09/10/2026
From the Aikido Center of Los Angeles’ Aiki Dojo Message - Don’t Resist
The best know when to resist and when to let go.
In the beginning of our Aikido training, one of the things that sometimes unknowingly happens is that we develop teikouryoku (抵抗力) or “the power of resistance.” People attack us and we thwart those attacks by resisting their advances. This is a good thing when a person jumps out of the darkness, but this same resistance can be the thing which is ultimately holding us back in our development.
In Aikido training, we need our training partners to push back and give us some resistance so that we can feel what it feels like to do the technique on an unwilling opponent. The energy that they put in by giving a strong attack or grab also gives the technique itself some energy. Some of us naturally have this ability to resist while others do not. Regardless of whether we have it or not, over time every student develops teikouryoku in some way, shape, or form. This is a natural part of the training process as we develop our bodies and our abilities in Aikido. The main problem is that many of us get so good at flexing our powers of resistance that resisting becomes our way of life and we develop teikouseishin (抵抗精神) or a “spirit of resistance.”
Resisting is a great way to build ourselves up. It helps us strengthen our bodies and it also gives our technique power. Resisting can also make us feel good because we think that we have some sort of real power because people fear us or avoid us. However, resistance is a tool, and, like all tools, it is only effective in the right context or situation. We can use a wrench as a hammer but over time using it to hit things will damage the wrench’s ability to be effective on nuts and bolts.
In class, we should give our partner just enough resistance to help them grow and learn. Reverend Kensho Furuya Sensei advocated, “Take it to your partner’s level and one step further.” That one step helps them grow but more might work in reverse and actually stunt their growth. How much is enough is determined by our level of self-awareness which is dictated by our level of training.
Interestingly, at around first-degree black belt, we start to see a change in the use and benefits of resistance. That is because training, at every level, is about adaptation. In training, sometimes the things that served us at the previous level are no longer of use to us as we move up in levels, i.e., resistance stops working. I know what you are thinking, “Some Aikidoists make a whole career out of resisting others!” Yes we do but at some point, because of age or other reasons, we won’t have the strength to resist anymore and then that tool which we incessantly used will start to resist us.
The journey of Aikido and Life is about self-discovery. The more we examine our true motivations, the more we realize that resistance is about control. Fear drives us to control our environment, relationships, and outcomes. Training is about letting go of the need to control and ki no nagare (氣の流れ) or “go with the flow.” The more we can loosen the grip of control, the better our Aikido will become. Anyone can resist but the true level of one’s ability is not in attaining the power to dominate others but in surrendering to the power of letting go. That is why the best don’t resist and have learned to let go.
Today’s goal: Notice where you are resisting and ask yourself if it is still serving you.
Read the full Dojo Message on our website @ www.aikidocenterla.com/blog
Aikido Kodokai Salamanca- EspañaTerasaki Budokan - Little Tokyo Service Center
