Unique UI Sport Teaches Harmony

By Frank Klipsch - The Daily Iowan

There's a fierce transition from 6:28-6:32 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays in S511 Field House.

In approximately 240 seconds, the matted, multipurpose room transforms from a shrill echo box for high-pitched, pre-adolescent "hi-yas" into a calm, quiet, contemplative dojo. By 6:35, only the air being circulated through the room's ventilation system can be heard as the members of the University Aikido Club begin their session.

Aikido is a martial art that differs from nearly every other sport practiced and played in American culture. Instead of pitting two adversaries against one another in an attempt at victory, aikido seeks to develop harmony and connection between opponents. Therefore, although aikido builds confidence and self-defense ability in its practitioners, its goal is to do so without causing harm to others.

The evidence of teaching a martial art with intentions for harmony can be overheard as head instructor Diana Harris works with a younger student. The red-headed Harris, who works in computer services and support in the College of Engineering, has a small smattering of gray hairs to indicate her 17 years of experience. She started at the UI in 1989.

Instructor Diana Harris demonstrates an aikido move on Daniel Crawford atthe Field House.
Nicholas Wynia/The Daily Iowan

"And now," says Harris, demonstrating a maneuver while straddling her prone student, "I'm going to push her elbow into her face." Then Harris smiles while looking at the rest of her eight kneeling students, "which isn't a very ki thing to do."

The ki Harris refers to is the second of three characters that compose the name aikido. The first, ai, means harmony. Ki refers to spirit or energy. The final character, do, means the path, the system, or the way.

Aikido was born in 1925 out of a discussion between Morihei Ueshiba and a Japanese naval officer who taught fencing. In the well-documented story, Ueshiba, known by his followers as O-Sensei (The Great Teacher), was challenged by the officer to a match and promptly attacked with a wooden sword. O-Sensei was not only an expert at jujitsu (unarmed combat), kenjutsu (sword fighting), and sojitsu (spear fighting), he was also deeply immersed in religious and philosophical studies. O-Sensei reacted to his weapon-wielding adversary without violence: He won the match by evading the officer's onslaught until the attacker dropped to the ground from exhaustion.

In the study of aikido, learning to fall is just as important as learning to throw.

"Ryan learned how to roll real fast," said participant Lisa Martincik about a relative newcomer to the group, Ryan Dux.

Dux, a sophomore from Roselle, Ill., is in his second semester of learning aikido. As Dux and his partner, Martincik's husband, Dan Crawford, work through ushiro tekubitori - a two-hand grab from behind - Dux's face becomes a colorful contrast of yin and yang. His bright-red face offsets his blond hair while he gauges the end of the move being done to him. Just before the pain of having his hand and wrist twisted behind him like an origami pretzel becomes too great, he lightly taps the mat, letting his partner know the move is complete.

"There's no routine or kata in aikido," said third-year student Reginald Williams. "Because of this, every situation is new and provides a growing or cleansing experience." Williams, who described his background before aikido as strictly aggressive, said he no longer is driven toward confrontation.

When two participants come face to face in the standing position, known as tachi waza, a flurry of moves usually ends with one person being thrown to the side. More experienced students tuck and roll to the mat smoothly, not making a sound, but younger student's body will make a loud whap as it smacks against the cushioned ground.

"I'm learning a lot about teaching the body to do new things," said 29-year-old Brandon Porter, who has been studying aikido since February. "I can really tell how purposeful movement has come into my life."

Calvin Bryant is the most recent addition to the 30-member group. The 12-year-old has already felt an increase in flexibility in just a couple of weeks. He also described the cathartic mental state of the practice sessions. "You don't have to worry about your homework," he said.

The Aikido Club encourages anyone who is interested to attend a beginner session at the Field House. Basic classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. or on Friday from 4:30-6 p.m. Rotating classes are held on Saturday and Sunday. After a free introductory period, students pay a fee of $60 a semester; non-students pay $80. For more information, contact student representative Ivar Christopher through Recreational Services by calling 335-9293.

Reprinted with permission from University of Iowa Student Online Newspaper.