Aiki Mechanics

American baseball mechanics focus (more) on checkpoints at one moment in time:  Pitchers get tall, point the toe down on the leg kick, keep the hand outside the elbow, etc.

Aiki mechanics focus (more) on the transfer of weight through time, and the organization of the body around the CG.  How smoothly are you accelerating your weight?  Is your shoulder drawing energy from your hip?  Where are the "rays" of intention pointing from your belt buckle?

Aikido has four Golden Principles.  These apply equally to any sports, or indeed any use of the human (or animal) body:

1.  Relax - in baseball this is seen in tempo, for example.

2.  Keep one point - be aware of your CG and how power always flows from it.

3.  Keep weight underside - e.g. the way Brad Miller and Mike Napoli sink their weight to hit.

4.  Extend Ki - imagine "rays" coming from your fingers, your eyes, your belt buckle, and the same for your opponent.  This captures all forms of anticipation, including the high fastball setting up the yakker.  It includes throwing the ball through the target rather than at it.  It includes the way batters subliminally pick up a pitch before it's released.  etc.

Aiki mechanics are not the "magic bullet" to hitting .300.  But like Wakamatsu told his clubhouse:  instead of making fun of Ichiro, you might want to learn from him.

Cheers,

Dr D