I was brought up in a household with a totally blind father, to me a normal state of affairs. My father was an extraordinary man, a trailblazer for other sightless people and my hero. I was often asked at school by my friends what it was like to have a father who couldn't see. My answer was always the same; that I did not know what it was like to have a father that could see.
I did not feel that I missed out on anything as a child. My father played with me, laughed with me, even cried with me. The only difference was that his sight was internalised. When he felt objects he was able to visualise them in great detail. He had a knack of appearing to look you straight into the eyes to such a degree that many who spoke to him did not realise that he was without this important sense.
My father grew up at a time when disability was hidden away as an inconvenience, disabled people were to be pitied and patronised. He broke the mould and challenged society's thinking. Fighting like a pit bull he took on convention and smashed it, rising to senior levels in Jersey's civil service, despite many obstacles being placed in his way. He gained huge respect as well as much jealousy. Some people just could not cope with a successful disabled person, sad but true. My father, after whom our dojo is named, was a remarkable man. His steely determination, quick wit and intelligence made him a formidable figure. He did not suffer fools gladly but, having chewed you up and spat you out during a debate, would then more than likely buy you a drink later. He never bore grudges.
It was inevitable perhaps that I was going to gravitate towards receiving disabled students into the Phoenix School, especially when, I too, became visually impaired in 1990. After thirty two operations I was left partially sighted with the same rogue gene that debilitated my father. It was another ten years before I became involved with the Jersey Sports Association for the Disabled and its founder/Chairman Paul Patterson. My father had been invited to give some much needed advice to a then teenage Paul when he had a problem with his own sight. His main piece of advice was that Paul should complete his education which would allow for more scope when he was of working age. Now things have come full circle and Paul and me are now intrinsically linked through disability sport.
Now as I look out across the dojo I see able bodied and disabled students training together, being taught by a disabled Sensei. At this moment I am often reminded of my father's mantra, "Look at the A-bility not the Dis-Ability." Never a truer word said.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Why So Much Disharmony while Espousing the 'Way' of Loving Ki?
Professor Ueshiba eventually gave his studies the name, aikido, the Way (do) of harmony/love (ai) with ki. He espoused the oneness with the universe, bringing people together with love through aikido rather than leading them to destruction. Also known as the art of non confrontation, why in many areas has aikido throughout the world become so fragmented?
It is inevitable that once the source of an art passes his teachings on to others, then that art become diluted and takes on the mantle and thought processes of the next teacher and so on ad infinitum. This is a natural process and, as long as the foundations and fundamental beliefs of aikido are maintained, is also a healthy way to develop the art.
I have heard from many aikido people throughout the world who claim to teach and practise the art the way that Ueshiba Sensei taught it. My question to you is this; "At what point in O-Sensei's life does your aikido belong?" Many people staunchly and rigidly adhere to a particular perceived 'style' of aiki but perhaps do not realise that for their aikido to progress it needs to naturally evolve. It is possible to remain true to your particular style of aikido, be it Yoshinkan, Shin Shin Toitsu, Iwama ryu etc and still be responsible for its natural evolution. Everything needs to flow naturally, continuously, like a fast flowing stream. It can never be allowed to stand still and stagnate.
Leading a school or organisation that has a major influence over many students brings with it huge responsibility. You are in a position of trust which should never be abused. Unfortunately some teachers allow this to go to their head.
During my aikido life, since 1980, I have walked away from two national aikido organisations, not due to artistic differences, but because persons in positions of influence, supposedly claiming to live and practise by the higher ideals of aikido, were building personal fiefdoms from which to exert unhealthy influence over others, including the vulnerable. Sometimes these people receive fawning adulation and subservience from their subjects, often without question, giving them tremendous influence over students' lives both on and off the mat.
In the past I have been asked, and will continue to be asked, by students, if they can attend courses organised by othere aikido associations. I will always grant permission and see it purely as a courtesy request by the students. We should expose ourselves to aikido teachings from everywhere; some we will relate to and assimilate, others we will choose not to follow. However, we should all feel invigorated and thankful for the chance to share aikido with others. I have never understood a club's stance in barring students from attending a seminar just because it is being organised by a different group. If you are that insecure about your own ability that you seek to exert absolute control over your students, then you have no place in aikido.
