[jlambvo]

We don't overtly discuss sakki. There is kiaijutsu in our arts, which I've only been given a small introduction to. I'd be curious if anyone else would agree that kiai is something that kind of happens on its own under proper guidance. The few times it comes up in training is quite profound.

On sakki... during our winter training that I posted pictures of, the last activity we did was a sentry removal technique with knife, basically using a stalk to get behind the partner, how to grab and where to insert the blade. The "sentry" was supposed to turn if he heard the person coming, which was interesting on snow in the woods. On my last turn as sentry, I'm not sure how to explain it but I felt an unusual sensitivity to my partner's presence as he approached, and (without being able to hear him) I spontaneously moved in perfect synchronization with his attack. It was quite a sensation, as if I already knew when I would need to move (or rather, I knew that I WOULD move). I dunno, we talked about it a lot then and I haven't really recaptured it since. For the record, I have no idea if this has ANYTHING to do with sakkijutsu, but its the closest thing *I* have to personal experience.

Sensitivity drills I've done:

1) We do normal training with the lights off from time to time.
2) Partnered exercise: A has his eyes closed, B makes one point of contact (a grab or touch) and slowly launches an attack (punch or standup grappling). A must counter, using only a single point of contact to sense where his attacker's body is. Done softly and slowly. It's quite astounding how quickly you can pick up on the tension in someone's foot by touching his wrist.
3) Two people hold out several light objects (string, a shinai, stuff like that) and different heights and angles. The subject, whos eyes are closed during setup and throughout the exercise, must feel his way through the obstacles without causing any of them to move. You can do something like this on your own, walking through your home or a wooded area with the lights off/eyes closed.
4) One person stands with has back to the others, eyes and ears covered, while the other people silently assume a random position across the room. We did this with only three people total. The subject must then turn and, with eyes and ears still covered, seek out the other people. This sounds kind of froofy I know, but it can be suprising if you follow your instinct.
5) And a little more standard: soft lock-flow/disbalancement from a clinch, strike flow like sticky hands but with some koppojutsu thrown in for a twist.
6) All of the partnered kata are, at their core, sensitivity exercises.