The Trojan Horse

Our dojo has a fun tradition called the Birthday Toss.  Any member having his birthday may choose to take ukemi the number of times as their age plus one.  Other dojo members will be nages.  It is a great way for Aikido fanatics to celebrate birthdays.

Since I am over 50, I am eligible for the "senior discount" and only do (100 - my age) +1 time.  My hard-headed conviction is that, for as long as I can, I will stick to my real number.  Today, I survived my 57-ukemi challenge.

Last week, I was talking to a few students about my upcoming birthday toss.  I was game.  I thought it must be exciting for students to throw their instructors around.  I was a little surprised when a student said, "Oh, we try.  But, it is actually quite a challenge for us, too . . . " She laughed and then mimicked having her technique reversed and she ended up being thrown.  

Oh.  Right.  When people are too sloppy or leave too big an opening, I sometimes reverse their technique and toss them back.  I almost forgot . . .  My bad.

Unlike regular training, there is no clear script in Birthday Toss.  The nage calls the attack, and they may do any technique they want.  Some people choose to do very basic techniques while some take the opportunity to show off fancy techniques in front of the crowd.  Members take turns by seniority. 

At my birthday toss, I do not just fall down for anything; nor do I resist and stop people.  To make it fun and educational, I like to make myself a reflection of my nages.  My response is all due to what I feel my partner is giving me.  I cut more slack for junior students.  Things tighten up as we move up the ranks.  Since the interaction is not scripted, this is a chance for people to show and see our real selves.

As I was uke for student A, she tried doing a shomenuchi iriminage ura.  Many people, when doing this technique, rely on using the front hand to grab/ pull/ scoop the partners attacking arm to drag them around.  As such, instead of having their arm between their body and the uke's arm, they have allowed the uke's arm to come in like a Trojan horse between their body and their own arm.  

Just as A raised her arm and tried to enter, we looked at each other and simultaneously let out an "Ahhh!"  We both started laughing.  It was a flash back from a few years ago:  She was going to throw me with the exact same technique, but she had a Trojan horse moment.  Within a second, I reversed her iriminage and threw her with another iriminage.  She did it over and over, and I reveresed her again and again.  

On this day, she recognized that feeling and paused.  I turned to her, "So, what are you gonna do now?"  She realized she was at a very delicate spot, but was not sure what to do to save herself.  I coached her, she gingerly followed my instructions and successfully threw me.  She tried iriminage again.  The difference is that she has now learned how to correct herself and knows how to stay away from the Trojan horse.  

After class, I congratulated her.  "You learnt a major lesson today!  Well done.  Don't forget it.  This knowledge will serve you very well in the future."

A is a diligent person with good sensitivity.  She can feel what happened and recognize the significance, but she cannot always understand the reasons why.

"The reason so many people mess up at that very same spot and end up being reversed is because it is right between the door to life and the entrance to hell.  It is a neutral point.  Therefore, there is no clear clue as to what one should do or to go where.  Those who are impatient would force their way through, end up pushing themselves into hell."

A laughed, "Oh, Meipo san, you are making it too philosophical!"

"No, I am not.  If you remember, we paused at the edge of that spot.  You almost fell into hell, but you retrieved yourself from there to regroup.  You kept your center and your shape.  All of a sudden, you were able to move swiftly.  Next thing you know, your uke fell down.  Isn't this an accurate description of the tangible feelings from your experience?"  

I felt like I have become a guide for a special curated tour.

"The difference between the two possible actions by the nage is that, if you force your way in and lose your center, you push yourself into hell.  On the other hand, if you keep your center and stay inside the core of the movement, the door of life reveals itself to you.  You don't even have to do much of anything.  Isn't it how it felt just now?"

A nodded her head. 

This conversation with A reminded me of a Buddhism teaching : 一念天堂，一念地獄, which can be loosely translated as "One little kind thought with great love would send one to Heaven.  One evil venom thought in stealth could well condemn one straight to Hell."

O Sensei often talked about the importance of having a pure heart.  A person of pure heart does not try to take what does not belong to them.  He does not attempt to get into a space where he does not belong.

Read [The Pure Heart]

Is it a philosophical teaching?  Or is it a technical martial art advice?  

They may just be one and the same.