As the famous quotation by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton (1834–1902) goes:
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
It is inevitable that once the source of an art passes his teachings on to others, then that art become diluted and takes on the mantle and thought processes of the next teacher and so on ad infinitum. This is a natural process and, as long as the foundations and fundamental beliefs of aikido are maintained, is also a healthy way to develop the art.
I have heard from many aikido people throughout the world who claim to teach and practise the art the way that Ueshiba Sensei taught it. My question to you is this; "At what point in O-Sensei's life does your aikido belong?" Many people staunchly and rigidly adhere to a particular perceived 'style' of aiki but perhaps do not realise that for their aikido to progress it needs to naturally evolve. It is possible to remain true to your particular style of aikido, be it Yoshinkan, Shin Shin Toitsu, Iwama ryu etc and still be responsible for its natural evolution. Everything needs to flow naturally, continuously, like a fast flowing stream. It can never be allowed to stand still and stagnate.
Leading a school or organisation that has a major influence over many students brings with it huge responsibility. You are in a position of trust which should never be abused. Unfortunately some teachers allow this to go to their head.
During my aikido life, since 1980, I have walked away from two national aikido organisations, not due to artistic differences, but because persons in positions of influence, supposedly claiming to live and practise by the higher ideals of aikido, were building personal fiefdoms from which to exert unhealthy influence over others, including the vulnerable. Sometimes these people receive fawning adulation and subservience from their subjects, often without question, giving them tremendous influence over students' lives both on and off the mat.
In the past I have been asked, and will continue to be asked, by students, if they can attend courses organised by othere aikido associations. I will always grant permission and see it purely as a courtesy request by the students. We should expose ourselves to aikido teachings from everywhere; some we will relate to and assimilate, others we will choose not to follow. However, we should all feel invigorated and thankful for the chance to share aikido with others. I have never understood a club's stance in barring students from attending a seminar just because it is being organised by a different group. If you are that insecure about your own ability that you seek to exert absolute control over your students, then you have no place in aikido.
As the famous quotation by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton (1834–1902) goes:
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The Dojo Is Not The Street !
A dojo is, to all intents and purposes a classroom, a place of enlightenment, somewhere to study your martial art, practise movement and technique and share your experience with others. However, the dojo is not the street.
No matter how many martial arts classes claim to teach 'street self defence' in essence you are usually getting a watered down version of the martial art offered by that particular school and paired with the instructors own belief on what is required outside the dojo in a 'real life' situation. There are many martial arts instructors throughout the world, who are highly skilled and proficient in their chosen art, who have never experienced the 'fear' and 'danger' of a REAL life violent altercation.
It amuses me somewhat, when visiting certain martial arts forums on the world wide web, when you read posts claiming that this martial art is 'the best' for combat and that martial art is no good because it is not 'real'. You get phrases like 'No holds barred' and 'no rules' martial arts. If there is a combat area, ring or cage with a referee, then it is not, nor ever will be 'no holds barred'. Even for this type of popular sport as in all MMA (mixed martial arts) contests there are rules that both fighters have to abide by. Often an opponent 'taps out' meaning that when a lock, choke or technique becomes unbearable they 'tap' to indicate to their opponent and the referee that they can no longer continue. The referee then stops the fight. Therefore, these types of contests are controlled by a third person ie the referee and are not a 'no holds barred' contest. If you take a 'no holds barred' contest literally, it will mean that the protagonists fight on until one is either incapacitated or killed; no holds barred means no rules. This would never happen in any organised sporting arena, especially in this litigation crazy health and safety era.
