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Sensei
Ron Boyd
859 623-0218

rboyd@iclub.org

PHILOSOPHY of AIKIDO You can read more on Aikido Philosophy at The Aikido FAQ (http://www.aikidofaq.com/philosophy/index.html) or by clicking here

Ask a Chinese what is 'chi/qi' and you will get as many answers as you would asking an Aikidoka (student) how to perform a kokyunage. A common answer is that chi refers to a particular mental and physical state that exhibits in a psychophysiological power associates with blood and breath.

A chinese philosopher will talk about this microcosmical 'matter-energy' which is fundamental in forming and governing the universe. A traditional chinese physician, usually also a taoist by education, speaks about a microbiomaterial that circulates within the body, maintaining the living force that makes the body function.

The chinese will probably accept any of these definitions in a 'matter-of-fact' manner and do not expect questions or disagreements concerning the meaning of chi. Of course this does not mean that they actually had a very accurate idea about the meaning of chi or that everybody knows exactly in what context one means when one talks about chi. In fact, the chinese probably means all of the above definitions, and more.

This raises immediate problems for the western mind which makes clear distinctions between matter/mind, material/nonmaterial, physical/psychological/ physiological etc.. However one disagrees with the chinese blatant disregard for the cartesian dichotomy, this is in fact the way in which the chinese conceptualizes chi, or any other phenomena at all. Furthermore, they seems to be happy to trade off the analytical clarity for the imaginative richness.

When the chinese cosmic system which uses chi to explain the structure and function of virtually every phenomenon in the universe finally got transmitted to Japan in the seventh century, it had the shinto and tendai buddhist flavours added on.

You can read more on Aikido Philosophy at The Aikido FAQ (http://www.aikidofaq.com/philosophy/index.html)

or by clicking here

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                         Sensei Ron Boyd
                         859 623-0218

                          rboyd@iclub.org

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