感覺的重要性：合氣訓練中的觸覺與本體感覺
｜ The Importance of Sensation

大腦處理來自身體的大量訊號，運算結果不是靠著一條條執行序進行，而是根據經驗給出神經傳導路徑，讓身體相應的肌肉一口氣做出回應，大腦運算結果至少包括直覺思考、潛意識思考、與邏輯思考的綜合答案。

在我們練習中，都是雙方搭配練習，受方給予攻擊，取方回應攻擊做出相應技術，取方跟受方接觸過程中，取方大腦會隨時受到來自受方皮膚肌肉帶來的電信號，同時取方也必須執行動作而處理自己一方的資訊，以及包括受到取方動作執行的受方回應動作，這些必須在短暫的反應時間內處理並執行。

看來很複雜，不是嗎？

為了減少大腦處理量，可以無視受方反應，取方只要做好自己需要執行的動作就好了嗎？

可以，但會因為沒能控制受方反應而讓受方失去掌控，以基本一個条為例，可能是把受方推擠出去，而未能完成預期要使用的技術。

那持續監控受方反應而隨之調整呢？

取方會容易因為需要處理的資訊量過大，把注意力放在某個點上僵持住，例如，一個条為例，過度使用手臂力量讓受方得以找到平衡的支點，或是，取方下身踏進但上身沒能留意而讓受方找回平衡。

沒錯，我們的練習是「不配合不抵抗」，不抵抗的意思是，「不因為受方已知技術的執行過程而刻意改變自身姿態與其抗衡」，也就是每次的練習過程，受方狀態參數歸零，當作未知取方要執行的技術，將身體出借給取方練習，但受方根據本能應隨時找回自身平衡的自然體，上述的受方被推擠出去或是雙方僵持住，其實都是受方找回平衡的結果。

我們的大東流練習目的在於「如何用正確方式，控制對手」，因此，光是控制讓對手倒地或壓制的結果是不夠的，可以分幾種可能解法：

下下策：用肌力硬幹

下策：用打擊方式製造有利位置

中策：用結構力學壓制對手

上策：用(接近)合氣的技術靜悄悄讓對手潰倒

當然，包括了以上的組合。

回到上面的「無視受方反應」或「過度調適受方反應」的問題，目前我們認知的解法應該是：「既不監控受方反應，也不試圖改變受方反應，以取方身體活動度最大自由之狀況下完成技術」，前述文字，只有一同練習有過相同體驗下，才會顯得有意義，因為語言文字作為傳達知識的工具，也限制了傳達知識的深度意涵，正如同本文最開始所述，大量訊號處理下，大腦的理解不是透過語言文字，而是透過感覺為線索，追尋如何複製出相同技術的自身操作，而對於感覺的錯誤理解（例如想像的幻覺）或錯誤認知（例如丹田跟呼吸），只會導向不同的結果。

舉例說，用太極拳的發力方式，模擬相同的技術，或許也能放倒受方，但破壞平衡的過程、受方的體驗、甚至受方被放倒的落地方式，都不會相同。就像讓Macbook執行windows虛擬機跑遊戲軟體一樣。

註：正確想像有助於共同理解相同的感覺／抽象概念，但想像的成果往往只能讓合氣技術偶發，不夠可靠到足以精準地每次觸發合氣技術

所以，或許可理解，佐川宗範說的他不教大東流的外形，意思是執行技術招式過程具備很大的彈性，而不會是僵化的外形（角度/距離/位置），不代表不教技術招式。

--

The brain processes a vast amount of signals from the body, and the computation results are not carried out by executing individual threads, but rather by providing neural pathways based on experience, allowing the body's corresponding muscles to respond in one swift motion. The brain's computational results include, at least, a comprehensive answer derived from intuitive thinking, subconscious thinking, and logical thinking.

In our practice, both parties train together. The uke (receiving partner) initiates an attack, and the nage (executing partner) responds to the attack with an appropriate technique. During the contact between the nage and the uke, the nage's brain continuously receives electrical signals from the uke's skin and muscles. Simultaneously, the nage must also execute movements and process their own information, as well as the uke's responsive movements triggered by the nage's actions. All of this must be processed and executed within a brief reaction time.

Seems complicated, doesn't it?

To reduce the brain's processing load, can the nage ignore the uke's reactions and simply focus on performing their own required movements?

Yes, but this can lead to the uke losing control because their reactions weren't managed. Taking a basic ikkajo (first principle) as an example, this might result in the uke being pushed away, failing to complete the intended technique.

What about constantly monitoring the uke's reactions and adjusting accordingly?

The nage can easily become overwhelmed by the excessive amount of information to process, causing their attention to fixate on a single point and freeze. For instance, in an ikkajo example, this might involve overusing arm strength, allowing the uke to find a point of balance, or the nage's lower body stepping in while the upper body fails to adapt, allowing the uke to regain balance.

Indeed, our practice is "no cooperation, no resistance." "No resistance" means "not deliberately changing one's posture to contend with the uke during the execution of a known technique." That is, in each practice session, the uke's state parameters are reset to zero, as if the nage's intended technique is unknown, lending their body to the nage for practice. However, the uke, by instinct, should always try to regain their natural posture and balance. The aforementioned scenarios of the uke being pushed away or both parties freezing are, in fact, results of the uke regaining balance.

The purpose of our Daito-ryu practice is "how to control the opponent in the correct way." Therefore, merely achieving the result of throwing or pinning the opponent is insufficient. There are several possible solutions:

Worst Option: Brute force with muscular strength.

Poor Option: Using striking methods to create an advantageous position.

Moderate Option: Suppressing the opponent with structural mechanics.

Best Option: Silently collapsing the opponent with (near) Aiki techniques.

Of course, combinations of the above are also included.

Returning to the issues of "ignoring the uke's reactions" or "over-adapting to the uke's reactions," our current recognized solution should be: "neither monitoring the uke's reactions nor attempting to change them, but completing the technique with the nage's maximum bodily freedom of movement." The preceding text only becomes meaningful when experienced firsthand in practice, because language, as a tool for conveying knowledge, also limits the depth of understanding it can impart. As stated at the beginning of this article, under the processing of numerous signals, the brain's understanding is not through language but through sensation as a clue, seeking to replicate the same technique through one's own actions. Incorrect understanding of sensation (e.g., imaginary hallucinations) or incorrect cognition (e.g., relating to the tanden and breathing) will only lead to different results.

For example, simulating the same technique using the power generation method of Tai Chi might also throw the uke, but the process of breaking balance, the uke's experience, and even the way the uke lands will not be the same. It's like running a Windows virtual machine to play a game on a MacBook.

Note: Correct imagination helps in mutually understanding the same sensation/abstract concept, but the results of imagination often only allow Aiki techniques to occur sporadically, not reliably enough to trigger them precisely every time.

Therefore, it might be understood that Sagawa Sōhan's statement that he does not teach the external form of Daito-ryu means that the execution of technical movements has great flexibility, rather than being a rigid external form (angles/distances/positions), and does not mean that technical movements are not taught.