What is “One Point” in Aikido?

One of our principles in Aikido is to “keep one point”.  What does this mean?

The one point is the term we use to define or our centre of gravity while standing fully upright.  This is located just below the navel.  From a physical perspective this is a centre of balance.  When we have more awareness of our one point it allows our body to more naturally seek a balanced state.

At the same time, many traditions give this centre a significance beyond the physical.  In meditation traditions such as Zen and in Yoga, practitioners are often encouraged to focus there minds at this point to aid with maintaining balance and inner peace.

In some practises, it is seen as a centre where we generate internal energy.  Some call it the 2nd or 4rd chakra, the hara or the dantien.

In Ki Aikido, we test to see if our partner “has their one point”.  In other words we are always looking to maintain co-ordination and balance throughout the practise of our techniques.  We aim to “take the one point” or our partner, or make them lose balance and co-ordination in order to nullify their attack and execute a technique.

There are also mental benefits to focusing on the one point.  It is a place to gather and centre our mind in times of stress.  You may have heard of some one being “hot headed” or of “losing it” or being “out of their head”.  Perhaps you have been in such a nerve racking situation that it felt like butterflies where flying round your stomach. Such phrases like this may indicate that a persons mind/energy has become un-centred leading to rash and emotional action.  

We may be able to remain more calm and centred by simply bringing our mind to our one point, quickly bringing us back to a relaxed and neutral state in which calm and effective action can take place.

For those of a more esoteric interest, some believe that the one point is either a source of our Ki or internal energy or perhaps a store of energy.  They believe that focusing  on this point allows us to build a strong centre which is a foundation or inner and spiritual development in life. 

Too many people are aiming to achieve some form of enlightenment or out of body experience without having built a strong centre (which is also our sense of connection with our self).  Have you ever met someone that seems a little “airy fairy”? By which I mean they are up in their head and seem a little disconnected from reality.  Training the one point may be a way to help ground such people.

We train our one point in Aikido through continuing to bring our awareness to this point during practise.  We practise ki tests to develop our one point more.  The more we develop our one point the more the other principles such as staying fully relaxed and extending our mind begin to emerge.