There are many martial arts that are competitive and therefore, during sparring or competition, the element of adrenaline is introduced to the equation. Being able to control the adrenaline flow during competition is paramount if you are to perform to your maximum potential. However, the adrenaline flow that pumps during a real altercation is what I would refer to as the 'Fear Factor'. It is a natural reaction that heightens the senses and prepares the physical body for a 'fight' or 'flight' scenario. If you can control it then you will have more chance to react naturally and instinctively to such a situation. If that reaction is that you run away in the face of a potentially violent altercation then you have succeeded in avoiding confrontation. If you panic and start hyperventilating you may not be able to function in a normal physical way. None of this can be re-created in the dojo, as it is impossible to introduce the element of reality. The dojo is a place of safety no matter how hard the sparring or training becomes.
In a competitive martial arts contest, even though the adrenaline of competition is flowing, each of the contestants know that the other will be conforming to the same set of rules as laid down by the organising body. On the street, you do not have that luxury, as physical altercations are wildly unpredictable and can include the use of weapons or ordinary objects adapted for use as weapons. There is also the possibility that there will be more than one assailant. The street has NO rules.
In an aikido dojo you practise movement, technique, breathing, internalisation and blending with a partner and all of these things assist us in our general health and wellbeing. Techniques are practised repeatedly in a ritualised format to help the student learn to eventually react to different movements without having to think; to have a clear mind under pressure, a state of Mushin. The only missing element in the dojo, in any dojo, is 'reality'.
As a person who has worked on the street in law enforcement for over a decade I have witnessed how different people react under pressure, both civilians and police personnel. Sometimes, the most capable exponent in the dojo is the one that cannot handle the element of realism on the street. Martial arts give us the tools, knowledge and capability to react effectively but ultimately it is down to the individual and how they utilise those tools.
No matter how many martial arts classes claim to teach 'street self defence' in essence you are usually getting a watered down version of the martial art offered by that particular school and paired with the instructors own belief on what is required outside the dojo in a 'real life' situation. There are many martial arts instructors throughout the world, who are highly skilled and proficient in their chosen art, who have never experienced the 'fear' and 'danger' of a REAL life violent altercation.
It amuses me somewhat, when visiting certain martial arts forums on the world wide web, when you read posts claiming that this martial art is 'the best' for combat and that martial art is no good because it is not 'real'. You get phrases like 'No holds barred' and 'no rules' martial arts. If there is a combat area, ring or cage with a referee, then it is not, nor ever will be 'no holds barred'. Even for this type of popular sport as in all MMA (mixed martial arts) contests there are rules that both fighters have to abide by. Often an opponent 'taps out' meaning that when a lock, choke or technique becomes unbearable they 'tap' to indicate to their opponent and the referee that they can no longer continue. The referee then stops the fight. Therefore, these types of contests are controlled by a third person ie the referee and are not a 'no holds barred' contest. If you take a 'no holds barred' contest literally, it will mean that the protagonists fight on until one is either incapacitated or killed; no holds barred means no rules. This would never happen in any organised sporting arena, especially in this litigation crazy health and safety era.
There are many martial arts that are competitive and therefore, during sparring or competition, the element of adrenaline is introduced to the equation. Being able to control the adrenaline flow during competition is paramount if you are to perform to your maximum potential. However, the adrenaline flow that pumps during a real altercation is what I would refer to as the 'Fear Factor'. It is a natural reaction that heightens the senses and prepares the physical body for a 'fight' or 'flight' scenario. If you can control it then you will have more chance to react naturally and instinctively to such a situation. If that reaction is that you run away in the face of a potentially violent altercation then you have succeeded in avoiding confrontation. If you panic and start hyperventilating you may not be able to function in a normal physical way. None of this can be re-created in the dojo, as it is impossible to introduce the element of reality. The dojo is a place of safety no matter how hard the sparring or training becomes.
In a competitive martial arts contest, even though the adrenaline of competition is flowing, each of the contestants know that the other will be conforming to the same set of rules as laid down by the organising body. On the street, you do not have that luxury, as physical altercations are wildly unpredictable and can include the use of weapons or ordinary objects adapted for use as weapons. There is also the possibility that there will be more than one assailant. The street has NO rules.
