| When my friend Lynn asked how I incorporate the | | | | new way to engage, to blend with whatever comes, |
| principles of Aikido into my writing practice, I was | | | | and to transform resistance into connection. |
| surprised and dumbfounded-surprised by the delightful | | | | You may already see the link between Aikido and |
| question and dumbfounded because I've been | | | | writing. Like Aikido, writing is both an art and a practice. |
| practicing Aikido for fifteen years and teaching and | | | | When I practice either with intention and regularity, |
| writing about Aikido almost as long, but I'd never | | | | technique improves and eventually becomes invisible. |
| considered how my Aikido and writing practices might | | | | Like Aikido, when I'm writing well, I'm in a flow state. I |
| be connected. | | | | acknowledge and blend with all that is going on in mind, |
| Aikido-translated as The Way of Blending with | | | | body and spirit. When I feel stuck, for example, I ask: |
| Energy-is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei | | | | Why is this hard? What am I resisting? Or, What am I |
| Ueshiba in the early 20th century. Ueshiba died in 1969. | | | | really trying to say here? I pay attention to what wants |
| Aikidoists call him O'Sensei or Great Teacher. A | | | | to emerge, and I connect with the stuck energy until it |
| master of many martial arts, O'Sensei believed these | | | | begins to flow. |
| arts could serve a higher purpose, and over time he | | | | In both Aikido and writing, the goal is alignment. Instead |
| created Aikido as a way to reconcile and, as he said, | | | | of pushing back on an idea or forcing it, I listen to |
| "to make human beings one family." | | | | where it wants to go. Instead of seeking the perfect |
| Aikido employs no blocks or counterpunches. The goal: | | | | word, phrase, or preposition, I let words flow, even if |
| to disarm without harming. The method: blending and | | | | ungrammatical or nonsensical, in order to let the energy |
| redirecting. The student of Aikido learns to "catch" the | | | | of the moment, the thought, flow freely. I get out of the |
| attack energy, to blend with it and redirect it to a safe | | | | way. Later I look and see what I've got. Sometimes it's |
| conclusion. In order to blend, we move off the line of | | | | useless, and sometimes I don't change a thing. But the |
| attack; we get out of the way. We step back, slide | | | | "letting it flow" part is really fun. Catching the energy. |
| sideways, or move into an opening created by the | | | | These are not new ideas. But the physical sensation |
| attack, then contain the attacker with a pin or throw. | | | | of using energy on the mat helps me to find it off the |
| Consequently, the person delivering the attack usually | | | | mat. O'Sensei said: "Always practice the Art of Peace |
| ends up on the floor. And learning to fall safely | | | | in a vibrant and joyful manner." When writing feels |
| becomes a key skill and indispensable option-another | | | | hard, I remember and return to the joy-a practice that |
| way to catch or receive energy. Aikido represents a | | | | works in Aikido and in writing. |