MY JOURNEY WITH MASTERS OF AIKI - 9

 

Shuchu-ryoku – One Single Point

KANCHO KYOICHI INOUE at YOSHINKHAN HOMBU DOJO, JAPAN

I cannot remember the first words Inoue Dojocho ever spoke to me.

That may sound strange, but memory has its own priorities. After many years, conversations fade, techniques blend, and individual training sessions become difficult to separate. Yet certain images remain untouched by time.

Shuchu-ryoku is the power of total focus, a core principle taught by Gozo Shioda, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido. It means gathering all your physical and mental energy into one single point. This is the mystical concept I always wanted to understand and know how it works. The opportunity came one day when Inoue Dojocho was teaching us Kokyu-ho and how to perform the technique with proper breathing.

It was in the sitting kneeling position (Seiza), and my turn came to hold Dojocho's hands. I gave a gentle grip while applying some pressure. He smiled at me and said, "Stronger." This time, I used my entire strength and body weight on both of his hands.

He simply breathed. Instantly, I felt the entire force disappear from my body, and with an exhale and a slight movement of his wrist, I was lifted from the ground and thrown to the side. The only way to save my head was by doing a breakfall (the proper way of falling). This was the beginning. I was privileged to have this embedded into my muscle memory and was fortunate to learn this art from other Aiki Sensei in the future (another part of the journey).

I was saved a few times from life-threatening situations or unseen dangers simply because of the gift transferred from the masters. (A totally different real-life scenario that I'll share under the IY Warrior title.)

Just to conclude, Shuchu-ryoku helps connect your breath and timing with your partner's energy to create powerful techniques.

• Total Focus: Bringing your whole mind and body together instantly.
• One Point: Directing all your power to a specific target or moment.
• Control: Using this focused energy to guide or stop an attacker without wasting movement.

 

Workflow & Study: The concept is widely utilized as a productivity method to encourage "monotasking"—focusing deeply on one specific task rather than multitasking, which increases retention and prevents burnout.

Ways to Practice

• Single-Point Meditation: Dedicate 5-10 minutes to staring at a single spot on a wall, refocusing whenever your mind wanders.
• Monotasking: When reading or executing a physical task, clear your workspace and disable all distractions.
• Micro-goals: Break complex projects into singular, bite-sized tasks and complete them one by one without skipping ahead.

IY WARRIOR – EVERYDAY WARRIOR MASTERY 1

 Rei in Reality

Everyone wants to test their skills, strength, and ability to overpower or be better than an ordinary person. It is a common feeling in any art while you are learning. However, a real-life practical application or experience brings a different level of understanding, confidence, and awareness. It becomes both a test and a challenge at the same time.

I’ll give a try to present these in sequence, starting with my Yoshinkan Senshusei training. This particular experience did not happen inside the dojo, but while simply facing an ordinary situation in daily life.

During Senshusei training in Japan, I needed to change my visa status in order to continue my training. The process involved submitting the required documents to the relevant authorities. Usually, a senior person from the dojo would assist the student with this process and accompany them when submitting the official documents.

I was honoured that it was Chida Sensei who personally took me through this process. We were standing at the train station, waiting for the arrival of the train.

I was standing beside Sensei, perhaps one or two feet behind him. While waiting, noticed a person rushing through the station. As he passed us, he deliberately brushed against Sensei, showing a clear sense of rudeness and disrespect.

My immediate reaction was to step forward and respond. All the training, instincts, and energy suddenly surfaced. ready to prove myself. This was the moment to test.

But Chida Sensei simply gave me a quick, deep look. With a subtle gesture of his fingers, he communicated one message: calm down.

There was nothing dramatic about that moment. It lasted only a few seconds. Sensei’s response was incredibly simple. He smiled at the stranger and gave a respectful nod, something closer to a bow, but not a full bow.

Surprisingly, the person’s attitude completely changed. His expression became blank, and he seemed unsure how to react. Whatever intention or emotion he carried before that moment appeared to disappear. His next glance towards us was with respect, and quietly walked away.

Now, where does this response come from?

Rei in Everyday:

In Japanese society, mastering Rei is viewed as a sign of adulthood and humility. It is a way to acknowledge the value and dignity of the person you are interacting with.

