“Aikido is not simply over-powering your opponent or competition of physical strength, one must begin
to appreciate Aikido in terms of blending, the flow and out-pouring of energy, balance and timing
and bring them all together in an integrated and effective way.” - Rev. Kensho Furuya
The best Aikidoists go with the flow. One way to say “flow” in Japanese is ryuudou (流動). Ryuu means “flow” and dou means “movement.” Flow in terms of Aikido, means that no matter what happens, we go with it instead of against it. Modern psychology dictates that there are three responses to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to our survival: fight, flight, or freeze. However, there is a fourth option - Aikido. To do Aikido means that we do not fight with our aggressor, we do not run from an attack, and we don’t freeze. In Aikido, we go with the flow. Typically, when we try to explain Aikido to people, we say, “Aikidoists use other people’s force against them.” This is not quite entirely true. Aikido is more sophisticated than that. When confronted, the first thing we do is meet the stressor with calmness and composure. This enables us to move appropriately but it also gives us the wherewithal to not lose our cool and hurt someone out of fear or anger. Then, we neutralize our opponent’s attack with movement and align with their force. Next, we change the orientation of their power, momentum, or body weight and redirect that energy back into their bodies. We use that energy to either throw them down, pin them, or employ a joint lock. In Aikido, our response to our aggressor has to always be in accordance with the natural movements of the body so as to cause the minimalist amount of pain, suffering, or injury. All of these steps can be summed up in one word - flow. The definition of flow is “the melting together of action and consciousness; the state of finding a balance between a skill and how challenging that task is.” One way we learn how to go with the flow is when we learn how to roll. First, we learn the mechanics of rolling. Then, we apply our roll and use it when we are being thrown. Most times, in the early stages of our training, our roll will be clunky and square rather than round and smooth. Later on, as our roll becomes round, we strive to be thrown and roll without any hesitancy in both mind and body. Eventually, we learn how to roll spontaneously in accordance with how we are being thrown and it is not only a nonevent but a seemingly joyful experience as well. In life and in Aikido, things will invariably come and attack us, and bad things will invariably happen. None of us are immune. The difference between an Aikidoist and other people is that we choose to flow instead of fight, runaway or freeze. The best Aikidoist always goes with the flow in mind, body, and spirit.
Today’s goal: Don’t resist - go with the flow. Do Aikido.
Watch this video of Barry Sanders going with the flow.