| Aikido meditation and breathing techniques will help | | | | Close your mouth and begin to inhale calmly, |
| you to develop a whole new level of skill. You can | | | | through your nose in a smooth, relaxed way for |
| remove negative feelings and become more | | | | about 15-20 seconds. Use your diaphragm, by |
| relaxed by appreciating the world as it really is. | | | | pushing your belly out. Then wait a few seconds |
| Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido meditated | | | | before beginning the next exhale. The total length |
| several times every day, from minutes up to | | | | of the Aikido breathing cycle is about 45 seconds. |
| several hours at a time. Also many of Morihei's | | | | Aikido Meditation Technique |
| top students were known to practise meditation | | | | Once you are used to the first method, then you |
| and contemplation. | | | | may want to try the following Aikido meditation |
| It is great to learn physical techniques, but | | | | technique. This can be practised seated or even in |
| eventually you will want to increase your abilities. | | | | your regular Aikido class. |
| For example the more you are able to relax and | | | | Seated - Practise the Aikido meditation breathing |
| focus your mind the better your Aikido | | | | technique for few minutes. Then, with eyes |
| performance will be. So, what are some of the | | | | closed, use your imagination to create an image in |
| ways that you can use Aikido meditation | | | | your mind. 'See' powerful life energy filling your |
| techniques? | | | | being as you breathe in, and imagine giving it back |
| Well, it really depends on your preference, and | | | | to the universe as you breathe out. You can give |
| your previous life experience. You may just want | | | | this energy a vibrant colour, and feel it flowing |
| a quick way to relax your mind and body, or you | | | | around your body. |
| may want to go a little deeper with meditation | | | | Now, imagine yourself in your ideal dojo, |
| and breathing techniques to develop yourself | | | | performing your Aikido techniques perfectly. |
| spiritually. | | | | Whatever attack comes, you are able to deal |
| Anyway, here I will give you a few of the | | | | with it easily, in a soft flowing way. Create vivid |
| methods, I personally use, to retreat into silence | | | | detail, add people, colour, sound, and get into how |
| and peace. After all it is good to look inwards | | | | it makes you feel, to be successful. |
| occasionally, rather than outwards all of the time. I | | | | NB. I recommend you use this just before your |
| will give you 3 methods, that you can use, to | | | | next grading performance! |
| experience positive effects. I recommend that | | | | Dojo - Now take your skills into a dojo setting. In |
| you take the time to practise on a daily basis, for | | | | many dojo's, the other students are very sociable |
| a minimum of 10 minutes. You can perform all of | | | | and want to talk about all sorts of things, before, |
| these in a choice of postures... | | | | during and after practise. Ignore it all, and keep |
| 1 - Kneeling, a two fist gap between the knees, | | | | quiet, without being rude. Breathe deeply and |
| hands placed lightly on your thighs with fingers | | | | focus on Aikido, before during and after training. |
| pointing in & down. Straighten your spine, and | | | | While you are on the mat, keep quiet, focus & be |
| relax downwards, with mind on your one point in | | | | a good uke. |
| the lower belly. | | | | Aikido Kotodama (chanting) |
| 2 - Cross-legged, with your hands resting on your | | | | Kototama is the art of chanting a sound spirit. |
| inner thighs, thumbs and forefingers lightly pressed | | | | You can use the complex Aikido kototama, as |
| together, spine straight, and relax downwards, | | | | taught by John Stevens Sensei, Or a more |
| with mind on one point in lower belly. | | | | simplified version, which I use myself... 'AUM', 'OM' |
| 3 - If you cannot manage one of the other | | | | or 'HU'. |
| methods then a straight back chair will do. Also | | | | This type of meditation technique, using sound can |
| with the hands lightly on your thighs, feet flat on | | | | have a profound effect on you. Of course, using |
| the floor, spine straight, relax downwards, mind | | | | sound allows you to monitor the smoothness of |
| on one point in lower belly. | | | | your breathing pattern. You will hear any |
| Aikido Breathing Technique | | | | imperfections as you perform it, and can work on |
| Close eyes gently, open mouth slightly and start | | | | correcting them. |
| to exhale calmly, using the diaphragm, by pulling | | | | During your chanting, you can also visualise your |
| your belly in. Imagine the whole breath flowing out | | | | ideal life. The more feeling and detail you give it, |
| slowly and smoothly from your entire body, for | | | | the more likely you are to manifest it. Imagine |
| about 15-20 seconds. Pause calmly for a few | | | | and feel the end result as if you have already |
| seconds. | | | | achieved your goal. How does it make you feel... |