Ikkyo

The First Principle

O’Sensei left us the legacy of Ikkyo, a legacy that has in some ways never been fully understood. Ikkyo as a technique is quite unique, normally introduced to beginners from Ai-hanmi katate-dori (oblique stance with single hand grasp). Its apparent simpleness allows the newcomer to understand the basic requirements of Aikido. But Ikkyo is much more subtle that this. For those who want more from Ikkyo must look deeper into actions, past the superficial movements that make the technique and discover its true relationship to Aikido.

I'm sure Ikkyo is a familiar technique to practitioners of Aikido and its effectiveness as a self-defence movement is acknowledged, but there are elements in Ikkyo which we cannot see but can only experience. There are countless ways of performing Ikkyo - and we should risk becoming criticaster just because someone is doing it differently from ourselves. Ikkyo may be performed in a particular way to emphasize a certain element and we must recognize this purpose before we condemn any method that is alien to us.

The laws of Physics, Nature and Philosophy are all inter-related and when applied to Ikkyo offers the student infinite ways of practicing the technique. Too often, we take Ikkyo for granted and under-estimate it's potential. To condemn ourselves to only believe what we visually see in the technique is total and utter ignorance - It's like claiming to see because our eyes are open but forgetting to remove the blindfold.

The laws that govern the Universe manifests itself in the principles and techniques of Aikido. Ikkyo and the other techniques we learn in the dojo are all part of Aiki but they don't represent fully what Aikido really is. They are merely the "tools" to be utilized to further one's knowledge in Aki and life. If we haven't excepted the true meaning of Aikido, then our understanding of Ikkyo will also be limited and misguided.

Ikkyo is the foundation off our learning and if that foundation is weak or incomplete then the rest of the Aikido techniques will also become meaningless. Understanding Ikkyo will bring into perspective the other techniques because they all share the principles of Aikido.

When practicing Ikkyo in the dojo we are constantly being made aware of our partners distance and the importance of constant movement but we also have to look at the relationship of time and space. These elements are forever changing, just as the Universe is in constant change. We have to recognize the Universe within ourselves and adapt to these changes. Our conscious selves are elements which also play a part in the first principle. For these things effect our moods, attitudes and the people around us.

We could do a thousand Ikkyos with a partner and each Ikkyo will be different because, quite simply, time has moved on and the space we occupy has changed. Only by retaining the balance between Uke and Nage, without conflict or total passiveness but by constantly giving and receiving, can we explore the limits of Ikkyo. Uke and Nage are like Yin and Yang, contrasting elements but needing each other to be complete - to be one.

If we want to be one with ourselves then we have to recognize our responsibility to ourselves, our partners and life. Being egotistical and self-righteous allows the ego to over-develop, bringing out the arrogance and selfishness of our human nature. Through Ikkyo we learn to be compassionate and to respect life. We, the Universe are the manifestation of the laws of nature and it our responsibility to fulfil our debt to life. The difficulty lies in the fact that we have to rethink who and what we are. We have to get away from what we perceive we are and the conditioning process we have undergone. We must take responsibility for what is happening in our world by seeing the sickness and flaws in ourselves. We cannot afford to become complacent if we are to seek the peace within ourselves.

There is so much more to Ikkyo that cannot be put in words. The only way is to practice and to experience - there are no short-cuts. Your sensei doesn't just teach you but is sharing is experiences with you. He too would have learnt through the first principle the skills and the methods to explore the needs of individuals. No Sensei will deny that feeling of mutual excitement and satisfaction when a student has grasped the fundamentals of the first principle. The inspiration and the motivation of the student is the responsibility of the Sensei as he nurtures the student to self-discovery and awareness.

Ikkyo will serve each individual differently as each one will interpret the technique to suit their personal and emotional needs. Dialogue between the students and certainly with the Sensei is recommended to appreciate a better understanding of not only Ikkyo but other techniques.

"The race is not for the swift, nor the battle to the strong" [Ecclesiastes 9:11]