Thoughts on the Square, Circle, and Triangle in relation to technique in Aikido.
By
Charles Leary
THE RELATION OF
SHAPES WITHIN AIKIDO RELATIVE TO TIME AND SPACE.
The
Square:
or The Maai, the space occupied by Uke and Nage.
The
Circle: or
The Deai, the controlling of that
space.
The
Triangle:
or The Riai, the blending of Maai and Deai within the technique.
THE CREATION OF
SHAPES WITHIN AIKIDO TECHNIQUE.
The
Square:
This shape is created by the continuous harmony or symmetry of Uke and Nage at
the start of, and during the technique. The Maai.
The
Circle:
This shape is created by the energy or spirit of the instantaneous tenkan or
tia sabaki performed by Nage which envelopes Uke. The Deai.
The
Triangle:
This shape is created by the decisiveness of Nage executing the technique on Uke.
The Riai.
THE REPRESENTATION OF
SHAPES IN AIKIDO.
The
Square:
This shape represents ‘AI” in Aikido
for within technique your position in relation to Uke is one of a blending or
harmonious position.
The
Circle:
This shape represents “KI” in Aikido
for the movements of tia sabaki are circular in nature. The redirection of
energy is circular.
The
Triangle:
This shape represents “DO” in Aikido
for the principals of the square and circle dictate the way and direction the
technique must be executed.

Although
these shapes have been separated to show their individual creation and
representation, they are one. The square, circle, and triangle are ever present
throughout the technique as one. One can not exist alone. The Triangle (RIAI)
can not exist without the Circle (DEAI). The Circle (DEAI) can not exist
without the Square (MAAI).
THE ABOVE CONCEPTS
SHOWN IN THE KOKYUNAGE TECHNIQUE.

EXPLANATION OF DRAWING.
As
Uke and Nage begin the technique of Kokyunage they are in MAAI, or The Square.
As Nage steps back into hanmi (shown in the picture of left hanmi) Uke becomes
unbalanced by the DEAI, or The Circle. Notice that MAAI or The Square is still
present. Once Uke is unbalanced by the DEAI,
Nage executes the technique through RIAI, or The Triangle. Notice The
Square and The Circle are present during RIAI, or The Triangle.
Kotegaeshi
and Conflict Resolution
Aikido is conflict resolution and no other
technique demonstrates this principle better than Kotegaeshi. Uke attacks
straight and Nage enters in (irimi) and pivots around (tenkan)to stand shoulder
to shoulder mirroring Uke. Finally Nage redirects the energy of Uke around and
down controlling the situation. This technique also works in verbal attacks
outside the dojo. And thus illustrates how Aikido principles can be used in
everyday life.
Imagine you are at work and a coworker comes
up to you and accuses you of scratching their car out in the employee parking
lot. Their tone is not civil. As a matter of fact it enters your mind that this
could wind up in a fist fight if you don’t diffuse the situation quickly. Using
the blending principles of Kotegaeshi you enter in and blend to mirror him and
tell him that you understand why he is angry. Furthermore you tell him this
exact thing has happened to you and when it did you wanted to kill somebody.
Do you see what you just did? You blended,
shoulder to shoulder, to see it from his perspective. The essence of
harmonizing with an attack. In other words, the “ai” in Aikido is “seeing from
the attacker’s viewpoint.” Instead of trying to “beat” him you use conflict
resolution so that nobody loses.
The final step is to redirect the attack to
take control of uke and the conflict. You tell him that you have a cousin who
does body work and you might be able to get the scratch out for free. He
completely calms down and thinks of you as a friend instead of a rotten S.O.B.
………..Kotegaeshi.

And Now... A Woman's point of view.
I started training in Aikido when my son was six years old. We signed up my son shortly after his birthday and had no intention of doing it ourselves until he threw my husband onto the floor while he was showing what he learned in class that day. My husband was shocked and immediately saw the validity of Aikido practice and decided to join the next day. I viewed it as something we could do as a family and was not going to be left out of the loop. I was not athletically inclined at all. I was very small at 5 feet tall and 96 lbs. I had a very stressful job and physical ailments to go with it. I soon found out that Aikido was the perfect choice. Strength and stature is not a requirement. In contrast, many times it is easier to throw a larger attacker if their momentum is heading down to meet someone of a smaller stature. Although it was tough at times, I stuck it out. Over time, I felt more and more at ease with the techniques. I loved the fluid motion and blending aspects. I used the breathing and centering to calm my nerves even out of class. I reached a better place in my life. I was able to tolerate stress better. I was physically healthier and I was surrounded by people of like mind. We became so involved in Aikido, that the dojo was our home away from home. Over the years, we trained in as many classes as possible, sometimes 7 days a week. We organized picnics, helped set up seminars, went on trips to other dojos, appeared on TV to promote the dojo and a self defense book. It was a huge part of our lives.
We learned a lot throughout the years and our Aikido friends became our Aikido family. We moved about an hour and a half away a couple of years after we earned our black belts to open our own school. Many of the students that we trained with and taught throughout the years at the original dojo left and went on to do other things. Occasionally we have an opportunity to reconnect with them. It is always a blessing. Just like blood relatives, we still feel a strong connection after all this time even through separation. Aikido brought us together and for that I am grateful. It is a beautiful and creative art and attracts many beautiful and creative people. We still think about each and everyone that touched our lives with warm thoughts and happy memories.
-Heather
Openmindedness in Martial Arts
The other day we had a visitor in the dojo named Wade. He was from South Carolina and is a Ni-kyu in Seidokan Aikido. I love having visitors and as always we learned something new from him – an excellent way to end Kokyu-Nage(elbow chop) with a simple twist of the arm and a pin. It reinforced for me my personal philosophy of learning as much as possible and being 100% open minded to other styles. Some Associations are so introverted that they won’t allow any outside instruction or even the sharing of ideas. I always associate Martial Arts with music and with that closed minded attitude a musician who plays rock music would never even listen to blues or jazz. How empty and unrounded that individual would be. Takama Hara translates as “All Encompassing Universe”. Let’s use that thought as inspiration in all aspects of our lives, not just martial arts but with our careers, our relationships, our nutrition and even our mundane tasks of the day. We should strive to get a better understanding through open-mindedness and the acceptance that we may not know everything.
-Theron
Welcome to the newly created Blog from ASA. I decided to start a blog because of requests from some students to go over deeper Aikido philosophies and because some have suggested I write a book. This seems a good option to address both.
Focus and the Point of the Sword
I find myself in class often harping on the students to focus all of their energy into the point of a sword. If we can learn to direct all of the movements of our bodies including our conscious and unconscious focus and vision on one infinitesimal spot then there is nothing in this world that we cannot accomplish. This is one of the attributes of Aikido. We can apply this focus in any aspect of life and accomplish seemingly insurmountable tasks in any situation.
We start with bokken practice. Ten minutes a day of simple Suburi practice will transform your martial ability to something truly special. While practicing your bokken suburi, allow your conscious mind to relax and let your focus take over. Allow your entire being to “be” the movement. Your breathing, body movement, vision and mind will move as one – culminating in the entirety of your purpose into a pin-point focus of power. This power will easily be realized in all of your practice of Aikido and in your life outside the Dojo as well.
Theron Bennett