Misogi
Misogi (禊)
This is a short 5 minutes version of Bokken Misogi, meant as a help to practice.
Some part of the video are made black, so its only sound.
The idea is not to look at it but practise with the sound of the video. In case you do not know the movements, look at the video.
After you understand how to practice it, you are encouraged to practice as long as you want, without the video.
2. April 2020
Questions & Anwers:
Question:
In the case of a Misogi with Bell, if there are two assistants, does each one of the assistants has the same function?
1/5/2020
Answer:
Yes, but do not forget that it was only one example in one dojo and each group is free to develop the way of practice.
1/5/2020
Question:
In your book, the two first shomenuchi of Misogi with Bokken have to last 1O-15 seconds. In Misogi with Bell, is there any duration recommended for the eight first shomenuchi?
28/4/202
Answer:
The duration of each movement is decided by the breathing. You have to practise in order to find the best duration for your breathing; 10-15 seconds is only an example. Practise with the video first and then find your rhythm..
28/4/2020
Question:
Supposing that the instructor has the bell in his right hand, in order to have a view of the group without being bothered by the movement of his arm, the group should be on his left side .
For the same reason, if he has the bell in his left hand, the group should be on his right side.
All of this one taking account a Misogi with one, two assistants… and the possibility of changes for other situations.
Is it correct?.. If it’s wrong, which are my mistakes?. Any comment more?
26/4/2020
Answer:
Correct.
26/4/2020
Question:
In Misogi with Bokken, we usually take it with right hand up and left hand down. Can we change the hands, the left one up and the right one down?
26/4/2020
Answer:
Yes.
26/4/2020
Question:
I understand that we can practise Misogi with Bell alternating right and left hand . Is it correct?
26/4/2020
Answer:
Correct.
26/4/2020
Question:
At the beginning of the second rhythm, there are tree short movements with To-Ho-Kami and after two wide movements with E-Mi and Ta-Me.
Do we sing E-Mi and Ta-Me with the bokken in Chuden or E in Chuden and mi (lower) in Joden and the same for Ta-me?
25/4/2020
Answer:
Look at the video and practise.
25/4/2020
Question:
To use the sounds To-Ho-Ka-Mi-E-Mi-Ta-Me with a low or middle voice, is a bad practice?. If yes, why?
25/4/2020
Answer:
No Problem.
25/4/2020
Question:
The instructor has the bell in his right hand and the group of students on his left side. If the instructor has the bell in his left hand, are the students on his right side??
25/4/2020
Answer:
There has been always the dictatorship of majority and it is a part of animal instinct. That is why human beings always create the dictatorship of majority unconsciously even if they accuse it with words. Democracy has become the dictatorship of majority since many years and.
One of the dictatorship of majority is the idea "Right is right and left is wrong". Since right handed people are the majority, they impose left handed people to behave like right handed.
When I practised misogi with bell in Japan, I was scolded if I used my left hand. Tohei sensei used his right hand for misogi so much that his backbone was deformed and caused a big problem in his old age. That is why it is very important that you do every exercise and technique with both left and right in Aikido. Actually we should try to start with left side so that we do not forget to do it in that side.
So it is better that each person try to use both hands in a balanced way for misogi. Do not create the dictatorship of majority in Aikido world.
25/4/2020
Question:
On 4th of April there was a question about practicing Misogi in a more quiet way.
You suggested to use the sound MU, when rhythm is slow and change to HA, when rhythm is quick.
This works very well. Only in the third rhythm, when slow, it was a bit weird to me – I did not experience the difference to the first rhythm.
When we practice Misogi with the sound of Tohokami Emitame without bell, we have an emphasis on TO…and E… when hands are down and additionally on …KAmi and …TAme, when hands are up (which is not there when we use a bell) – at least that’s what I understood. So I tried different ways with the sound MU in the third rhythm. For example MU when hands are down and a kind of extra …u… when hands are up (MUUU-UUH).
Do you have a suggestion for the third rhythm?
22/4/2020
Answer:
First rhythm in slow MU-MU-MU-MU-MU-MU-MU-MU
Second rhythm is always quick so always HA
Third and last rhythm slow HA-HA or MU-MU
When you use HA or MU, you do not pronounce a sound when your hand is up except the first three sound of the second rhythm,.
22/4/2020
Question:
In misogi, during the third rhythm, when maximum speed is developed, what are the characteristics of pronunciation? Could you explain them to us with some complementary audio or video?
7/4/2020
Answer:
You should not get the maximum speed. Many people make a mistake of going to quickly.
You must keep a reasonable speed so that you can pronounce the correct pronunciation.
Anyway the pronunciation is not important as long as your breathing and body movement is correct. Stay cool and do not go too fast.
7/4/2020
Question:
It is difficult to practise Bokken Misogi at home completely without disturbing our neighbours.
Do we always have to practise with full commitment or is there some benefit in making each breath quieter and with less vigour?
4/4/2020
Answer:
You can practise with the sound of HA like breathing sound when the rhythm is quick.
If the sound is long, use MU.
Then it is not noisy even if you do as strong as you want.
4/4/2020