear and whose mastery has no further cause for expression, so
strongly is this mastery felt, like an absolute force.
Such was the case of Master MORIHEI UESHIBA who countered his strongest
adversaries by throwing them without force, almost without touching them
and always with a smile on his face.
The NO theatre, as seen by ZEAMI, is as mysterious, as complex and infinite
as the Way itself. That is why he wrote:
“Forget the theatre and watch the NO
Forget the NO and watch the Actor
Forget the Actor and watch the Idea
Forget the Idea and you will understand NO”
The essence of the NO theatre seems to express itself in its slowness,
possibly to the point of being excessive. However the slowness is concentration,
the extreme slowness producing extreme quickness.
What an expert does may seem slow, said MUSASHI, but he never departs
from the rhythm. The rhythm is the expression of fundamental energy itself:
this energy is recognised as a birth, so is beyond definition.
That is why MUSASHI said, “If one cuts swiftly with a sword, then
the sword will not cut at all.”
This below was written by Michael Landon, author of The Martial Arts:
If there is a conclusion to be drawn from this even at primary level,
it is to realise the extent to which ancient cultures never dissociated
the essence from the form, the spirit from the expression, how the rule
of the skin, flesh and bone was eventually found to be one, as inseparable
as skin, flesh and bone themselves.
All contemporary crises and disputes exist only because this sovereign
approach is forgotten. In fact the Atomisation of cultures, “Man
in Pieces” as Georges Friedman said, “The fragmented systematisation
of all functions is the void which can quickly crush our society once
and for all.”
The advent of the Martial Arts, concern for competition, competency at
any cost, so many facets are all set on a destructive course. Apart from
this there are hundreds of thousands of young people all over the world
learning JUDO, AIKIDO, KARATE or KENDO etc, not all aspiring to be Bruce
Lee and not all believing that the cinema and the Martial Arts go together.
Many of them learn postures which, while mastering or expressing aggression,
are complex postures of concentration, meditation, self control, thought
and sometimes more: of profound harmony and serenity. In this case, the
true spirit of BUDO (even if the phenomenon of the mass media is what
it is) can be discovered by a large minority of people. And this minority,
reflecting the widest possible range of social classes, runs the risk
of being fiercely active when the time comes to confront a new generation
of sound well balanced men.
Sent in by Frank Monk & Bill Smalley
BRITISH AIKIDO BOARD
The last meeting was 7 July in Slough and the next is 29 September in
Birmingham. The two main areas of concern currently are coaching and Sports
Council re-recognition.
The re-recognition procedure is occurring to each Martial Art. The Sports
Council has decided that it will recognise only one governing body for
each art ,which in turn means any benefit flowing in the future will be
to one body.
The procedure involves consulting with the Martial Arts Commission and
also in our case bringing together other bodies concerned with AIKIDO
but presently outside the Board. Thus the Amateur Martial Association,
and the British AIKIDO Federation and a split of the KI Society are involved.
It seems likely that these bodies will join together with the Board but
that it might mean re-constituting to fulfil Sports Council requirements.
The next meeting in this series is 1 September from which more details
will flow.
The amended Coaching Syllabus is now in place. Whilst there are four levels
I shall describe the first two which are Assistant Coach and Coach.
The Assistant Coach syllabus is designed for people who find themselves
assisting teaching or occasionally having to teach. People must be at
least 18 years of age and recommended by our Principal Coach, Mr Mucha.
A one day course is attended that involves a practical. First Aid proficiency
has to be proved, then provided the person holds Professional Indemnity
Insurance they may apply to be licensed by the Martial Arts Commission
as an Assistant Coach.
The Coach syllabus is designed for people who will in the near future
run their own club or will teach on a more regular basis than merely assisting.
People require as a pre-requisite the Assistant Coach’s qualification
and to be recommended by their Principal Coach. The next requirement is
either five National Coaching Federation Level Two
Courses or attendance at a two day course. A practical assessed session
is also undertaken. Please note the syllabus allows the NCF option only
in the next twelve months.
Provided there is a twelve month gap from the Assistant Coach qualification
and you continue to hold Professional Indemnity Insurance, you can apply
to be licensed as a Coach.
The Lancashire AIKIKAI’s In House Coaching Scheme continues without
amendment.
The coaching licence is renewed annually and to be valid requires the
holder to have Professional Indemnity Insurance (PI), a current MAC licence
and again approval by our Principal Coach.
Why do I have to licensed for Coaching? – well the answer at present
is no reason. BUT with the Sports Council tightening up it seems likely
that public places and bodies will be encouraged to allow Martial Arts
to be practised only if it is a bona fide member of the Martial Arts Commission
through a governing body and that the instructor holds a Coaching Licence.
Thus it is a form of qualification that is standard that will ensure cowboys
are kept out.
Why do I have to have Professional Indemnity Insurance? – quite simply
if you control a class and there is an accident you could be held liable
for damages, the insurance thus seems sensible rather than being forced
to sell up one’s home. Of course liability for damages flows only
from being negligent and hence another reason to attend both the AIKIKAI’s
Teaching Courses and the BAB/MAC Coaching Scheme so that you are aware
of problems and to show you the correct way of teaching with safety.
