Irimi and the Handshake Induction

I recently watched an podcast in which Joe Rogan interviews Derren Brown, a very well-know hypnotist and mentalist.  It’s a long and interesting interview.  But skip ahead to the 13:30 mark and listen to a few minutes of Derren’s explanation of what a “handshake induction” is.

Some background (FYI, many years ago, I was actually a certified hypnotherapist. No kidding. LOL.). An induction is when a hypnotist or hypnotherapist puts a subject into a hypnotic “trance.”  There are many methods.  Some of the them are classic “you are getting very sleepy...”.  Some, like the handshake induction, are instantaneous, and rely on interrupting the normal flow.  (Ummm... Irimi). 

Derren goes on, in this little clip, to explain how he has used this technique in a martial arts situation.  It’s pretty interesting. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n_tpWrv76Q8

This reminds me of a story...  A good friend of mine (let's call him Tim) is a long-time school principal.  He often had to make a showing at school events and help with security and such.  At one such event, a football game, he noticed one of the school's well-known misfits, sitting along by himself, away from the game.  The kid (let's call him Charlie) was known to be a little weird, but harmless.

Tim notices that a small group of tough-looking guys is walking towards Charlie, and he can tell they're talking about him, and are thinking of having some fun with him.  Tim stealthily edged within earshot to monitor the situation.

As they approach, one of the big bullies steps forward to confront Charlie.  However, before the bully can get a word out, Charlie hops off his perch, takes a step toward the bully, and says "have you ever held a monkey?"

"Huh?"  The bully is taken by surprise, and tries to shake it off in front of his friends.

Charlie persists. "Have you ever held a money, man?  I've never done it, and it's on my bucket list. What about you?"

And the confrontation was over, as the bullies backed away and moved off.

Irimi is a powerful thing.

Mantra

Aikido isn't generally the kind of practice in which you get big "aha" moments very often.  Usually enlightenment comes in little flashes that are gone as quickly as they come, sometimes without even being noticed.  We depend on (hope for, live for) those flashes coming more frequently over time, and at deepening levels.

But sometimes we get a big epiphany.  I believe I had such a thing last night.

I love doing Ukemi.  I love being Uke.  I believe, and I have often said, that it's because when I am Uke I don't think.  I just react.  I just blend.

I have long known that this is where my brain and being should be when I'm Nage, as well.  I call it "being in my Uke brain" (even when I'm Nage).  I'm not there yet.

But, last night, Tonya said something while teaching that turned on a light.  

She was saying that, as Nage, we take advantage of the fact that Uke is focused on the attack -- say, the grabbing of the wrist.  Since they're focused on that, we use it.  For instance, as in last night, Uke is focused on that initial Kose-dori grip when coming around for Ushiro Ryote-dori, and we use that to go to "heaven" with the other hand as we execute Ryote-dori Tenchi Nage (she called it Kokyu-ho -- same idea).

She said that, as Nage, our world is open to possibilities.  Wide open.  Lots of options. As opposed to Uke, who is more or less constrained to the contact point of the attack.

That's when the light went on.  

It is that very focus, when I'm Uke, that allows me to just blend.  When my mind has this "mantra" to focus on, I can relax and just blend.   As Nage, the very idea of being unconstrained is what makes it difficult for me to just relax and blend.  I have too many options.  My mind wants to see them all; evaluate them all; pick one. Since I'm generally a "big picture" kind of thinker, this is overwhelming.  I have the same dilemma in other parts of my life -- while I'm good at seeing the big picture and all sides of any argument, I do tend to process things and make decisions slowly.

I've experienced the same sort of thing as a songwriter.  If someone says "write me a song," it's really hard.  If, instead, they say "write me a song with 'can't get there from here' as the title, in a gypsy style, in the key of A-minor -- well, that's actually easier.  Fewer options.  I'm off and running much quicker.

Ever been in a group of friends and someone says "where do you want to go for lunch?"  If it's wide open, the conversation takes longer.  If you're constrained to one hour and there's a vegetarian in the group, things get a lot "simpler," from the perspective of having to make a decision.

So.

What I realized was that I need to have a mantra, as Nage.  Something as specific and tactile as the attack when I'm Uke.  Something I can keep laser-focused on, so that the rest of my mind and body can relax and just do what it does fairly naturally by now.

Perhaps it's just my "center."  Or, as Ki Society folks say "Weight Under Center."  Right now, that doesn't seem specific enough -- though it's getting easier the more Taiji I do.

Anyway, I don't have the solution yet.  But now I have a much better idea of what the problem is.  In order to "get into my Uke brain" as Nage, I need a mantra.

Principles

Ikkyo, Nikkyo, Sanyko, Yonko, etc...  We all know them as "First technique, Second technique, etc".   Or perhaps "First teaching, Second teaching..."   But I recently watched a YouTube video in which they were referred to as "First principle, Second principle... etc."

This was an "aha" moment for me.  There are a number of common principles in Aikido.  Each school would have a different set of them -- each teacher, each person, even.  I'm talking about things like centering, breathing, blending, "live blade," self-control, balance, extending Ki, weight under center, movement.   There are so many.

I think that each technique we show, and even each variation we show, or attitude with which we show it, can focus on certain Aikido principles.  Some techniques lend themselves better to certain principles over others.

I find myself, when I'm teaching, looking around the room and watching people train, noticing different things. Perhaps I'm seeing errors in simple mechanics.Those are easy.  But I'm also looking, consciously or unconsciously, for certain principles.

For example, in our dojo we make a distinction between irimi-nage and kokyu-ho (or is it kokyu-nage?-- after 20 years I'm still not sure of the difference).  Even though some of the mechanics of certain variations can be very similar, by focusing on a particular principle we can see some differences.  Irimi is "entering," so we focus on entering, and the technique can become a bit more assertive, even aggressive.  Kokyu is "breath," and so the technique can be more "opening" -- more "flowy."   The basics of the variation can be very similar (say, from Ryote-dori or Katate--dori).  Both techniques can be very effective.  Each involves principles of the other.  The emphasis might depend on the teacher, the Uke, the Nage, the particular attack, etc...

If we're Kose-dori doing Nikkyo, I might focus on finding a direct line to Uke's center (or even my own).  If we're doing Yokomen-uchi Shihonage, however, all that motion might lend itself more to a focus on movement, or of maintaining center connection. 

All principles apply all the time, probably, but some techniques lend themselves better to demonstrating certain principles more than others.

Panda Sensei

I want to thank brother Spence for dubbing me "Panda Sensei."  Not quite as intimidating as some of the other more terrifying nicknames we've given our fellow mat mates, but I'll take it.  Big, fluffy, round, generally in a good mood...  I like it.