Aikido and the use of Space
by Jane Unan

Jane Unan

Some people have an excellent sense of direction — they always know where they are, where they're headed and how they'll get there. Thanks to their awareness of space, these individuals are able to move with relative clarity and precision towards their destination.

The practice of aikido is about, among other things, the movement between points in space. But what is "space" and how can an awareness of it benefit those who are learning or teaching aikido? One approach to movement, called Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) after its founder Rudolf Laban, involves relating to Space as something real, supportive and palpable. According to Laban, we create Space through our movement. Indeed, there is no Space without movement and no movement without Space.

First, we can differentiate between the Space that we can easily reach by extending our limbs — our Kinesphere — and general Space, that which is outside our Kinesphere. An awareness of the range of our own and others' Kinespheres is important in assessing the dangers of an attack, as well as the effectiveness of a defensive manoeuvre or hold. For instance, as nage, we must remain outside the uke's striking range, or in other words, outside his or her Kinesphere.

The diagram below indicates the 27 basic spatial points within the Kinesphere:

The 27 basic points within the Kinesphere

Another tenet of LMA is that if we know precisely where a movement begins, where it ends and how to get there, our chances of successfully completing that movement greatly increase. During my studies in LMA, I learned to identify 27 specific points in Space, such as "forward high" or "left back low." I spent a great deal of time practicing sequences of movements, also known as "Movement Scales", tracing pre-determined pathways in Space, from one point to another. By repeating the various Scales, my movements, as well as my intentions, became more clear and understandable, both to myself and to those watching me.

To my delight, LMA has helped to clarify the aikido techniques that I am now trying to learn or re-learn.

I initially practiced aikido in the early 90's at the Central YMCA. Having noticed many similarities between LMA and aikido, I was interested in resuming aikido after finishing my studies in LMA. To my delight, I find that LMA has helped to clarify many of the aikido techniques that I am now trying to learn or re-learn. For example, in one recent aikido class, uke was to chop through me, right down the middle. I had to defend by reaching up and grabbing his arms. After several unsuccessful defensive attempts, I was instructed to grab uke "sooner." In terms of Space, I went from grabbing uke in "place high" to grabbing him in "forward high." Being able to differentiate between those two places in Space was instrumental in understanding the correct technique.

Here is another example. Uke takes my right forearm with her left hand and I want to move so as to take uke off balance. From my starting point, "place middle," I move towards "right forward low." For your own interest, compare a movement towards "right low" or "right forward middle" with that of "right forward low" and feel how it affects uke's balance.

To some people, a description, or map, of Space may seem unnecessary or even self-evident. For others (such as myself), it opens up a whole new universe, complete with a Perly's guide. People learn in many different ways: some succeed by mirroring movements, while others may benefit from precise verbal instruction. Having a framework and a language to describe movement in terms of Space is one more tool to assist in your own learning or teaching or aikido.


Back to Articles   Newsletter Archives

Main Page

Copyright © 1997-1998 Aikido Shugyo Dojo