Lessons I learn from my blind students | Lesson 1

Teaching Aikido to my blind students at Junior Blind of America has been so interesting and revealing. Their agility in learning complex techniques is quite amazing.


In a regular class at the Dojo, a technique is being demonstrated a few times by the instructor, from different angles and different speeds, without any verbal explanation. The students watch the teacher's demonstration, usually trying to concentrate on the participating body parts, each of the times it is being shown. First they look at the whole movement, then, maybe on the footwork, later the arms, the smaller details, and then again - looking at the whole thing. They also look at the Uke, who receives the technique.

When I teach at Junior Blind, each of my sighted students partners with a blind student. I verbally explain a technique as I demonstrate, while the sighted students apply the technique on the blind student. The first impression that my blind students get comes from audio and tactile sense. Mainly they feel how the technique is applied on them; what is the pressure point, which direction is it moving, how to grip, etc.. They get to use their touchy-feely sense, and then, organically response to it. So, when we change roles, they seem to have a "body understanding", which enables them to quickly apply a clear technique.

I am wondering about this clean transmission that my blind students demonstrate. It seems like, as sighted people, our vision and brain work in unison. We collect data and immediately process. Then, we act, trying to produce a good copy of what we saw. It may take us days, weeks, months, and even years to "get it". Maybe what we perceive with our eyes is so processed, translated, turn into conclusions - that we end up with something quite different than what was shown. Rather than seeing with our eyes alone, we see more through our mind. The results of our learning, as sighted people, seem to be more sluggish, busy and hesitant. We trust our vision much more than our other senses, hence creating a separation between reality and our perception of it.

I am sure this is just the first lesson in a series of teachings I am about to encounter, and I am thankful for this eye opening opportunity.

Ukemi | the art of blending

The art of Ukemi is about the ability to to blend with an energy, and respond in a natural and safe manner. The kanji in Japanese literally mean "Receiving Body" (受身). Why is Ukemi so important in our practice? I truly believe there is much to learn from Ukemi, as we may learn from applying techniques. Ukemi is much more than just falling down. It actually starts from the moment we get ready to attack, and continues somewhat after the technique has been completed.

Here are some of the lessons we can find in this deep art:

The lesson of Empty Mind: When we approach to an attack, we generate a spark. This spark will determine how will the flame look like, or, how will the encounter be. If we attack with some agenda, it will easily manifest within the outcome. For example, when we attack with fear, we usually leave our center behind, and use our upper body, we will probably be dragged behind the flow of the technique, and be somewhat disconnected. We should strive to execute a clean attack, without personal attachments, like assumptions, expectations and thoughts. As we attack, we empty our mind and turn our alertness and "body listening" on, and go for an unknown ride.

The lesson of "Giving in" and surrender: Once we started the ride, we should not react, yet respond to where the technique takes us. Quiet inside, we allow our body to follow without resistance, without any ideas and thoughts. We let the body do the work. Our mind usually gets in the way, so we strive to keep it silent.

The lesson of connecting and "Going with the flow": Placing our efforts on connecting to Nage is essential. Either we make sure that our grip is connected with the palms of our hands, tightening by using the two little fingers, or at a higher level, our body is "sticking" with energy that is directed towards us. Keeping the "receptors" of our body wide open and focus on our Nage's movements, will allow an easier way to blending.

The study of techniques: You may ask: what does Ukemi have to do with learning techniques? Well, just like a die creates a mark on the paper it pressed upon, so is Ukemi, being the "other side" of technique. We can learn though our body (rather than intellectually) where is the control point of the technique, where is the pressure, what body positioning and angles will work more efficiently, and much more. Rather than some analyzed idea about how a technique should be executed - we actually feel it, and it imprints in our "muscle memory".

The lesson of humility though falling and getting up: We are falling and getting up, time after time, all the time. Falling resonates as a non-victorious act, yet we have an opportunity to conquer this psychological affect with embodiment of Ukemi. We also learn to deal with self judgment, as we get up from each Ukemi fresh and ready for the next encounter, rather than dwell on the previous one. Each encounter is a new opportunity, and is unique - it will not be repeated ever again in the very same way. As the Japanese saying go: 一期一会 "Ichigo Ichie", One encounter - only once in a lifetime. A moment cannot be exactly duplicated. After we take a fall, we keep our awareness in the way we get up, with attention to Nage. "It ain't over until it's over". We use Zanshin (残心), being alert and aware, just in case there is another encounter coming right after.

Ukemi is a great way to closely observe ourselves, especially since our role is to blend with someone or something outside of us. Taking Ukemi has a wonderful application to all areas of our life - so please, do try it at home... and at the office, and on the road - the results are very satisfying!