When executing a techinque, the initial impuls is created by a short and intense muscular contraction. Decontraction intervenes immediately after that, the hand or foot continuing the inertial movement, without any significant muscular involvement or effort.
Every action naturally consists of two phases: contraction and decontraction. The decontraction facilitates speed and the contraction transforms it into power. The dynamic alternation of the two phases must be fully harminized with the rhythm of the assault.
Another very important issue is the connetion between position and stability. An incorrect, unballanced positioning affects the mobility and the efficiency of the technique. The strength results from the way one applys the technique, positioning the feet in a way they can enable the evergy to flow in one direction only.
In Yoshinkan the positions are low, with feet way apart for enlarging the base of support: bended knees, always with a slight tension. The low positioning of the body facilitates ballance and full body contraction. Bending the knee on the rear foot maintains an energetic reserve for cushioning the shocks.
Ballance is the one that insures stability, as well as mobility of the body, also facilitating its coordination.
The precursory positions are higher, enabling the usage of the force resulting from the lowering of the center - Seika tanden - while in action. During defence one must assume o lower position, in order to use efficiently the static force, without concentrating too much on the stability of the position during action.
The body must rest on the whole sole, pressing towards the exterior, with the knees neither blocked, nor bended, the body is firmly in place and a tight abdomen. The back is streight in order to allow the abdominal muscles contraction and to ensure a better blood and energy circulation. The force is kept between the thighs and abdomen, the sholders are relaxed, in their natural posture, for not causing interruptions in the force flow trasmitted by the legs and hips. The low positioning of the "tanden" offers great potential speed for moving in any direction. The action of moving offers the opponent numerous chaces for succesfull attacks. The constant changing of body weight distribution, the tranzitory positions, the decontraction necessary for speed are all vulnerable moments, which must be taken into account during a fight.
Any change in position will pass through a point where the ballance becomes very fragile, because of the reduced sustaining base (caused by nearing the feet, then distancing them and performing the actual movment). Taking advantage of these moments, a skilled opponent may retort promptly, making it difficult for you to respond with the proper defence technique.
While in a combat situation, one must remember to stay calm, to have a relaxed look, without aiming at any part of the opponent's body. The visual field should be as wide as possible, globaly observing the situation. This way, any gesture will be perceived from the very first moment, intuitively, before it will actually be seen. At this point it is very important to develop the peripherical view, through worm up exercises of the eyes.
The constant training is ment to offer a good positioning and movement control, that will reduce the chances for success of the opponent, no matter how surprising his actions might be.
For any techinique, hara offers the unity of the movements, playing the role of the energy center developed by the body, efficiently directing it into action. During an attack or defence, the body works as a whole, hara ensuring the ballance through the correct positioning and the discharge of the accumulated force of Ki into its center, Seika-Tanden.
During combat, the sence of distance - Ma-ai - is very important, always working as a fine ballance. This will position you correctly towards the opponent, thus placing you far enough, in order to be safe, but close enough to apply your technique efficiently.
A good training of the position Kamae, of replacing yourself - Tai sabaki - and of optimal distance - Ma-ai - should be practiced on rough terrain, outdoors, allowing you to exercise your ballance.
A Tai sabaki (dodging) is quite dangerous to perform in from of a quick, determined and skillful opponent. If your intuition does not "read" his intentions fast enough, there will be a delay between the start of the attack and the start of the dodging. A well trained aikidoka will master the relation between speed of perception and of reaction, the optimal distance syncronized with a good technique.
Being faced with a successfull tai sabaki (dodging), the opponent who was determined to attack, remains confused, with a decontrated body, offering the opportunity to execute any throwing or immobilizing technique. In order to do this, one must have a good control over the stability. It is necessary to get out of the attacker's way fast and without losing ballance. Dodging (tai sabaki) is based on circular movements of the hips, either in the same location or by replacing your body through steps and turns. In order to remain "ancored" and well placed for action, tai sabaki should be executed no more then 45 degrees from the main attack axis. Always try to locate your body at the exterior of the attacker's guard position. This way he will not have the ability to counter in time because he would have to change his position in order to accomplish that. That gives the aikidoka enough time to apply a proper technique for throwing or immobilizing the opponent.
The breathing - Kokyu - is the force that fuels and guides the inner energy - Ki. In martial arts there are different breathing technics. Generaly it is said that a fighter breathes down from the groin (inguinal region). It is actually the abdominal breathing (fuckushiki kokyu), primordial, slow and profound/deep. That is the breathing that directly fuels Seika-tanden (the energy center of the body). The gas exchange is complete, in contrast with the intercostal breathing, which is very different, taking place at the upper level of the lungs, where there is always some aer left unused.
Concentrating on the abdominal breathing gives energy into the Tanden and for the spine cord. This offers the fighter a feeling of strength and self-confidence, relaxing body and mind.
During a fight one should inhale quickly, allowing a short decontraction of the muscles, while preparing the technique. Also short is the exhaling, making it easy to contract the muscles and perform the action (movement).
While executing a technique, the muscular contraction is accompanied by a fast, concentrated and violent exhaling, followed by a light retention. One must always keep a small quantity of aer that will be exhaled slowly at the end of the technique. This last breath of air exhaled, combined with an extreme mental concentration, reprezents the last flow (discharge) of energy - Ki-no-nagare.
The inhaling is activated by a profound abdominal extesion, always calm and discret, not to offer the opponent the chance to attack at that moment, when muscular decontraction intervines.
The coordination of the breathing rhythm is very important in order to maintain a fluent speed and strength. Passing through the breathing phases in complete harmony with the rhythm of the fight, without any disruption, helps the fighter to remain relaxed with a minimum waste of energy. That is the key to survive in a combat situation.
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