The article below has been selected from the extensive archives of the Online Aikido Journal. We believe that an informed readership with knowledge of the history, techniques and philosophy of aikido is essential to the growth of the art and its adherence to the principles espoused by Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba.
People are cut first not by the blade of the sword, but by the sakki, the bloodthirsty wish to kill, which is thrust out from the mind of the attacker before the blade moves. The famous teacher of the third Tokugawa Shogun, Iemitsu, Yagyu Taiima no Kami was walking one day in a garden followed by a servant who was suddenly taken up with the thought, “If I were to attack him now, even such a great swordsman as my master would surely be unable to resist…” At that very instant, as if taken over by some great anxiety, Tajima no Kami hastily returned to his own quarters and spoke to his servant, “Just now while walking in the garden, I felt sakki attack me. But no one except yourself was present. What I fear is sakki where no enemy is apparent.”
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…your mind has to be pretty uncluttered to pick that stuff up. then you have to have the sense to pay attention.
in the Korean War the Americans developed a radar gunsight that gave F86 pilots range information. after the Russians captured a fairly intact F86 with the sight they started installing radar detectors in their Migs. the problem was that the radar detector, which was audible in the pilot’s headset, was always humming with background radiation. one day one of their aces got irritated and turned the thing off. but something motivated him to turn it back on and it was then howling. he did a maximum G turn and avoided 2 F86s, taking a few bullet holes in a wing but surviving.
generally speaking it’s easy to ignore “the vibes”. this is especially true because if you pay attention to them you rarely get in situations. your “rational mind” will then tell you that it’s all just imagination.
Get your hands on this film…Japanese Bushido of World War II
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_End_All_Wars