In an aikido dojo you practise movement, technique, breathing, internalisation and blending with a partner and all of these things assist us in our general health and wellbeing. Techniques are practised repeatedly in a ritualised format to help the student learn to eventually react to different movements without having to think; to have a clear mind under pressure, a state of Mushin. The only missing element in the dojo, in any dojo, is 'reality'.
As a person who has worked on the street in law enforcement for over a decade I have witnessed how different people react under pressure, both civilians and police personnel. Sometimes, the most capable exponent in the dojo is the one that cannot handle the element of realism on the street. Martial arts give us the tools, knowledge and capability to react effectively but ultimately it is down to the individual and how they utilise those tools.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Mushin - Clarity of Mind
Hanging in the dojo above the office door is an original caligraphy by the late Iwata Norikazu Sensei, esteemed internationally renowned iai-do teacher. The caligraphy depicts the kanji for 'mu-shin'. There is never a short translation for japanese phrases and such a combination can fill up a page in a dictionary. Popular translations include 'empty mind' 'without cerebration' and 'clear mind'.
Many martial artists will attest to striving to reach a state of 'mushin' in their practice, in other words, the 'ability to react to situational demands without cerebration'. Simply put, it is the ability to deal with an attack in a seamless and natural way without overt thought processes, blending with and neutralising the attacker. Keeping the mind free and clear means that it is not loaded with scenarios, techniques and solutions. Over analysing things in martial arts is often a western trait, which although not always a bad thing, can get in the way of an exponent absorbing and 'feeling' the technique and, in respect of aikido, can inadvertently block a tori from 'connecting internally' with their uke.
Over the years I am sure many aikido teachers have been asked by students the question "What technique would you use if attacked with X, Y or Z?" I am sure some teachers have attempted to answer said question, while students come up with ever more bizarre scenarios. In truth the question cannot or should not be answered. Fixating on one technique in your head if, God forbid, you were attacked and unable to extract yourself from the confrontation without physical intervention,will narrow your options dramatically. Making rational decisions when your adrenaline is pumping and you are trying to control your fear is not as easy as many would think.
In the dojo I am often heard saying to students, "try and tap in to the bow wave and not wait for the ship to hit you." In other words try and 'blend internally' with the uke's intentions before the physical attack is launched. Aikido thus becomes intuitive and not reactive.
When a driver of a motor vehicle starts skidding on the road often the first 'thought' is to apply the brakes, when in fact the intuitive solution would be to use the accelerator and steer into the skid until the wheels gain traction on the road surface again. All braking would do is to lock up the wheels and accentuate the skid.
When an aggressor pushes someone, it is a natural reaction to push back and thus you have confrontation. The same occurs when a person grabs another and pulls them, the defender often pulls back. A high proportion of street fights end up on the floor in a scrappy wrestling match, each person trying not to get hit rather than aiming the punches. It is a human and very normal reaction. The most difficult solution to such an aggressive move is often the best one, when the mind and body is allowed to function in a state of mushin. Step into the'void' and offer no equal physical response, then use the aggression of the attacker against themselves.
A state of mushin helps to cleanse the practitioner, keeps them healthy and mentally alert and leads to true clarity of mind.
Many martial artists will attest to striving to reach a state of 'mushin' in their practice, in other words, the 'ability to react to situational demands without cerebration'. Simply put, it is the ability to deal with an attack in a seamless and natural way without overt thought processes, blending with and neutralising the attacker. Keeping the mind free and clear means that it is not loaded with scenarios, techniques and solutions. Over analysing things in martial arts is often a western trait, which although not always a bad thing, can get in the way of an exponent absorbing and 'feeling' the technique and, in respect of aikido, can inadvertently block a tori from 'connecting internally' with their uke.
Over the years I am sure many aikido teachers have been asked by students the question "What technique would you use if attacked with X, Y or Z?" I am sure some teachers have attempted to answer said question, while students come up with ever more bizarre scenarios. In truth the question cannot or should not be answered. Fixating on one technique in your head if, God forbid, you were attacked and unable to extract yourself from the confrontation without physical intervention,will narrow your options dramatically. Making rational decisions when your adrenaline is pumping and you are trying to control your fear is not as easy as many would think.
