What is orienate, the concept of the “unbendable arm”?
The WADOKAI Student Handbook defines Orienate simply as the “unbendable arm”. During my relatively short period of time studying WADOKAI Aikido, this has come to mean to me a number of things beyond a simple definition. In fact, it is one of the most tricky concepts to grasp and apply in Aikido technique, and just about as slippery as trying to hold a fish as your understanding of it grows.
Familiar analogies
Simply put, orienate is the focus of ki through your body as applied to techniques of any type. Some familiar analogies of this concept are the “fire hose” where one imagines powerful jets of water flowing out of one’s arms much like a fire hose when turned on. Another way to describe it is the feeling one gets when opening a swinging or revolving door — just enough energy to open the door, but no more.
Ways to practice in class
The application of orienate once understood will be recognized in virtually all taiso and waza that you perform in Aikido. Some common exercises which will be immediately familiar are:
- Ikkyo, shi-ho, and happo undo – orienate can be demonstrated through the basic ikkyo block one performs. In this technique, the arms are extended out from the body while the pracitioner visualizes catching a basketball or holding someones head. Also, it is important to perform the technique when drawing the hands down and back to the sides, as if one were pulling a rope.
- Ko-kyo-dosa – the essential points of this exercise are when nage pushes out against uke to take the kuzushi and also to prevent uke from rising once down.
- Zenpo-kaiten, ushiro-tori-undo – these essentially rolling excercises show how an extended, but not ever rigid arm, can be used to guide the body through forward and backward rolling (the analogy of rolling around a beach ball, for example, when rolling forward).
- Ki excercises – the original “unbendable arm” excercise where one extends his or her arm and a partner tries with all their might to make it bend. In this case, a rigid, strength filled arm will easily bend – but an arm that is extended with a visualizaiton of touching or holding a distant object will be nearly impossible to bend.
… truly all techniques!
What are your thoughts?
I’ve described my thoughts and observations from my experiences in class. I’d be interested in hearing from others on any other insights and discoveries that might be helpful in explaining and understanding this important concept.
-R0N1N
