Summary:
I had practiced Aikikai style for approsimately twenty years thinking that Aikido was a wonderful martial art and then more than twenty years ago I was exposed to Iwama style. I soon realized that Iwama style was superior to Aikikai style in terms of its efficiency in acquiring self-defence ability.
The ultimate philosophy of each style is the same, Harmonization, but the efficiency (or rationale) as a martial art is very different.
As I have already written of my background in the forward, I will not discuss this further but would now like to discuss my experience in Aikido.
In the first three to five years after beginning Aikido, I practiced Shomenuchi Ikkyo and several other basic techniques under my sensei`s instruction.The dojo's focus was Ki-no-nagare because the dojo practiced Aikikai style. At that time Ki power (breath power) and the center (a point below the navel) were very much emphasized and I was taught that I must pour forth my Ki power from my center, lead my partner's Ki power and harmonize with the Ki power of the universe. So I focused on relaxation and Ki power.
Please refer the comments at the end of this chapter for more details on about Ki power (breath power).
When I was promoted to the level of black belt, I was very pleased in much the same way as everyone is. I thought that Aikido was very useful for both my health and daily life and that I would be able to practice into my advanced years. So I resolved to train harder especially in the areas of Ki power and harmonization.
At this time I was trying to find the best-detailed form (Katachi) of each technique. It was very natural that I had begun to wonder and worry about whether or not my techniques were useful in an actual self-defence situation in the event that the need arose. I repeatedly used a method of trial and error to evaluate the proper form of each technique.
Fifteen and twenty years after my beginning Aikido I was promoted to 2-dan and 3-dan respectively. At that stage it still seemed important for me to understand the nature of Ki power and its use in basic techniques. However, I still felt that I hadn't made much progress in terms of my techniques and I seemed to have reached a roadblock. I could not help relying on my resolution that I should pour out my Ki power much more to overcome this difficult situation. In other words, at that time, I guess that I couldn't overcome the sense of anxiety that I felt regarding Aikido's strength (self-defence ability) as a martial art.
After more than twenty-five years, for the first time, I had the opportunity to be exposed to Iwama style in Iwama. At the time I clearly remembered being greatly impressed with Iwama style and felt that it was genuine.
The 2nd Doshu, Kisshomaru sensei, often insisted that Aikido should overcome the negative side of martial arts; in other words the destructive and inhumane side that every martial art has. According to his belief, we shouldn't say one is strong and another is weak.
I understand his philosophy as the ultimate concept of Aikido. However in order to realize his philosophy I think that we must first make our techniques reliable and credible for ourselves.
This is the point where my view of Aikido diverges.
Briefly, in Aikikai style beginners are taught techniques using the Ki-no-nagare stage of training so the forms of it are naturally rough and not very precise. I have related the fact that this practice created for me a roadblock after ten and twenty years of practice. Of course many diligent people of Aikikai style continue to brush up their techniques with the goal of becoming more precise and effective step by step. However I am afraid some of them may encounter their roadblocks sometime later.
Put another way, I can say that Aikido needs both the philosophy (concept) and the technique (skill).
Since Aikikai style is easier in its techniques (Ki-no-nagare) at the first stage, it follows a detour to the ultimate purpose. On the other hand Iwama style makes much of Solid method (Katai-keiko) techniques first and is therefore able to achieve the purpose much more effectively. If you spend the same time training, Iwama style is far efficient than Aikikai style in acquiring the ability to defend yourself.
I will explain the reason why such a difference occur again and again in the following chapters.
Comment on Breath Power and Ki power:
First the breath power means our respiration. We breathe out through our mouth, nose, and all of our skin. At the same time, we try to relax and concentrate in order to pour out our breath from the one point below the navel to, for example, our Tegatana (Sword-edge of hand). The Tegatana will become very strong because the martial and breath power are used together.
Because there is no Aikido without breath power (Kokyu), it is important that all styles of Aikido constantly train breath power before and after training in the technical aspects of Aikido. It is said that if you can relax any time in Aikido, it means you have acquired real breath power.
Second Ki power means something fulfilled through the universe and of course through our bodies. It may be a kind of energy. Some call it God, Buddha, and other names. When Ki power is used in the way it is called "The universal Ki power". Each individual's Ki power is a part of the Universal Ki power. We exhibit the most significant power when we relax and make full use of our individual Ki power.
Here I have to draw your attention that the fact that strictly speaking, the breath power is not equal to Ki power in the world of martial arts. Breath power is not enough to generate Ki power. By adding the correct forms (Katachi) and orders (Junjo) into the breath power, also by adding harmony (Awase), we are able acquire a composite power. This is real Ki power.
Therefore the most important points to which beginners should focus are the correct forms, order, the breath power and Awase. We must not casually use the word Ki power for them, otherwise it becomes only a mental illusion for them and not real Ki power. We should use the word breath power at the beginners` stage and use the word Ki power at the later stage.