Relative and absolute perspective are terms that describe how we define ourselves and interact with the world around us. Most people define themselves by external references.
For example,
I'm standing on the earth, in front of, behind, or next to someone or something. This perspective creates duality and leads to a competitive attitude.
In Aikido, when we focus on our uke and try to apply techniques, take their balance or throw them, we are practicing with a relative attitude that is dependent on size, strength, speed, technical skills, etc.
When we maintain an absolute perspective, with embodied consciousness as the anchor in the here and now, we stand or move in the center of everything and no longer use external references to define ourselves. All movements are based on dynamic poses within our natural range of motion. It is uke who creates the connection through intent and as long as this intent remains, will find themselves magnetically/gravitationally attracted to nage.
Without resisting the the attack/connection that uke has created, all nage has to do is maintain their center-oriented attitude and the technique will manifest from uke's intent. (Takemusu Aiki)
'''True budo is the cultivation of attraction with which to draw the whole opponent to you. All I have to do is keep standing this way."
-OSensei
This doesn't mean we stand there and do nothing. There's an innate timing in our body that is awakened with embodied consciousness. It is more accurate and faster than thought. The body will move, avoiding the attack while maintaining a constant, absolute perspective. Uke will find themselves outside of the sphere of our presence while at the same time caught in its gravitational/spiritual field.
Without resisting uke's attack, nage is free to change the shape of their body through dynamic poses and natural movement. And uke, falling into this field of nonresistance, find themselves "going along for the ride"
And should they lose their balance due to a loss of a target,
then nage becomes a "spotter " for uke's fall from grace.
For example,
I'm standing on the earth, in front of, behind, or next to someone or something. This perspective creates duality and leads to a competitive attitude.
In Aikido, when we focus on our uke and try to apply techniques, take their balance or throw them, we are practicing with a relative attitude that is dependent on size, strength, speed, technical skills, etc.
When we maintain an absolute perspective, with embodied consciousness as the anchor in the here and now, we stand or move in the center of everything and no longer use external references to define ourselves. All movements are based on dynamic poses within our natural range of motion. It is uke who creates the connection through intent and as long as this intent remains, will find themselves magnetically/gravitationally attracted to nage.
Without resisting the the attack/connection that uke has created, all nage has to do is maintain their center-oriented attitude and the technique will manifest from uke's intent. (Takemusu Aiki)
'''True budo is the cultivation of attraction with which to draw the whole opponent to you. All I have to do is keep standing this way."
-OSensei
This doesn't mean we stand there and do nothing. There's an innate timing in our body that is awakened with embodied consciousness. It is more accurate and faster than thought. The body will move, avoiding the attack while maintaining a constant, absolute perspective. Uke will find themselves outside of the sphere of our presence while at the same time caught in its gravitational/spiritual field.
Without resisting uke's attack, nage is free to change the shape of their body through dynamic poses and natural movement. And uke, falling into this field of nonresistance, find themselves "going along for the ride"
And should they lose their balance due to a loss of a target,
then nage becomes a "spotter " for uke's fall from grace.
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