Ari-chan

So, as the title of the previous article  suggested, there is such a thing as  “the breath of life” (actually, it is not quite called this way but this is what I call it and I will explain why), but first I have to introduce (in the case people don’t know yet) the terms of “Katsujin ken, setsujin ken”.

Katsujin-ken and Setsujin-ken are the two opposing visions one can take upon his martial art; they come from the Japanese swordsmanship, and literally mean “life-giving sword” and “killing sword”, but can be adapted also as “life-giving fist” etc.  Some would explain these two as following:

Katsujin-ken is literally the “Life-giving Sword” and embodies all that is righteous: protecting the weak, destroying evil, and cultivating one’s own spirit. Conversely, Satsujin-ken is the “Murdering Sword” which takes the lives of the weak, propagates evil, and eventually destroys one’s humanity

But I disagree. The two are merely a preference of whether you want your techniques to immobilize, to defeat your opponent without harming them (severely) or if you wish quite the opposite, a more destructive martial art, a “one-kill” skill. So, let’s say you choose the way of the life giving fist (although everything can be adapted the same for the other choice as well). The Breathe of Life means being able to control one’s technique and empower it with ki so that an “ultimate” version is formed. Kokyu is important here (I’m sure you can see this thing everywhere, breathing in a very “serious” way before doing some kick ass attack), because by breathing one can calm his body and release the ki channels. This is why it is called the breathe of life. I guess (I’m trying to sound all professional and stuff, but I think I’m epically failing).

Returning to the terms of katsujin and setsujin, there are no martial arts that are strictly of one of them, although it’s teachings could be prone to one of other. But it is essentially the choice of the practitioner. Also, there is no “right” or “wrong” way, they are merely different perspectives; truly, setsujin ken is somewhat blamed by society by being bad, but yet again, we chose as right and wrong whatever we want.

What is ki?

Anywhere you look, you will see that there is no clear definition of what ki actually is. Some say it’s a type of energy, some say it’s the very primordial energy of life, some say it’s a state of mind (or, better said, something induced through the mind). Maybe it’s just a feeling.

As Reiki puts it, there are several centers of ki in our body, and that it flows through our body. This theory (the flow of ki) is sustained by many martial arts. Thus, the many round moves, that does not disturb the flow. Reiki also suggests that ki channels, the flow, can be blocked, causing the whole system to feel its repercussions.

The first use of this term was by Mo Di, who used it to describe a sort of vapor that raises from a corpse if not buried deep enough. He also associated it with housing and good nutrition (topics on which we will discuss a bit later on). Next was Confucius, using it with the meaning of “breath” (gonna get on this subject a little bit later as well). Third, and first to use it with the meaning of “life force” was Meng Ke.

Also, to be noted is the fact that the ideogram changed from the “steam” coming from rice (氣) to this one 気, in 1946.

Types of ki

Everything can be separated into types, and so can ki. One of them is the variation of passive ki and active ki. The passive type means that the use of that certain ki is (more or less) constant in time, being mostly always used, continuously. Active ki is based on burst, or spikes, of ki. It uses much more in a short period of time that passive ki.

Then it can be separated in 3 types. Aggressive, defensive, and control type ki. It is just like the three symbols in aikido. The triangle stand for aggressive type ki. This means that it is used in order to aid attacks, to create internal damage - by transmission of energy into the enemy’s body, to cut - it is well known that the great swordsmen of Japan (or at least it is rumored) could cut things even with a stick and had a thick aura surrounding them that could cut leaves in two. That is aggressive ki. The defensive type is the one that helps you empower you muscles for impact, endure pain, regenerate faster (yes, this sound a little bit all science fiction, but it’s everyone’s choice what he believes or not). In Musashi’s “Book of five rings”, the void represent the ultimate ki, where one can negate the aggressiveness in others (and many other things). This is the circle. Then there is control type ki. This helps you raise your flexibility, your speed, concentration, but can also permit control over others. Ninja use this type of ki in their hypnotic techniques, impersonation etc. This is the square.

At first, most usually one will have only one type of ki that he can use (for example, passive defensive ki), but in time, one should master the ability to use all three kinds of ki (as well as both passive and active types).

Ki can also generate auras (which, at their own turn, can be seen using meditation techniques). But auras is a whole different (and big) story.

Creating ki and using ki

How do you gather ki? Well, thing of yourself as a bowl. You fill yourself with it by just standing there. Just like… pancreatic juice. And just like pancreatic juice, you can do things to fasten the rate at which you create this life energy. But this is different from person to person. Some relax, other meditate, others need to become all active and pumped up.

Feelings, as well, can have the ability to empower your ki. But this also means it can weaken it, or it could just make you go berserk and have power but to lack control over it. Genetics (although I hate using this word) also have a role. While some people are fast learners, some can make muscles very fast, there are also people who can create ki, stock it and use it better than others. But all of this can be trained (course, talent is always a big help).

But using ki and creating it are two different meals. To be able to use it you must have enough will power and to have the body to withstand it. Overuse of ki has effects both on the body (primarily) and the mind. It leads to trembling, stomach sickness and difficulty in breathing (things that I myself have felt). Maybe even more. To use it, you must have precision and a lot of training. No, you cannot move stuff with your mind (but if you can, please do tell me). You most probably wont be able to lift an elephant. But you will be “better, harder, faster, stronger”.

You can also create ki pressure on others (but that would mean to have much more than the person you’re aiming at). Also, there are several techniques than can be used to disrupt the flow of ki on others, from hitting pressure points and ki points, to causing pain (thus loss of concentration) and even using ki based techniques.

So, another attempt of a so called blog. Will it succed? Will I become famous and world renowned, get hired and trained by NASA and be sent to conquer the World of Blog? One never knows…

So, as a grand start, I thought of starting with one of my many hobbies… manga. Yes, another one of those freaks. Anyway, today i was ravaging my library in the search of manga’s that contain aikido (because yes, i am one of “those” freaks as well), and wondered why the internet does not have a comprehensive list of manga’s that contain aikido in it. So let us complete the Almighty Internet.

List of manga that contain Aikido

1) AIKI -> the main character, Kizuki, is said to be an aikidoka, but personally I don’t see that much aikido in this manga.

2) Change123 -> ah, a lot of ass-kicking aikido here done by Izuru Hino.

3) Evil Heart -> this manga is mainly about how the main character, Masaki Umeo, that starts learning aikido.

4) M.C. Law -> Not very much aikido here, but Mamoru’s cousin (whose name I have possibly forgotten) does some aikido techniques on the street and says she’s a black belt in aikido.

5) Monster -> Anna Liebert, one of the main characters, can be seen once during an aikido training session. That’s about it for this manga and aikido - although I do remember another bit here and there.

6) Rough -> Another name that yet eludes me, the one of the old man that took care of Ninomiya Ami and Yamato Keisuke. He had an aikido dojo - which is shown in the memories of the children.

Still in search for more aikido-manga’s. Will come back with a few pictures of the aikidoness in the above mentioned manga’s.