Mitsu no sen (three points) les trois principals initiatives

Although it is customary to use the three verb tenses which are before, during and after which reflect an intrinsic reality of life, it is customary to be more precise in the practice of martial arts. So it’s normal to use Sen-no-sen, Tai-no-sen and Go-No-Sen for simplicity, but there is some subtlety. For example, the past is a minute ago and the moment you just finished reading these words. The same goes for the future.

Although “Sen” is often represented as before, in my opinion it would be more accurate to represent “sen” as the intention which gives a translation which is Sen-no-sen as intention during intention rather than attack during attack. Considering “sen 先” as an intention, this frees us from the fact that when we make a decision and intend to perform an action, an unconscious effort of about 0.5 seconds is triggered to carry out the intention, thus mobilizing our “ki”, the energy needed to act. This subtle energy becomes, for an expert practitioner who is sensitive to it, perceivable for a right response.

Sen-sen-no-sen 先先の先 Anticipate an attack before intending/attacking.

Intention before intention, even if it is known that in karatedo there is no first attack. (Karate ni senti nashi 空手に先手なし), all karate competitions would be impossible if no initiative was taken. (So ​​philosophically, aikido cannot be a competitive sport). It seems simple to simply attack, but this requires extreme self-control to leave no physical or psychological signal of our intention to attack.

So so so beyond the future et Taï no sen beyond the couple Anticipate an intention/attack and take the initiative.

When the adversary initiates the intention to attack, our response comes as simultaneously as possible. Anticipation is required to make this possible. It can be tactical, like making your opponent do what you’ve decided they should do, which requires a great level of mastery of the art of fighting. Or through analysis, deduction of the action the opponent will take. Or by intuition, which requires a connection with oneself and with the opponent. By distinction, Sen-no-sen the moment the opponent’s intention materializes, the counterattack is carried out simultaneously with the attack. Example, the opponent takes a step to attack and when the step is taken, the counterattack comes even before the execution of the opponent’s technique. Taï-no-sen simultaneously generates a counterattack. Example, the opponent takes a step and delivers a direct blow, the counterattack is carried out simultaneously leaving the line of attack. So a tai-no-sen is a sen-no-sen, but a Sen-no-sen is not necessarily a tai-no-sen.

Gō-no-sen 後の先 and machi no sen To respond to an intention/attack after its initiative.

When the opponent performs his action and you are in reaction mode parrying a move and counterattacking. This can be a move backwards to move forward, a block and counterattack, etc. In the case of machi no sen, we absorbed the attack or he managed to grab us and we went along with an attack. This scenario is very common in self-defense, where we are caught off guard by a moment of surprise and have to react, but the other is one step ahead (literally and figuratively!).

In conclusion, in my opinion, one of the most difficult states to obtain in order to reach the mitsu no sen which is complementary is lo concept the Shingan (Eyes of the heart/mind). This principle was shared with me by Jean-Noël Blanchette (9^And dan, Hanshi) who demonstrates this with his back to his opponent, eyes closed and fingers in his ears to isolate the senses. Then the opponent chooses the right moment to attack vigorously and the practitioner must perform an ushiro geri to stop him. So this additional work requires feeling the “ki” (energy) of the attacker.

Now that we have the knowledge, you still have to practice everything 10,000 times to have the associated know-how and hope to one day let others know that you know and master this concept.

Larry Foisy