Let Them go by

成るように成る
Naruyouninaru
Let nature take its course
- Japanese proverb

The best Aikidoists let them go by.

The Japanese proverb naruyouninaru (成るように成る) means “to let nature take its course.” When we let nature take its course, we allow something to happen without trying to control it. In an Aikido sense, the stronger the attack, the harder they are thrown.

In Aikido, we never collide with or crash into our opponents. We also never impeded our partner’s movement. Instead, we let them go by as they attack us. I don’t mean in an apathetic or defeated sense. We let them go by and allow the intention of their attack to dictate the consequence of their action. Or in other words, we let nature take its course.

Early on in Aikido, many of the techniques were katame-waza (固め技) or “control techniques” which manipulated the wrist, elbow, or shoulder. Later, Aikido became more sophisticated and many of these control holds became throws or nage katame-waza (投げ固め技). This deftness of technique demonstrated the superiority of one’s ability.

Previously, as the nage would be applying the hold, the uke would feel pain, fear, or become immobilized. This is where the power and effectiveness of Aikido as a martial art came from. Now, as the hold is being applied, the uke finds themselves in motion and falling through the air as they are “thrown” instead of immobilized.

In order to achieve this higher level of technique, the nage and uke cannot clash or collide with one another. Knowing how the body moves, the nage maneuvers their opponent into the technique as they are attacked. Knowing where and how the body will react enables the nage to know where to place themselves to cause the uke to “fall into” the technique. To do this flawlessly, the nage needs to let the uke go by rather than smash them into the technique. And so, techniques like shihonage, kotegaeshi, or juji-nage to name just a few evolved and became throws rather than just control holds or joint locks.

Later on, letting the attacker go by becomes a metaphor for life as well. So often in life, we are trying to control or force people into doing it our way. We hold on to them or force them to do things because we think that we need them or that they are necessary for us to achieve happiness. When they don’t want us or move against us, we take it personal. A majority of the time, it is not personal at all. As someone once said, “It is not that people are against you; they are just in it for themselves.” When we can realize this, it takes the edge off their actions. This softening enables us to act with propriety and calmness rather than anger, frustration, or sadness.

At the crux of Aikido is this ability to remain calm. When we are calm, we can see all options as well as all sides of the coin. Aikido is a practice and so is being able to let people go by, especially when they are trying to hurt us. Letting someone go by is the mark of a truly evolved person and that is why the best Aikidoists let them go by.

Today’s goal: Don’t get mad, don’t take it personal and never contend - just let them go by and let nature take its course.