AikiPsychology

by Janet Rosen

The recent discussions regarding personality or other traits that predispose towards Aikido have prompted this researcher to question whether how one practices Aikido correlates with psychopathology to a degree that allows for use as a diagnostic tool. Herewith some preliminary findings...

Part I: General Dojo Demeanor

  1. Catatonia: practitioner continues to sit motionless in seiza long after others have begun partner practice.
  2. Bipolar Disorder, Depressive Stage: practitioner continues to sit motionless in seiza long after others have begun partner practice, sobbing quietly.
  3. Bipolar Disorder, Manic Stage: practitioner performs high, leaping forward ukemi over (A) and (B) long after others have changed into street clothes and gone out for beer.

Part II: Nage Role Issues

  1. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: always starts with ikkyo, proceeds through nikkyo, sankyo, etc.; if interrupted in the middle, reverts to beginning of sequence with ikkyo again.
  2. Paranoid: marked preference for shihonage so he can hold onto uke while constantly checking behind his own back (psychotic manifestation: unable to complete technique with throw, instead moves between omote and ura openings repeatedly while mumbling about black helicopters).
  3. Attention Deficit Disorder: initiates technique but walks away in the middle of it; does not pose a hazard to uke unless the technique is sankyo in which case uke is walked out of the dojo (non-assertive ukes may end up accompanying practitioner until they get up the nerve to yell "hey you! Leggo my arm!")

Part III: Uke Role Issues

  1. Histrionic Personality: initiates wild attack then immediately collapses to the mat, slapping loudly and moaning.
  2. Submissive: does not usually manifest except during kaitennage, when there is a tendency to kiss nage's toes while murmuring "throw me, throw me, its what I deserve."
  3. Neurotic: takes ukemi but only after rational discussion with nage. Schizophrenic: takes ukemi but only after metarational semiotic discussion with nage.

The above merely constitutes an initial investigation. It is hoped that further research will ensue.