For the avoidance of doubt your normal MAC licence does not cover your
aspect of control of a class, only member to member practice.
Our instructors have been granted exemptions to the Coaching Awards because
of their experience and In House Awards, these must be taken up by 31
December 1990.
An Assistant Coaches Course has been organised in the Midlands on 29 September
and a First Aid Day on 13 October, also in the Midlands. Members who wish
to attend should discuss the matter with Mr Mucha.
Saturday 27 October is the Board’s Second National Course at Birmingham
Sports Centre, cost £5. Please tell your Club Leader as soon as
possible if you are going so that we can estimate numbers and make sure
you have the full details of the course and how to get to it. (Club Leaders
please let me know.)
British AIKIDO Board Dan Grade certificates are available to Dan Grades
by sending a photocopy of you AIKIKAI one to me. in addition MAC Dan Grade
certificates are available by applying through me.
ANDREW BAIRD
3RD DAN
HYDE AIKIDO CLUB
Things have been a little quiet but the Club continues at a steady pace.
We now have another mat – traditional 21’ x 12’ –
which we will extend to a more suitable size.
We have also been ‘given’ a small room off the practice area
which can be used to store the mat, weapons, etc and can also be used
for changing. First though, we have to clear out many years of cobwebs,
dust and rubbish!
GRAHAM HARRISON
2ND DAN
ALTRINCHAM – TRAFFORD AIKIDO CLUB
The Club continues to grow. The graded practice at Altrincham Sports Centre,
Oakfield, Road, started in May, has been a success and my thanks to other
clubs for supporting us. Our new session at the Sports Centre re-starts
on Sunday 2 September (8.00pm – 9.30pm) and thereafter every second
Sunday of the month from October. We should be pleased to see you if you
haven’t popped down – the emphasis of the class is on practice
not teaching and it is enjoyed by all. It is hoped September will be less
hot than June and July’s practice.
Our regular practice is every Friday night at Seamons Moss Community Centre
on Oakfield Road at 7.15pm – 9.15pm, to which anyone is welcome.
The Club motif of Trafford Aikido Club is now available from a silk screen
at £1 per item. You supply the cotton T-shirt/sweatshirt (washed
if new).. The Club thanks Mr Spencer for his assistance in obtaining the
screen and Hepzibah Yohannan for her artwork.
The Club has organised a coach to Birmingham on Saturday 27 October for
the British Aikido Board Course. Spaces will be available to AIKIKAI members
at other clubs. The departure points will be Hazel Grove and Altrincham
at 7.30 ad 8.00am respectively. If you wish to reserve your seat send
or give £4 deposit to me at 45 Woodbourne Road, Sale, Cheshire,
M33 3TQ as soon as possible. The balance of a further £4 is required
in mid October.
[handwritten note: coach cancelled]
ANDREW BAIRD
3RD DAN
I would like to remind every member that they are expected to hold a current
MAC licence. Whilst renewals are sent out it is still your responsibility
to ensure you have applied for a fresh one via your Club Leader.
The insurance provision/cover you are afforded by the licence is valid
only when practising between members who hold valid licences. Hence beginners
should have applied before putting their foot on the mat.
Club leaders are already aware of the tight timetable to forward applications
to me. I am disturbed to note there are an increasing number that arrive
outside the required time, leaving that student without the protection
of the licence. If an accident occurs in such a case, I suggest it places
the Club Leader in a position of potential litigation.
Any Club Leader who wishes to be reminded of the rules governing licence
applications should contact me or indeed if any oversight occurs so that
we can take steps to correct it.
ANDREW BAIRD
LICENCE OFFICER
FEARSOME FIGHTING
A neighbour recently commented after watching the video of the LA 25th
Anniversary demonstration, that it looked “fearsome”.
This set me thinking!
I sat down then to watch the video again in the light of this comment
and to consider whether her description could be considered plausible.
Upon reflection the AIKIDO probably looked ‘fearsome’ because
of the complexity of the movements and the physical activity involved.
On further reflection I realised that it is perhaps not only the uninitiated
who feel overwhelmed by the complexities inherent in AIKIDO. I have spoken
to many people and have personally watched demonstrations of techniques
and been intimidated by what I’ve been expected to do.
What always affects me most, however, is the latent power that is seen
in demonstrations of techniques. As a practitioner I am becoming increasingly
aware that there are a number of factors which affect the correct execution
of any technique/throw. However, the most sought after element appears
to be the powerful, but elusive, ‘KI’. It is possible to throw
an attacker without it, but AIKIDO seems much more ‘fearsome’
to me when ‘KI’ in addition to the complexities of the movements
and the physical activity which caused our neighbour to use the adjective
‘fearsome’, without truly realising the presence. Certainly
it is an adjective I shall bear in mind for future discussion and deliberation.
SUSAN BAIRD
