From a technical standpoint, the safe, unassailable position begins with the ability to stand in a stable Hanmi; in an upright and confident posture, with a strong back and your focus steady on your centre: the point around your waist.

"Hanmi" literally means "half-body".  Standing in this position only exposes your side, with your feet in a triangular position.  This allows you to easily glide beside, or to turn into or away from your opponent's attack.

On another level, vanquishing your foes and keeping yourself safe also rests on the idea that if everyone is a friend, who is the enemy?

Beginning with one's thoughts, one's attitude, one's responses, and one's decisions, what follows is the appropriate action, or inaction.  Like a chess player, it takes practice for each thought, action, and response to be deliberate, and appropriate.  This is how trouble is avoided even before it begins.  Doing something "just once" has been a trap that has caught many.  There is always a choice.

As we celebrate Easter, we know that there would be no joy of Easter without the sadness and darkness of Good Friday.  From a human perspective, especially in hindsight, the events unfolded consciously "for a reason", no matter how confusing it may have been, at the time, for the disciples of Jesus.  However, the recurring theme from Jesus to his disciples was to always follow his example, "do as I do", and to be of service.  Even his final act on Good Friday was an act of Loving service.

Of course, not all of us are expected to perform the ultimate sacrifice.  But we work at perfecting ourselves in daily life, to create a more harmonious and enriching life for everyone that we come in contact with.  It takes practice, and we won't always get it right - but there is perfection even in the mistakes (in a studio recording it would be a missed-Take... so let's Take it again), because you get to improve on it the next time.

There is no end in practising Aikido.  The Way of the Warrior is exactly that, a process of constant improvement.  It isn't known as the End-product of the Warrior.  Life doesn't just happen to us.  And so, we practice at asking better questions, and making better choices.  That is the practice of Aikido in daily life - harmonising with all that is.

Proclaiming their joy and in celebration of life, I have heard people use the phrase - We are Easter People!  Even that, ironically, also takes practice.

And so, the unfoldment continues...

Have a most Blessed and Happy Easter!

In peace and harmony,
Rafael Oei Sensei.
(© Copyright March 2008: Rafael Oei)

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