Aikibojitsu

Complex Forms

Between the short forms and kata are complex forms. Practiced in the same way as short forms, complex forms are simply two or more short forms joined together by a bridge or transitional progression. Such bridges can greatly increase the difficulty of throwing an optimized complex form, and this allows for a deeper (and more harder!) exploration of the emergence of the correct exponential power curve from the decontracted unknown.

For example, there are two short forms shown at right; both of them fairly straightforward. Note, however, that short form #1 does NOT end anywhere close to the beginning position of short form #2. In order to connect these two expressions, a transitional form is required. Such a transitional form has several (related) strict requirements:

1) Power must not be lost. The energy potential present at the beginning of short form #1 must be carried through to the completion of short form #2;

2) The overall build from potential stillness to the final explosive exponential contraction must build through the entire complex form;

3) There is a rhythm present in all Aikibojitsu, from the simplest short form to the longest formalized kata. This rhythm (or count or beat) is dynamic and can change but cannot be lost and is not arbitrary. This can be extremely subtle, but there will be a defining rhythm to any given complex form that will define the timing in which it is expressed. This becomes especially difficult if the individual rhythms of the joined short forms are different from each other.

The third video at the bottom shows one possible transitional form between the two short forms, creating a complex form. What complex forms can you create?