In the dojo I am often heard saying to students, "try and tap in to the bow wave and not wait for the ship to hit you." In other words try and 'blend internally' with the uke's intentions before the physical attack is launched. Aikido thus becomes intuitive and not reactive.
When a driver of a motor vehicle starts skidding on the road often the first 'thought' is to apply the brakes, when in fact the intuitive solution would be to use the accelerator and steer into the skid until the wheels gain traction on the road surface again. All braking would do is to lock up the wheels and accentuate the skid.
When an aggressor pushes someone, it is a natural reaction to push back and thus you have confrontation. The same occurs when a person grabs another and pulls them, the defender often pulls back. A high proportion of street fights end up on the floor in a scrappy wrestling match, each person trying not to get hit rather than aiming the punches. It is a human and very normal reaction. The most difficult solution to such an aggressive move is often the best one, when the mind and body is allowed to function in a state of mushin. Step into the'void' and offer no equal physical response, then use the aggression of the attacker against themselves.
A state of mushin helps to cleanse the practitioner, keeps them healthy and mentally alert and leads to true clarity of mind.
Monday, January 2, 2012
The Mirror of the Soul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&list=FLep9C4PTZ3iyydtH8oQcc4Q&v=i-Ej7YyQEAI
This is a rather unusual start to a blog about aikido but I would like you to watch and listen to the words of a music video from Chris de Burgh entitled The Mirror of the Soul (just click on the link).
I have often been told and indeed personally believe that to fully understand aikido you need to 'look in the mirror' ie look inside yourself, your very soul, and be comfortable and at one with yourself. This is a frightening and difficult thing for people to do and aikido has a way of laying bare all that people find uncomfortable about themselves. Often when they discover or realise those discomforts staring back at them in the reflection, they have a choice; they can grow, learn about themselves and deal with these feelings or turn away and leave them hidden.
In the dojo I have a kanji hanging innocuously to the right of O-Sensei on the kamiza, opposite the one that spells Ai-Ki-Do. In japanese the kanji spells out 'masakatsu agatsu' which has the meaning 'true victory is victory of oneself' or 'the only true victory is self mastery'.
On a personal level, this resonates with me 100%, as the last two years have been an intense and extremely painful journey, one which I felt had to be made if I was to feel 'at one with myself' and comfortable with my very existance. Although over the last thirty years I felt that I had developed well as a dedicated and competent aikido student, there was always something I felt was missing in me as an aikiodoka and as a person.
Now that I am content and at one with myself, I have found that my aikido has become more powerful and internal, like a flame has been re-ignited from the embers. I am finally at peace with myself and my aikido has developed accordingly. This is a wonderful revelation for me and means that I can look forward to the future with renewed optimism.
Returning to the Chris de Burgh track; the story centres around an Abbey (Abbe St Pierre) visited by a traveller who had a wondrous diamond that he believed was a gift from God. The monks saw an opportunity to engineer absolute power over the villagers and surrounding areas and relieved the traveller of the diamond and his life. However, although the diamond shone brightly in the hands of the traveller, it did not shine for the monks or the Abbott. Using subterfuge and the sun's rays, they tricked the visitors to the Abbey into believing that the stone had magical powers and they 'sold' absolution to the ordinary people who would come to marvel at this dazzling stone for a price.
When a young child, pure of heart and deed, was encouraged by friends to touch the diamond at night when the sun was gone, it shone brightly in his hands and it was then that the people realised that the monks were tricking them as it would remain dull in the monks' hands.
What has this got to do with aikido you may ask?
It is my view that the majority of people who study aikido and become instructors in the art do so because they wish to give something back to aikido and to follow their teachers who continue to tread the path ahead of them. In essence they teach aikido with the purest of intentions.
