Aikibojitsu

Field Reversal

The primary and normal flow of energy in perception is from outward to inward, with energy flowing from the external universe, unhindered, into internal asymptotic ground. All of the senses are receptors, their primary receptive nature demonstrating the veracity of the primary energy direction. Upon reaching the asymptotic infinite of ground, inward flowing energy is instantaneously reflected and re-emitted, thereby creating a fundamental balance between inward and outward energy flow.

In field reversal, the direction of primary flow is reversed, outward instead of inward. Uke's primary error is to form intent across space toward nage in such a way that uke's energy reaches ground not through their own center, but through nage's non-resistant transparency. This externalization of ground causes psychological and physical dependence by uke upon nage.

The decision by uke to attack nage is a contraction that originates in a deeply held, unconscious conviction that an internal distress can be alleviated if the external (nage) is defeated in some way. This conviction draws its power from a deeper search for relief of primal distress, caused by lack of ground in the decontracted. Uke's fundamental error lies in an unconscious shift from a primary inward flowing energy (toward an internal ground) to outward flowing energy, aimed at nage in particular.

Nage's martial strategy of Aiki is to present non-resistance to uke's field reversed energy. As uke begins to form intent to attack, nage understands uke's deeper energy mistake, and makes no attempt to block uke's attack in any way.

From the earliest moments of formation of intent, uke is unaware that his intent has caused him to become dependent and bound. He believes himself to be free. But in truth, at the moment that he commits his body to his intent, due to the preformal structures involved, even if nage were simply to walk away, uke would be rendered unable to follow. In addition, any effort made by uke to adjust to nage's action will be bound by upstream, preformal structures that nage had already known about.

After making his initial field reversal error, whatever subsequent attempts uke might make to adjust his intent will be bound by the effects of his initial field reversed, nage-oriented commitment. That commitment will have set probability channel boundaries of high predictability so that all of uke's efforts, arising wrongly as they are in a reversed field, will be heavily caused, and thus highly predictable and open to nage's potential counter.

The natural primary energy flow in the human being is inward and downward. When the primary field is reversed, the direction of flow reverses to upward and outward. Many Aikido techniques are designed to take advantage of this upward, outward energy flow within uke.

So far, field reversal has been discussed as a phenomenon that primarily affects uke, but field reversal is a potential problem for nage as well. Hidden within many of the "blending" techniques of Aiki-based martial styles is the potential for field reversal that may catch nage unaware. Whenever technique is focused on uke in the particular, even if the technique is intended to be non-resistant, and even if it is based upon the principles of Aiki, there is always a potential destabilization factor for nage, a nascent field reversal. The simple act of working with uke in particular, especially with the desire to throw uke successfully, already is a type of field reversal, albeit somewhat subtle.