Ki is in the air- I can feel it

Humidity hits an all time high, rain clouds are looming in the skyline hence trapping heat from escaping into the atmosphere.


Fans are switched on full blast and windows opened to the maximum, to much dismay provided little relief to the additional heat generated from 40 odd bodies packed into a dojo the size of 12 feet by 30 feet.


It was the special pre- seminar class for instructors and all black belt holders ( yudansha) who wished to have personal interaction with the Shihan; was already on the mat.

40 hakama ( Black samurai "skirt-pants") wearers sat seiza ( Japanese style sitting) in lines waiting patiently for Sugano Shihan to take on the mat. This is the time when Shihan is able to observe the techniques made by the aikidokas and perhaps make correction or improve the execution.

The beauty of aikido is, no matter how many times you perform the technique, you will find a variation in each situation; perhaps the uke ( attacker) are different or a new awareness of your own technique is created as you progress in this art.

Energised by Ki?

I find that each time after returning from a class by a Shihan, I feel different. I feel that I could understand the technique more clearly and weed out errors in the execution of a good technique.

Such findings have been confirmed with my fellow classmates and they too mentioned that attending classes or seminar by Shihan help to improve technique. My sensei encourages us to attend the seminar as he postulated that the sheer number of attendees usually creates a very positive atmosphere for learning. I never quite understood the reason for the relatively faster improvement after a seminar than in a regular class.

Perhaps in a seminar, one pay more attention than during a class since the room is packed with strangers and the ego to perform sets in. The psychological impact in the need to perform is created and thus makes one go the extra mile. This is commonly seen in competitive sports where fans do make a difference in the outcome of a game.

Or, perhaps it could be due to the Ki aura that is emitted by the mere presence of the Shihan or the power of the Ki released from the Shihan as he executes technique. After all, years of Aikido training has been associated with better Ki development. I am certain that Shihan's 30 plus years of practice has created an unfathomable amount of Ki accumulation waiting to be harnessed in a technique and hence the "high quality" Ki may be infused in the air.

Whatever the reason may be, Ki or psychological impact, I have never regretted going to any Aikido seminars or workshop conducted by a Shihan. Whether it is the Ki emission by Shihan that helps improve a technique or the additional attentiveness added to perform, I enjoy attending it since I do feel a difference.