The concept is summarized by the phrase "Rei ni hajimari, Rei ni owaru" meaning "it begins with a bow and ends with a bow".

 

IY WARRIOR – EVERYDAY WARRIOR MASTERY

 

Pinkie Power – Unleashing & Forging the Everyday Warrior

Meiyo Kancho Minoru Inaba of Shiseikan Dojo Meiji Jingu

This is a new chapter that continues from Masters of Aiki to Mastery of the Everyday Warrior.

Simple things hold the greatest secrets. The Pinkie, the Little Finger. I never knew it possessed so many secrets and so much power. This time, I’m not opening it up completely, but just moving with a few clues for the real follower or learner to discover. 

ISN’T IT FUN?

I was first exposed to the importance of using the little finger in each technique, starting with Shihonage, the four-directional throw. The gripping and focusing of power, like an extended string running from the body's centre to the fingers, gave a tremendous focus of energy to break balance and execute the finishing movement with force. It’s not brutal, but a gentle wrap of the fingers.

The best way to relate to this is by holding or handling the sword. Different styles emphasise different methods, but the use of a weapon gives the real understanding of Pinkie Power.

OK. Now that’s the clue to start and All the best in discovering PINKIE POWER.

MY JOURNEY WITH MASTERS OF AIKI – 8

 Kihon Dosa (Basic Movements)

Sensei Tsutomu Chida , former head of Yoshinkan Hombu dojo

When I left Sri Lanka in 1998, I believed I was travelling to Japan to become a better Aikido practitioner.That belief lasted until my first week at the Yoshinkan Honbu Dojo.

Everything I thought I understood about training began to unravel with remarkable speed. It was not because the techniques were unfamiliar or the physical demands exceeded anything I had experienced before. It was because I had entered an environment where every aspect of daily life was considered part of training. 

Every morning began long before the city had fully awakened. Tokyo moved with extraordinary precision. Trains arrived exactly on time, commuters flowed through stations with quiet efficiency and the city seemed to possess an invisible rhythm that never faltered. Walking through those streets each morning, carrying my dogi neatly folded under my arm, I often felt as though I was travelling between two different worlds. Outside, life moved with the urgency of one of the world’s busiest cities. Inside the dojo, another rhythm existed altogether, a rhythm that had changed little over generations.

The entrance to the Honbu Dojo was unassuming. Nothing about the building announced its significance. 

But Everything mattered. 

The way you entered the dojo.

The way you bowed.

The way you folded your uniform.

The way you stood while listening.

The way you treated your training partner.

Nobody needed to remind students what was expected. Senior students demonstrated them naturally, and juniors learned by observing long before they fully understood their meaning. 

As one of the Sri Lankans undertaking the Senshusei Course ( May be the only one of the two Sri Lankans crazy enough to do it), I often found myself reflecting on how unlikely this journey had been. Only a few years earlier I had been a young student discovering Aikido in a YMCA dojo. Now I stood on the tatami of the Yoshinkan Honbu, training within a tradition established by Gozo Shioda Sensei and preserved by instructors whose lives had been devoted to its transmission. 

Tsutomu Chida Sensei never needed to announce his presence. Chida Sensei had entered the Yoshinkan Honbu as an uchideshi of Gozo Shioda Sensei in 1971, dedicating decades to the founder’s direct instruction. More than simply inheriting techniques, he inherited the responsibility of preserving the spirit, precision and discipline that defined Yoshinkan Aikido. 

Watching Chida Sensei for the first time could be deceptive. There was no dramatic display of strength, no attempt to impress, no unnecessary movement. Sometimes he appeared almost relaxed, as though conserving every ounce of energy. An inexperienced observer could easily fail to recognise the extraordinary level of mastery unfolding before them.

Everything changed the moment I became his uke.

I had the privilege of taking Chida Sensei’s ukemi during my training. Even today, words struggle to capture the experience. His body possessed remarkable solidity, yet I could barely feel his hands. During a technique such as Shihonage, he would take hold of my wrist so naturally that it seemed almost insignificant. There was no crushing grip, no obvious application of force and no warning that anything extraordinary was about to happen.

