From “Doka: Poems of Usheiba Morihei

 

From “Doka: Poems of Usheiba Morihei

 

There are several Aikido techniques that move directly into the attack, avoiding collision, and emerging behind the attacker. There is a similar teaching in the Shinkage-ryu sword school.

 

 

The poem reads:

 

Furikaburu tachi-no shita-koso jigoku-nare

Mi-o-sutetekoso ukabu se-mo-are

 

 

Beneath the raised sword/ is like hell,

Throw yourself away/ there may be a way out

“It is like Hell standing beneath a raised sword, be willing to sacrifice yourself, there may be a way out.”

 

 

One can imagine the poet watching a leaf flow downstream only to be pulled into the rapids and then appearing later below the falls. Could this be “irimi-ho,” the entering method?

 

 

A poem that reflects the fundamental element of martial art is probably the following by O’Sensei Morihei Ueshiba: