Invariably over the years, if we have hosted or attended aikido courses, we will have noticed on many of them the inconspicuous tripod in the corner of the dojo recording our every movement. As a host of many courses I too have engaged in the use of a video camera to record, for posterity mainly, the events of the course and the people taking part including the instruction given by the visiting sensei.
However, in my opinion, these 'home movies' should just be a bit of history to look back on in a club or association's past or an immediate post-seminar aide memoir for instructors to recall issues and techniques shown, to assist them in transferring the information to the local students immediately after the sensei has departed.
However, an issue was recently raised which requires more thought and an alternative view on capturing moving images of a person's aikido, especially that shown by an instructor.
I am sure that there are not many people, if any, that can honestly say that the way that they practise aikido today bears any resemblance to the aikido they practised when they started, or from several years ago, or even last year. Aikido is a never ending education, a continuing learning process of refinement and improvement. We change as we get older, we mature, we develop and this is reflected in our approach and execution of our aikido. And believe me when I emphasise the word 'our' aikido. For we do not practise other peoples' aikido, ours is unique to us. While we may learn from our instructors over the years, we develop our own signature.
I have trained with and heard many instructors and students refer to the way that they practise aikido as 'the way that O-Sensei taught it', or the way that Saito taught it, or Yamada or Shioda, you get the picture? That comment can only mean that either they believe that O-Sensei never developed his aikido or they are referring to a fleeting moment in O-Sensei's aikido life.
If you watch footage of Professor Ueshiba you will see that his aikido of pre-war (WWII) differs dramatically from his 1960's aikido. Of course it does, he was developing, refining, and honing his understanding of the aikido that he presented to the world. He never presented aikido as the finished article, he even referred to himself as 'merely a student of the Way' right up to his death in 1969.
Associations that claim to teach aikido the way Sensei X taught it, can only describe the way that sensei taught it at a fleeting time in their aikido training, as I have no doubt that the sensei in question will have grown and developed since that moment. Reviving old footage of a teacher and believing that they still practise aikido in this way is very short sighted and lacks the deeper understanding of the essence of aikido. Therefore I can understand why some teachers would rather not have footage of themselves from several years ago resurected for assimilation when they themselves have moved on. Showing old footage and inferring that it represents how a particular instructor practises aikido today, is short sighted and not a true representation of their ongoing development. It is unfair to hold what they practised several years ago as gospel today. It simply is not so.
I truly believe that aikido can be described as flowing like a crystal clear stream, fluid, graceful, powerful, ever moving. The moment the water stops flowing it becomes stale, cloudy, discoloured and rancid like a stagnant pond.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
Aikido is a calling not a 'fast food' option
People come to a martial arts class for the first time with many preconceptions and a number of personal reasons. For some, it is the commencement of a lifelong ambition to study something esoteric, different, practical, maybe even useful; for others it is another activity ticked off their list of 'things to try', before flitting off to 'play' something else. A sort of fast food outlook on life, a quick fix.
Martial arts pride themselves on bringing people together from all walks of life and all professions - all equal under the roof of the dojo. It is a sobering feeling for some, who are high flyers in their chosen profession, to be as equal as the person from a more humble background who lines up with them in front of their teacher. In fact, often the teacher themselves are from the humblest of backgrounds but have the skill and dedication in their art that ensures a steady stream of students willing to learn from them.
I have often said that the ideal notice to place above the dojo door would simply say, "All are Welcome, Please Leave your Ego at the Door." Most students manage to do just that, however, there are others for whom, leaving one's ego behind, is like letting others peer into their soul, like stripping away a layer of protection that serves them in everyday life.
The reason I often use the word 'study' when referring to aikido practice and not 'training', is because I believe that you cannot just turn up and complete your class like an automaton and then leave it in a box until next time. I truly believe that aikido is an experience, something shared, a living, breathing entity that develops over time. You can never master aikido, merely strive to improve each day both your physical technique and your internal understanding of it. You can never stop learning and in fact I live by the mantra that 'everyday I learn or discover something new'. Your ego should never be such that you cannot accept learning something from someone newer to the Path than you. Beginners can remind experienced students of their flaws and inconsistancies by giving the seniors a window back into their own early training.
Aikido is more than just a pastime, it is a way of life. Unbeknown to some, you live aikido in your daily routines, from avoiding conflict to making rational decisions that effect everyone around you. It is a force for good.
Many people come into aikido believing that they can master it the same way that they perform their professional working life. When they find out that it does not work like that they often leave as quickly as they arrived. Aikido is a prolonged and joyous experience, it is like looking into a mirror to your soul. Some can do this, many cannot.
Aikido is a calling and not a 'fast food' option.
Martial arts pride themselves on bringing people together from all walks of life and all professions - all equal under the roof of the dojo. It is a sobering feeling for some, who are high flyers in their chosen profession, to be as equal as the person from a more humble background who lines up with them in front of their teacher. In fact, often the teacher themselves are from the humblest of backgrounds but have the skill and dedication in their art that ensures a steady stream of students willing to learn from them.
I have often said that the ideal notice to place above the dojo door would simply say, "All are Welcome, Please Leave your Ego at the Door." Most students manage to do just that, however, there are others for whom, leaving one's ego behind, is like letting others peer into their soul, like stripping away a layer of protection that serves them in everyday life.
The reason I often use the word 'study' when referring to aikido practice and not 'training', is because I believe that you cannot just turn up and complete your class like an automaton and then leave it in a box until next time. I truly believe that aikido is an experience, something shared, a living, breathing entity that develops over time. You can never master aikido, merely strive to improve each day both your physical technique and your internal understanding of it. You can never stop learning and in fact I live by the mantra that 'everyday I learn or discover something new'. Your ego should never be such that you cannot accept learning something from someone newer to the Path than you. Beginners can remind experienced students of their flaws and inconsistancies by giving the seniors a window back into their own early training.
Aikido is more than just a pastime, it is a way of life. Unbeknown to some, you live aikido in your daily routines, from avoiding conflict to making rational decisions that effect everyone around you. It is a force for good.
Many people come into aikido believing that they can master it the same way that they perform their professional working life. When they find out that it does not work like that they often leave as quickly as they arrived. Aikido is a prolonged and joyous experience, it is like looking into a mirror to your soul. Some can do this, many cannot.
Aikido is a calling and not a 'fast food' option.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Two Left Feet and the Elegance of a Warthog !
I have seen many students come and go over the years and if I had a pound for everyone who entered the dojo and left soon after I would be a very wealthy person indeed.
The martial arts need serious study and dedication and some people find out very quickly that maybe aikido is not for them. It is not a problem, it is very much horses for courses. Different individuals suit varying styles of martial arts, some are not compatible with martial arts at all despite their wish to learn one.
All new students must remember that whatever they study has to be fun and enjoyable otherwise it really is not worth torturing yourself. Find something you do like doing.
And what should a new student expect when they enter a dojo as a complete novice? All instructors and students should think back to when they were a new entrant. Remember the nerves and the awkwardness, the lack of knowledge and of what is and is not expected of you. It is quite daunting and I commend anyone, especially an adult (children tend to have no fear), for taking the courageous first step across the dojo threshold.
'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' goes the popular saying but never a truer word was spoken. In an aikido school you will find people from all walks of life, it is a colourful and eclectic mix of professional people, manual workers, shop staff, mothers, fathers, academic students, bankers, restaurant workers, you name a job and I have seen them in the dojo at some time during my thirty plus years on the tatame.
You are taught alien movements to perform which prove difficult to comprehend. You realise very quickly that although you ordinarily know your left from your right, can stand up without falling over (unless alcohol has been added to the equation), can breath unaided and turn in a circle without collapsing in a heap, when this is transferred to an aikido dojo, normal earthly rules go straight out of the proverbial window. You inexplicably hold your breath until you turn a weird shade of cobalt or until Sensei reminds you to breath out, your legs and feet resemble a herd of bambi's on acid, your balance is as good as a drunken sailor and to remind you which is your left or right foot you are inclined towards writing L and R on your feet with an indelible marker pen.
At the end of your first lesson you will have so many questions buzzing around your head. That is if you do not have a few bumps on the head from starting to learn how to fall over when asked. Like a performing dolphin, you dutifully attempt an elegant role only for it to turn into an elephant role with all the finesse of that fine big trunked animal. Your first attempts seem to catch every sharp part of your body on the way over, knee, elbow, shoulder blade, head, bum, knee again and toe, it's a full house ! Eventually, you become smoother, due mainly to self preservation more than anything else. Roll like a ball not like a dice you are told. Ouch !
Finally when you get to leave the dojo after the session you subconsciously count your limbs to make sure they're all there. Head - check, arms - check, torso - check, oh, and TWO LEFT FEET !
The martial arts need serious study and dedication and some people find out very quickly that maybe aikido is not for them. It is not a problem, it is very much horses for courses. Different individuals suit varying styles of martial arts, some are not compatible with martial arts at all despite their wish to learn one.
All new students must remember that whatever they study has to be fun and enjoyable otherwise it really is not worth torturing yourself. Find something you do like doing.
And what should a new student expect when they enter a dojo as a complete novice? All instructors and students should think back to when they were a new entrant. Remember the nerves and the awkwardness, the lack of knowledge and of what is and is not expected of you. It is quite daunting and I commend anyone, especially an adult (children tend to have no fear), for taking the courageous first step across the dojo threshold.
'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step' goes the popular saying but never a truer word was spoken. In an aikido school you will find people from all walks of life, it is a colourful and eclectic mix of professional people, manual workers, shop staff, mothers, fathers, academic students, bankers, restaurant workers, you name a job and I have seen them in the dojo at some time during my thirty plus years on the tatame.
You are taught alien movements to perform which prove difficult to comprehend. You realise very quickly that although you ordinarily know your left from your right, can stand up without falling over (unless alcohol has been added to the equation), can breath unaided and turn in a circle without collapsing in a heap, when this is transferred to an aikido dojo, normal earthly rules go straight out of the proverbial window. You inexplicably hold your breath until you turn a weird shade of cobalt or until Sensei reminds you to breath out, your legs and feet resemble a herd of bambi's on acid, your balance is as good as a drunken sailor and to remind you which is your left or right foot you are inclined towards writing L and R on your feet with an indelible marker pen.
At the end of your first lesson you will have so many questions buzzing around your head. That is if you do not have a few bumps on the head from starting to learn how to fall over when asked. Like a performing dolphin, you dutifully attempt an elegant role only for it to turn into an elephant role with all the finesse of that fine big trunked animal. Your first attempts seem to catch every sharp part of your body on the way over, knee, elbow, shoulder blade, head, bum, knee again and toe, it's a full house ! Eventually, you become smoother, due mainly to self preservation more than anything else. Roll like a ball not like a dice you are told. Ouch !
Finally when you get to leave the dojo after the session you subconsciously count your limbs to make sure they're all there. Head - check, arms - check, torso - check, oh, and TWO LEFT FEET !
Sunday, December 11, 2011
It all started with a mistake !
It is about time I got around to starting a blog so here goes. This is the story of my wondering aikido life which started quite by accident in a room at Fort Regent Sports & Leisure Centre in 1980 when I was an eighteen year old bank clerk working for the then Lloyds Bank Ltd.
I was always very sporty and would play many team and individual sports, some to a reasonably good level, however, in a moment that is now a cloud in my distant memory, I decided that I wanted to study karate. I think back now and cannot put a finger on why I wanted to practice karate but, armed with a vigour to start kicking and punching something, even if it was to be me trying to negotiate myself out of a paper bag, I telephoned Fort Regent and asked confidently for the name and telephone number of a karate club.
They looked at their list and the first club that came to view on their alphabetical list was AIKIDO. I called the number and dutifully turned up for the next session. I did not know what Aikido was but I had walked into the dojo so felt that it would be difficult to retreat without losing face. For better or worse, there was no going back.
The guys teaching the class that night were 'yellow belts' and, watching them in action, I marvelled at how accomplished they appeared. Where was our mysterious black belt I wondered? I enjoyed the first few weeks of training but was somewhat puzzled as to why I had not punched anything or lifted my leg from the mat. Strange Karate I thought.
It was after several weeks of excrutiating pain with wrists and arms bent and twisted in ever more imaginative positions before I got to meet and train under the big cheese. Sensei Ezio was a maitre 'd' in a hotel restaurant and was a giant of a man, both upwards and sideways. Built like a brick privvy so to speak.
This amiable italian 1st Dan black belt had been on restaurant duty during the first few weeks of my training and when I saw him throw his students I wondered if wearing a parachute was advisable. Any pain and discomfort that I had experienced at the hands of novice students, paled into insignificance on the end of one of Sensei's own manipulations. At the end of some of the lessons my bruises had bruises of their own.
It was then explained to me that the martial art that I had been studying earnestly for the first month was not Karate at all, but a traditional japanese martial art based on blending with your attacker and redirecting his aggression to neutralise his attack before controlling him by a series of pins, locks and throws. Ahh blending with the mat ! Something I was good at, since I spent a lot of time being dumped on it. Why I kept getting up for more instead of melting into the mat god only knows. But he never told me. Ouch !!!
I was always very sporty and would play many team and individual sports, some to a reasonably good level, however, in a moment that is now a cloud in my distant memory, I decided that I wanted to study karate. I think back now and cannot put a finger on why I wanted to practice karate but, armed with a vigour to start kicking and punching something, even if it was to be me trying to negotiate myself out of a paper bag, I telephoned Fort Regent and asked confidently for the name and telephone number of a karate club.
They looked at their list and the first club that came to view on their alphabetical list was AIKIDO. I called the number and dutifully turned up for the next session. I did not know what Aikido was but I had walked into the dojo so felt that it would be difficult to retreat without losing face. For better or worse, there was no going back.
The guys teaching the class that night were 'yellow belts' and, watching them in action, I marvelled at how accomplished they appeared. Where was our mysterious black belt I wondered? I enjoyed the first few weeks of training but was somewhat puzzled as to why I had not punched anything or lifted my leg from the mat. Strange Karate I thought.
It was after several weeks of excrutiating pain with wrists and arms bent and twisted in ever more imaginative positions before I got to meet and train under the big cheese. Sensei Ezio was a maitre 'd' in a hotel restaurant and was a giant of a man, both upwards and sideways. Built like a brick privvy so to speak.
This amiable italian 1st Dan black belt had been on restaurant duty during the first few weeks of my training and when I saw him throw his students I wondered if wearing a parachute was advisable. Any pain and discomfort that I had experienced at the hands of novice students, paled into insignificance on the end of one of Sensei's own manipulations. At the end of some of the lessons my bruises had bruises of their own.
It was then explained to me that the martial art that I had been studying earnestly for the first month was not Karate at all, but a traditional japanese martial art based on blending with your attacker and redirecting his aggression to neutralise his attack before controlling him by a series of pins, locks and throws. Ahh blending with the mat ! Something I was good at, since I spent a lot of time being dumped on it. Why I kept getting up for more instead of melting into the mat god only knows. But he never told me. Ouch !!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)