Then, almost without explanation, my balance disappeared.By the time my mind attempted to understand what had occurred, I had already met the tatami.It happened repeatedly.

Every throw carried the same paradox. His body felt immensely heavy, as though rooted deep within the earth, while his hands seemed almost absent. During the technique it felt as if my entire structure had been compressed beneath an irresistible weight, yet when everything was over there was no pain, no sense of violence and no lingering discomfort. There was only an overwhelming awareness that I had encountered a level of skill unlike anything I had previously experienced.

For months I searched for an explanation.Eventually I stopped searching and simply continued training.

Everything originated from an unwavering centre. His Kamae was never merely a posture. It was a complete state of physical, mental and emotional balance. Every movement emerged from that centre without interruption, allowing his entire body to function as a single integrated unit. There was no conflict between one part of the body and another because everything moved together.

That realisation transformed the way I understood the endless repetition of Kihon Dosa (Foundational basic movements) .

Day after day we practised the same fundamental movements. Sliding. Turning. Entering. Stepping. Pivoting. Again and again they seemed almost too simple to deserve such relentless attention. Like many students, I occasionally wondered when the more advanced training would begin.

I did not realise that I was already doing it.The advanced techniques were never separate from the basics.

Soke Gozo Shioda’s philosophy of "Start from the basics, end with the basics" highlights that true mastery comes from constantly returning to Kihon Dosa (basic movements).

MY JOURNEY WITH MASTERS OF AIKI – 7

ZANSHIN

I am in the second chapter of my training under the guidance of Sensei Yoshiura. Sensei mostly emphasised the flow after executing a technique. If I may describe it, it is the extension and unending purpose of execution—something closer to the long-term goal, with continuous focus and uninterrupted projected energy towards it.

That is something beyond words or ordinary technical understanding, but I tried and failed to grasp it regularly. It was another training session with the usual set of basic throws. Suddenly, Sensei asked me to be his uke (the person receiving the technique), and the technique was Kotegaeshi (wrist lock and throw). Normally, techniques were demonstrated in the centre of the dojo (training hall), but Sensei wanted me to perform it from one end.

I was in my usual state of readiness, mentally prepared for the wrist throw, but it turned out to be something extraordinary. I was thrown to the far end of the dojo—perhaps 10 or 12 feet from one corner to the other. It was totally unexpected, but for the first time, I truly felt the extension of the energy. It was like an unending throw, where you feel as though you are flying through the air for a prolonged moment, and even after landing, you continue to feel the technique and Sensei's presence holding you down.

Zanshin, meaning "lingering mind" or "remaining mind," is a concept deeply rooted in Japanese culture and martial arts. It refers to a state of mind in which a person remains vigilant and aware, even after completing an action. This state is important not only in combat but also in everyday life, as it enables individuals to remain present and focused even after accomplishing a task.

 

MY JOURNEY WITH MASTERS OF AIKI - 6

 

“When Fighting One Thousand, Think of One.”

Realisation of life comes in an instant. It is not always born from prolonged thought processes or intense focus. Of course, these are essential qualities and necessary for mastery, but reality often flashes before us in the blink of an eye.

During my training days, I was fortunate to learn from a Sensei from Japan who was stationed in my country for work and was kind enough to share his knowledge of Aikido with our young and enthusiastic team seeking a systemised path of learning. Sensei Shinji Yoshiura was a man of real discipline and a devoted follower of the fundamentals of Bushido.

One day, I was sitting in the front line listening to Sensei’s explanation of a technique.(I should mention that, after years of regular practice, I had earned the title of senior practitioner ,Sempai.) In a parallel hall, another class was practising Judo. For some reason, my eyes briefly shifted to the right and then immediately back to Sensei. It could only have been for a fraction of a second.

The next thing I heard was, “Guru San! Please explain what I just said now.” The stern voice of my Sensei cut through the room. Fortunately, I managed to explain the essence of his teaching. But what came next was the realisation.

“Practice Is Here… Not There.”

Sensei’s awareness extended across every single student. Even the slightest movement of an eye that caused distraction was noticed. I was awestruck. At the same time, it became the moment I began to understand the art of unwavering attention and awareness. Was this connected to collective consciousness, or perhaps to the famous saying that I have always closely related to:

“WHEN FIGHTING ONE THOUSAND, THINK OF ONE.”

