In Aikido, attacks are neutralized by projections or pins. The most common pins are ikkyo, nikyo, sankyo and yonkyo. Ikkyo is the basic pin, often the first waza introduced to a beginner. The instructors chose to focus on pins this month. Why?
• The state of mind in a pin, as in all our Aikido practice, is vital. It is not a matter of manipulating, or “doing something” to another person, but rather, Aikido is to correct yourself.
• Pins are effective, not because they inflict pain, but because nage is moving correctly in response to uke. In a “real” situation, an attacker may not respond to pain because he or she is “high” either because of drugs or because of a mental condition.
• Posture is important in pins to assure nage is in control of his/her own body.
• There is a lot of detail to pay attention to—the position of nage’s hands on uke’s, especially in nikyo, sankyo and yonkyo.
• Pins reinforce the connection to cutting the sword—paying attention to the centre line and the position of the hands. Empty-handed pins and bokken cuts relate to one another.
