What is Aiki? (part 2)

So then, what exactly is the Aiki that O-Sensei used in his Aikido?

 Is it the same as in the Daito-Ryu of Sokaku Takeda? Or could it be possible that this kind of Aiki is something that O-Sensei didn't learn from Sokaku Takeda but realized by himself?

Without having better knowledge about that specific matter, let's compare some explanations about Aiki given by Yukiyoshi Sagawa 1 (Daito-Ryu) with some explanations given by O-Sensei (Aikido).

 

"True training begins
once you understand Aiki"

Yukiyoshi Sagawa explains 2 Aiki in Daito-Ryu Aiki-Jujutsu:

• When one understands Aiki, one can use it on anyone without using any physical effort or force. 


• If it is hard to fight someone who is physically strong, then that’s not Aiki.


• Unbalancing your opponent is part of Aiki, but not all of it.


• In Aiki, unlike other bujutsu, force isn’t used. 


• No matter how hard you may look, Aiki cannot be understood by observing the external. 


• With Aiki, the focus is different, the concept is completely different. 


• True training begins once you understand Aiki. 

• Takeda Sensei often used to call it Aiki no jutsu, the technique of Aiki. That means that he considered Aiki to be a technique.




 

"Aiki is Love,
Aiki is Misogi"

 

O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba explains 3 Aiki in Aikido:

• Aiki allows us to proceed on the path of harmony without raising the spirit of armament.
• Aiki is Love
• Aiki is Misogi
  
• Aiki is the manifestation of Takemusu.
  
• Refining the practice of Aiki to achieve harmony.
• To connect while with harmony and integrity - this is Aiki.
• In Aiki, one moves forward with this path of the mind and path of the body as one.
• Aikido is the study of the soul and the techniques of Aiki.
• The practice of Aiki is to soften, harden, and polish a great power by unification of the spirit and body.
• The meeting of circular movement is the technique of Aiki.
• Master the technique of aiki, the divine way. Then no enemy will attack.
  

 

We can't deny the strong correlations between the two disciplines. 

Here are some more definitions of Aiki 4 as given by different masters of Daito-Ryu:

• The essential principles of Daito-Ryu are love and harmony
• There is no first attack in Aiki-jujutsu 
• Neither cut nor be cut. Neither strike nor be struck. Neither kick nor be kicked.
• When one uses “Aiki” even the very impulse to counter-attack ceases to arise
• One enters into a selfless world without ego
  
• Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu is the bujutsu of love
  
• The final goal (of Daito-Ryu) is the spirit of love and harmony 5
  

 

O-Sensei also defines his Aikido 6: "the true state of Aikido is love and harmony. There is no opponent in Aikido".

"The true state of Aikido
is love and harmony.
There is no opponent in Aikido"

 

Then again, O-Sensei from his early days on seemed to differ in his techniques from the techniques of his teacher Sokaku Takeda as told by Takuma Hisa 7 (Daito-Ryu) 8: "Everyone had been absorbed in Ueshiba’s beautiful techniques, but right then we became completely fascinated by the strong techniques of this old master (Sokaku Takeda)".

O-Sensei himself points out, that at one point in his life he stopped the training of the old Aiki and all that was left to him was the method of Shochikubai (the new Aiki). Also, as O-Sensei clearly differentiated his Aiki from the Aiki of other masters of budo, I'm getting the idea that the Aiki in Aikido, even though some core principles are the same, maby is not exactly the same as in Daito-Ryu. Same, same, but different?

1  Yukiyoshi Sagawa (1902 - 1998), Daito-Ryu master and direct student of Sokaku Takeda
2  Quotes taken from "Tranparent Power" by Tatsuo Kimuro
3  Quotes taken from "Takemusu Aiki" by Takahashi Hideo and from "Aiki Shinzui" a collection of texts from O-Sensei collected and redacted by Aikikai Hombu Dojo
4  Quotes taken from "Ai no Bujutsu - Aiki and the Bujutsu of Love" by Aikido Sangenkai online
5  Quote taken from an Interview with Katsuyuki Kondo as published in Aikido Journal online
6  Quote taken from an Interview with O-Sensei as published in Aikido Journal online
7  Takuma Hisa (1895 - 1980), Daito-Ryu master and direct student of Sokaku Takeda, 8th dan Aikido
8  Quote taken from an Interview with Takuma Hisa as published in Aikido Journal online

Page first published on 19.09.2023
Page last updated on 04.04.2025

--------------------------------------
Disclaimer: everything presented in this post only represents my personal opinions based on my personal  knowledge, understanding and experiences made regarding the matter in discussion except where quotes are made. Other opinions are highly respected as long as they can withstand the argumentation. Some of the points presented may be purely speculative on my side due to the lack of evidence known to me. Any evidence presented to help clarify the points in question is highly welcomed. The post may still undergo little changes, although the content will mainly remain the same.

Notes on Copyrights: Neither text or parts of the text may be used or published elsewhere without the consent of the author. It is OK though to quote with correct references made to this text.
--------------------------------------