In martial arts and modern philosophy, this describes intense focus. It perfectly reflects the traditional samurai belief that the mind should never be overwhelmed by the chaos of the battlefield. By focusing only on the singular opponent directly in front of you or the one task at hand, a warrior maintains clarity.

“WHEN ENGAGING WITH ONE, THINK OF A THOUSAND.”

If you hold a thousand men in your mind, your spirit will not be daunted. Even if the enemy stands in thousands, fulfilment lies in standing against them with the determination to cut through them all, one by one, beginning from one end.

Grounded in the Now - Aiki the Mastery of Presence

In a forest, a pregnant deer is about to give birth to a baby. It finds a remote grass field nearby a river and slowly goes there thinking it would be safe. As she moves slowly, she gets labour pain.

At the same moment, dark clouds gather around that area and lightning starts a forest fire. Turning left, she sees a hunter who is aiming an arrow from a distance. As she tries to move towards right, she spots a hungry lion approaching towards her.

What can the pregnant deer do, as she is already under labour pain..?

What do you think will happen..?

Will the deer survive..?

Will it give birth to a fawn..?

Will the fawn survive...?

OR

Will everything be burnt by the forest fire...?

Can the deer go left..? No, the hunter's arrow is pointing at her.

Can she go right...? No, the hungry male lion is approaching her.

Can she move up..? No, there the forest is on fire.

Can she move down..? No, that is where the fierce river is.

Answer: She does nothing. She just focuses on giving birth to a new LIFE..

The sequence of events that happens at that fraction of a second (moment) are as follows:

In a spur of MOMENT, a lightning strikes, and blinds the eyes of the hunter...!

At that MOMENT, he releases the arrow missing and zipping past the deer...!

At that MOMENT, the arrow hits and injures the lion badly...!

At that MOMENT, it starts to rain heavily and puts out the forest fire...!

At that next MOMENT, the deer gives birth to a healthy fawn...!

In our life too, there are MOMENTS of CHOICE when we all have to deal with negative thoughts from all sides. Some thoughts are so powerful they overcome us, and make us clueless.

Anything can happen in a MOMENT in this life. If you are religious, superstitious, atheist, agnostic or whatever, you can attribute this MOMENT to divine intervention, faith, sudden luck, serendipity, coincidence, karma, or a simple 'I just don't know'...!

The priority of the deer, in that given moment, was simply giving birth to a baby, because LIFE IS PRECIOUS...!

In future, may you always be inspired to have a focused positive insight, oblivious of all imaginary, negative probabilities.

"LIFE is Flowing Like a River

With Unexpected TURNS,

May be GOOD,

May be BAD...

Learn to enjoy Each Turn bcoz, these Turns...

Never RE-TURN."

“Grounded In The Now” reflects one of the deepest principles within Aikido — the mastery of presence. In Aikido, conflict is not defeated through aggression, but transformed through awareness, balance, timing, and harmony with the energy of the moment. The practitioner does not resist life; they enter it fully.

The phrase becomes an internal philosophy of centred consciousness. The past no longer dictates identity, and the future no longer controls emotion. Like an Aikido practitioner remaining stable while energy moves around them, the individual learns to stand calmly within uncertainty without losing inner alignment.

Aikido teaches that force against force creates destruction, while grounded awareness creates redirection and transformation. “Grounded In The Now” therefore becomes the art of psychological balance — the ability to remain rooted while emotions, pressures, and external chaos attempt to pull the mind away from centre.

The internal narrative is not about becoming stronger than the world, but becoming so internally aligned that the world no longer destabilises the self. Presence becomes power. Stillness becomes movement. Calm becomes strategy.

The warrior in Aikido does not seek domination; they seek unity between mind, body, breath, and action. In the same way, “Grounded In The Now” symbolises a human being who no longer lives reactively, but consciously — responding with clarity rather than impulse.

It is the philosophy of silent mastery:
To move without panic.
To act without fear.
To remain centred while life shifts around you.

To become unshaken because you are fully present.