However, there are some who use the martial arts as a personal fiefdom, creating a cocooned life of unquestioning subservience from their 'followers'. While the sensei is in charge of the dojo and what is taught therein, they should not blur the lines between their roles on the tatame and off it. A person's private life is just that, private. It is not the role of the sensei to manipulate and control a person in their everyday life. Unfortunately, some people engage in such activities and often pray on the vulnerable and easily led. Once they have engineered total devotion from their students they can increase the amount of control they exert. Before they know it, students are blindly agreeing to almost everything that is asked of them whether morally acceptable or not. This is a form of abuse in my opinion; taking advantage of uncertainty and vulnerability to exert control over another human being.
My message is simple; come to a safe environment, the dojo, enjoy a shared experience, aikido, develop the mental and physical benefits that come with that experience, and allow it to enhance and become part of the fabric of your daily life.
Aikido; truly the Mirror of the Soul.
This is a rather unusual start to a blog about aikido but I would like you to watch and listen to the words of a music video from Chris de Burgh entitled The Mirror of the Soul (just click on the link).
I have often been told and indeed personally believe that to fully understand aikido you need to 'look in the mirror' ie look inside yourself, your very soul, and be comfortable and at one with yourself. This is a frightening and difficult thing for people to do and aikido has a way of laying bare all that people find uncomfortable about themselves. Often when they discover or realise those discomforts staring back at them in the reflection, they have a choice; they can grow, learn about themselves and deal with these feelings or turn away and leave them hidden.
In the dojo I have a kanji hanging innocuously to the right of O-Sensei on the kamiza, opposite the one that spells Ai-Ki-Do. In japanese the kanji spells out 'masakatsu agatsu' which has the meaning 'true victory is victory of oneself' or 'the only true victory is self mastery'.
On a personal level, this resonates with me 100%, as the last two years have been an intense and extremely painful journey, one which I felt had to be made if I was to feel 'at one with myself' and comfortable with my very existance. Although over the last thirty years I felt that I had developed well as a dedicated and competent aikido student, there was always something I felt was missing in me as an aikiodoka and as a person.
Now that I am content and at one with myself, I have found that my aikido has become more powerful and internal, like a flame has been re-ignited from the embers. I am finally at peace with myself and my aikido has developed accordingly. This is a wonderful revelation for me and means that I can look forward to the future with renewed optimism.
Returning to the Chris de Burgh track; the story centres around an Abbey (Abbe St Pierre) visited by a traveller who had a wondrous diamond that he believed was a gift from God. The monks saw an opportunity to engineer absolute power over the villagers and surrounding areas and relieved the traveller of the diamond and his life. However, although the diamond shone brightly in the hands of the traveller, it did not shine for the monks or the Abbott. Using subterfuge and the sun's rays, they tricked the visitors to the Abbey into believing that the stone had magical powers and they 'sold' absolution to the ordinary people who would come to marvel at this dazzling stone for a price.
When a young child, pure of heart and deed, was encouraged by friends to touch the diamond at night when the sun was gone, it shone brightly in his hands and it was then that the people realised that the monks were tricking them as it would remain dull in the monks' hands.
What has this got to do with aikido you may ask?
It is my view that the majority of people who study aikido and become instructors in the art do so because they wish to give something back to aikido and to follow their teachers who continue to tread the path ahead of them. In essence they teach aikido with the purest of intentions.
However, there are some who use the martial arts as a personal fiefdom, creating a cocooned life of unquestioning subservience from their 'followers'. While the sensei is in charge of the dojo and what is taught therein, they should not blur the lines between their roles on the tatame and off it. A person's private life is just that, private. It is not the role of the sensei to manipulate and control a person in their everyday life. Unfortunately, some people engage in such activities and often pray on the vulnerable and easily led. Once they have engineered total devotion from their students they can increase the amount of control they exert. Before they know it, students are blindly agreeing to almost everything that is asked of them whether morally acceptable or not. This is a form of abuse in my opinion; taking advantage of uncertainty and vulnerability to exert control over another human being.
My message is simple; come to a safe environment, the dojo, enjoy a shared experience, aikido, develop the mental and physical benefits that come with that experience, and allow it to enhance and become part of the fabric of your daily life.
Aikido; truly the Mirror of the Soul.
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