Today in Los Angeles, we can now train maskless indoors. Most of us have been rouchourenun (籠鳥恋雲) or “longing for freedom like a caged bird.” With any hope, this is the signal that the pandemic is coming to an end. With the mask mandate being lifted, many of us can now enjoy our “freedom.” However, what most people forget is that even with “freedom” there are restrictions. In Aikido, there is a lot of talk about jiyuwaza (自由技) or “free-flowing technique.” When we practice or demonstrate jiyuwaza, we are supposed to be demonstrating our Ki no nagare (氣の流れ) or “the flow of our Ki” which shows our level of mastery. Supposedly, when our Ki is flowing and in its most natural state, then we are in this free-flowing state as we throw our partner around easily and spontaneously. In Japanese, jiyu (自由) in literal terms is defined as “free” or “unrestricted” but in a more deeper sense it means “with complete mastery” or “in complete control.” When I was a student, our dojo used to have to do Aikido demonstrations every weekend during the summer. It was hot and hellishly tiring. I remember that Furuya Sensei used to do these great demonstrations where he would captivate the audience with his Aikido technique and entertain them with lively banter as he explained Aikido. One time, I asked Sensei why we would never see him rehearsing. He replied something to the effect that he used the demonstration as a gauge of where he was at in his training and that’s why he would always go in “cold.” In jiyuwaza, if our minds get caught up in conscious thought then it “stops” and so does our movement. In order to do jiyuwaza skillfully, we need to be in control. We have to have made the Aikido techniques second nature so that we can properly control our bodies and we also need to be in control of our minds in order to move spontaneously. Either way, our freedom comes from our ability to be in control of ourselves. Hopefully, as things take a turn for the better, we can resume our daily lives and enjoy our freedom. Remember, as a martial artist, our level is determined not by what we can do to others but by our ability to show restraint.
Today’s goal: Remember, freedom means being in control of what it is you choose to do.
Watch former Navy Seal Jocko Willink talk about how discipline equals freedom.