Seductive aikido

A meeting on the mat (Photo by Lisa Larsson)

Aikido is physical. Period. Two people meet and touch each other within their personal sphere, and unless you are completely emotionally inhibited and out of tune with yourself, you will occasionally experience energies of erotic character. We exercise hard and we sweat, the pulse is pumping and we are deeply focused on our partner. This expression of sexual energy is inevitable, but what is important is how we choose to channel this energy. First of all, aikido is about developing trust in our own emotional "nudity" on the mat. To be able to relax and fully engage in being thrown by someone else, we also need to feel safe in opening up our bodies for the exercise. This involves minimising the parts of your body (and mind) that you define as being intimate.

Hence, denying yourselves these sexual energies will not enhance your aikido, since this prude attitude will make your body and mind close up, instead of opening up. An attempt to suppress the feelings will create tension, distraction and distance to your partner. This does certainly not mean that you need to perform abstract intercourse on the mat - rather it is about channelling the energy into the aikido and use it in a joyful way. A friend of mine shared her encounter with this energy and how she had come to the conclusion that it is not about the energy itself, rather the label we choose to put on it.

Certainly there is most often some personal chemistry involved and this phenomenon will commonly not occur with just anyone. The fact that these energies are personal, can encourage people to argue that accepting them is the same as crossing the line of moral conduct, but that brings us back to the question of trust, inner peace and integrity. And the definition of morals.

Aikido is a martial art based on a universal truth. The universe is composed of many different parts, yet the universe as a whole is united as a family and symbolizes the ultimate state of peace. Holding such a view of the universe, aikido cannot be anything but a martial art of love.

O'Sensei (Morihei Ueshiba)

As you can see, aikido was already by its founder defined as the martial art of love, peace and unity. Of all the aikidokas that I know well, most of them are very physical people and the boundaries for the affection we can share with each other are most likely more tolerant and allowing than among the general population. So, are we then immoral? On the contrary, if you ask me. Good morals according to me is to take responsibility for your own inner peace and to be open, honest and generous in life. This personal quality brings forward good aikido - but at the same time does aikido practice bring this out of people - if the people allow it. Anyhow, it is all tightly intertwined and inseparable. So, go to the dojo and get seduced, allow the energies to flow, play with them, and create beautiful and powerful aikido.