KEN

It is possible to accede to "Ken" course after at least a year of attendance at the regular course of aikidô.

The course centres in the study of "Seitei Iai" (iaidô).

It is possible to accede to "Hôjô" course after at least a year of attendance at the regular course of aikidô.

Hôjô (the Japanese expression can be rendered in english as rigorously codified exercise) has always been an essential part of the training programme of the famous ancient school of swordsmanship, known by the name of Jikishinkage. That of the Hôjô is a practice centred on sequences of blows (kata) exchanged with a heavy wood sword between a practitioner who acts as one endowed with considerable martial experience and is therefore called the father (uchidachi) and one who acts as an impetuous youth and for that reason is called the son (shidachi).
During the encounter/clash, very formalised in every aspect, father and son move along extremely simple and for the most part straight lines of attack and defence, keeping the feet perfectly parallel and well planted on the ground (and therefore in conditions where balance and stability are not easy) accompanying their movements either with downward strokes that follow vertical or oblique trajectories or with aggressive menaces brought to the adversary’s face with the point of the sword.

The violent cuts made with the sword and the energetic movements made by the body display the characteristics of essentiality and sharpness that one expects from an ancient martial discipline. This absence of even the least non essential gesture promotes an intense mental concentration that must remain firm and irremovable within a highly refined breathing activity, free of all naturalness. The very slow or very fast breathing, though always calm and deep, is firmly bound to the movements of the body, whereas the sword blows - elegant even if threatening - are emphasised by an explosive cry (kiai). There are four rhythms (each very different from the others), that mark the execution of the four sequences of blows present in the Hôjô, and which are called by the names of the seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter).

The physical rhythm of the breathing requires a great effort and commitment, always and for everyone, and ends by becoming the vehicle for a mental rhythm that can move the consciousness of the practitioner to ever deeper levels of the corporeity. In this way one acquires patience and tolerance of the most extreme psychophysical conditions and prepares oneself not to feel any shadow of hostility, still less fear, towards a menacing opponent facing one.

<< back