Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Techniques and Aikido - Maintaining Calm
Randori
Tohei Sensei - Strength in Calmness
Can calmness be part of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) or Aikido?
A calm state of mind is actually essential to the successful practice of these arts. Tension works against the martial artist in many ways:
- Tension hastens the development of fatigue because it causes a greater expenditure of energy with each move. To test this idea, watch how quickly a beginner "gases out" within a short time compared to an advanced practitioner.
- Excessive tension "telegraphs" your intent.
- Tension unsettles mind, which leads to errors.
Aikido: Developing the Spiritual Calm while building the Physical
- Aikido: Learn about an art which develops mental and spiritual while it promotes the physical
Aikido can be a life-long journey which develops your mental ability to identify and deal with threats before they escalate into a physical altercation. The principles taught in this art can be applied to home and work conflict situations.
Calming Your Mind Continued
When the lay person observes a BJJ match they may perceive that the action is intense throughout. Observe a championship MMA match in the Octagon and you will see that even in a position of substantial disadvantage such as half or full mount and defending against the "ground and pound" a practitioner will be taking deep breaths and their face will often not display signs of extreme tension.
In Aikido, a calm state of mind is essential to the correct application of techniques. In fact, "Relax Completely" is one of the Four Fundamental Principles of this martial art. A prime example of calmness is the proper execution of Randori, a freestyle technique which pits the Aikido practitioner against multiple opponents whose attacks may include grabs, strikes or kicks. The goal is to demonstrate your ability to remain calm and aware of threats from all directions and to take steps to evade and neutralize them while maintaining your center or "one point".
Conclusion - Calmness is not only beneficial for the Martial Arts practitioner, it is essential to the efficient execution of techniques. Whether in the MMA Octagon, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu match or on the Aikido mat, calmness fosters fluidity and promotes a relaxed mental state.
