Sensu

 

The Sensu is sometimes seen as a strange paraphernalia of the aikidoka. Why indeed - is a personal object such as a humble fan becoming such a familiar sight in Aikido training and displays? We are of course, not referring to the "military" fans (known as Tessen), which can be quite lethal in the hands of an expert. These fans are made with sharpened edges and could inflict serious injuries to their victims.

The Sensu or fan referred to in this article is the ordinary everyday functional implement carried by the ordinary person and made of silk and bamboo. These fans have been around for many decades and come in a multitude of intricate designs and were used by both men and women. They are can be very delicate and beautiful to the eye, making it very difficult to accept that they can referred to as a “weapon" in martial arts training. As an offensive weapon the fan is perhaps not the most practical of tools, except of course the "metal" fans referred to earlier. As far as I am aware off, Aikido is the only modern art that tends to utilize the Sensu in such a manner. The whole concept of creative movement and harmonious blending of energy gives Aikido the beauty and seductive power that we have come to associate with the art. So, it was only natural that the Sensu became a part of the aikidoka's tools to aid in his or hers training. The Sensu enhances the flowing movements of Aikido and opens up even more creative dimensions and also offers a freedom that is hard to put into words. Unfortunately, there are some who view the Sensu as too effeminate for them to use and regard it as a woman's tool. Perhaps they have misunderstood the meaning of budo or have succumbed to their frustrations and inability to handle the Sensu. Just because the Sensu is used in a passive manner doesn't mean to say it is ineffective as a defensive weapon. In fact, the Sensu can offer some quite unique methods for self-defence while most of the usual self-defence techniques can be applied to the Sensu. It can be dynamically effective in both its closed and open positions. In the open position it can be used to distract or obscure the attacker’s vision. When closed, it can be used to deflect, entrap and strike, especially when applied to pressure points. In fact, anyone who has experience with Tanbo techniques will find the Sensu very easy to adopt as part of their training program. Even the action of opening the Sensu causes a sound which can confuse and distract an attacker. Incidentally the tone can be controlled (hard and snappy or gentle and soft) which can be related to the Yin/Yang philosophy.

The sad thing is, not enough dojos incorporate the Sensu in their training programme, except perhaps at displays where it is included to add visual impact. Admittedly, it is only in recent years that we have been exposed to the Sensu through our European friends who use the Sensu extensively in their Aikido and tai-chi practice. A few dedicated British aikidoka were so impressed with the Sensu that they have decided to make it a major part of their training. It must be remembered that the Sensu cannot make a bad Aikido technique good.

For those thinking of acquiring a Sensu may have already experienced some difficulty as the wood and silk ones are extremely hard to come by as they have to be imported from either China or Japan. Beware of the "metal" version sold in some martial arts shops because they can be very hard to handle and are not really appropriate for the reasons used above. They can be cumbersome and they can cause a chemical reaction when the metal handles are fingered that leaves greasy marks on clothing, etc. This can also cause the fan to slip out of the hand - potentially dangerous to colleagues around you.