"Yoshin" - The Newsletter of Aikido Yoshinkai Canada

July 1998 Edition

There was a Q&A afterwards which as also enlightening. It was nice to meet and touch base with several people. Nice to see Alan hitting the deck. At the demonstration it was very interesting to see the changes that Karasawa Sensei (head of the Seimeikan) had been making over the last number of years. Karasawa had been a strong influence on me when I started Aikido. He was the one sensei who never said "relax" but just applied the technique in such a way that "relaxation" was inevitable. He was much appreciated whenever he was able to train ... Years and politics and all that has meant that there is not the cross pollination that there once was. So I found it quite strange to see how his Aikido had changed.

Ando Sensei, who is one of the leading proponents of strong Honbu Yoshinkan style started out for 5 years as a student of M. Saito ... and Karasawa who for years was the strong Yoshinkan stylist has now incorporated much of Saito's Iwami / Aikikai ideas. So it was strange to hear techniques called out in what would be half Yoshinkan and half Aikikai. Shomenuchi Ikkajo Ura. It was disconcerting. Virtually all of the buki techniques that had been developed by Kushida Sensei had vanished to be replaced with the Iwami waza. Yokomenuchi would be done by the Seimeikan students in the Aikikai and by the other Senseis and ukes in the Yoshinkan way. I'm not sure yet what to make of it all. It was interesting and yet not balanced in my eye. I feel as though I need to think on it a lot more. Not that it was bad in any way, just a different perspective on things that need more thought. The demonstration was good albeit a bit long. I always like watching the visiting sensei do his "magic" stuff. The things that make you go hmmmmmmm? Thanks to the Seimeikan people for a very good event.

Throughout his visit, Chida Shihan taught 6 clinics, each of which was filled to capacity with a minimum of 65 and as many as 75 in attendance. In fact, the response was so overwhelming that we had to start turning people away! Robert Mustard Sensei, a former student of Kimeda Sensei who spent some 11 years training in Tokyo, flew in from Vancouver to participate and translate for the event.

During the opening clinic on Thursday evening, Chida Shihan set the tone for what was to follow over the next 4 days. Basic techniques and basic movements were to be his focus. While on Thursday we worked on the fundamentals of tenchi nage (heaven and earth throw), on Friday we spent the majority of time on Kihon Dosa (basic movements). From Friday onwards, Chida Shihan showed just how the kihon dosa are in effect practice for the development of 'chushin' - the centre. In each instance he stressed the importance of first developing proper form. Once we have form, he said, we can then develop and maintain 'chushin'. Whether is was kamae (basic stance) or shumatsu dosa (after class exercises), Chida Shihan showed that by finding our centre and maintaining it throughout our movements we can develop immense power (chushin ryoku). As he demonstrated, this allows us to rely on the technique to overcome uke and not brute physical force.

Throughout the remaining clinics, Chida Shihan spent a good portion of time using basic techniques to illustrate this point. And he had a number of interesting ways of doing this. Of course, while most of us had fun trying to imitate what he did, actually getting it to work was something else altogether!

For example, there was irimi nage. Chida Shihan discussed the technique fully, stressing the importance for shite of keeping the shoulder down throughout the movement. Then he turned to a drill. Uke's job was to hold shite's arm up from below the elbow as shite tried to execute the technique. Well, of course the first thing that happened was that everyone raised their shoulders to try and overcome uke!

And then there was the drill he did for ikkajo. This was the one where shite and uke face each other with their arms extended as though executing a front strike. With arms crossed just below the wrist, the idea was to push forward and unbalance your partner - while they tried to do the same thing to you. How fast did you get pushed off line? How fast did your shoulder come up? How long did it take before you started to feel the tension in your body and then tried to rely on muscle power to move each other? Yeah, me too. Even in this drill though, I think Chida Shihan's point was the same - if you have a strong centre and a strong kamae, you should technically be able to control uke from this position.

Another example that comes to mind is nikajo. I had the pleasure of taking uke for Chida Shihan as he demonstrated and explained Katamochi Nikajo Osae - Ichi (Shoulder Grasp, Second Control Pin, #1). So fine. I grasped his shoulder and pulled strongly. He moved to the side and delivered a sharp atemi. I tried to get a look at what he did next, but all I remember is my feet coming up into the air and then my body hitting the mats - all in about one tenth of a second. It wasn't until he explained the movement slowly that I had a chance to see just what he did. After the atemi, he simply took his kamae position, expanded his chest, and slid forward from his front knee. That was it. Even slowly, as he explained his movements and waited for the translation, I was completely locked. I felt like I was trying to hold up a refrigerator. And then he said it again. "It's easy. Just relax. Try it!"

OK. So I rushed back to my partner, James Lau, and we tried it along with the rest of the group. James faithfully  followed the movements, took his kamae, and applied the nikajo. At this point - while we were both looking at each other wondering why it wasn't working - Chida Shihan slipped behind James and gently put his foot behind James' knee. He then pushed forward slightly on his knee and, well, down I went again. Chida Shihan smiled at us and I asked him why pushing down on James' knee had the effect that it did. All he said was, "Too stiff." We didn't feel too stupid, really.

These are the types of drills and exercises that defined the clinics. There are too many to list here, but in each instance I can recall Chida Shihan saying just how easy these things were as we all struggled to make them work. And then he would say that it was really just kamae and that it was important to relax. Over and over in any number of different ways, Chida Shihan was able to convey this message.

Ultimately, this was the big lesson of the clinics. Every time we train we hear it. Relax. Relax. Relax. Kimeda Sensei is forever telling us this during our regular practice. And now we hear the same thing from Chida Shihan - but do we do it? We probably tell ourselves that we are doing it! But as many of the drills from these clinics pointed out, we really are not. All of the techniques and movements that Chida Shihan demonstrated were as 'basic' as they come. But still, every one of us had trouble making them work. Moral of the story? Stick to the basics and train hard at them! If you can't do the basic stuff, why are you messing around with the fancy stuff?

I think it is safe to speak for all those who attended the clinics and say that we truly look forward to seeing Chida Shihan in the near future. His teaching style and manner was appreciated by all. Also, it is important to recognize our gratitude to Kimeda Sensei for inviting him to AYC and allowing us all to have such a wonderful experience.

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I must add a bit of a disclaimer. Although I do not know Robert Twigger I know many of the people involved in the book. I have met a number of the Japanese senseis and have trained with and under a number of the foreign teachers. I have also had the opportunity to be a senior in a dojo when a senshusei returns. Many of the people in this book have been a big part of my Aikido life, so for me, it has been an interesting dilemma of viewing them in a different mirror.

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David Ho - I have been a student of Kimeda Sensei for over 18 years now. I started my Aikido training in 1980 when I was 20 years old. At that time, our club was temporarily operating out of U of T's Hart House while our main dojo at the corner of Queen Street and Jarvis was being renovated due to a recent fire. Next to Enore Gardonio, I am Kimeda Sensei's 2nd longest serving current and active student. Over the past 18 years I have trained a minimum of at least 4 times a week (5 times a week in my late 20's). It has also been my honour and privilege to have served on 2 previous executive club committees as Vice-President and finally as President. Today, I am still a student of Kimeda Sensei and I am still learning from him.

Yoshin - What were things like in those old days?

David Ho - "Those old days", you make it sound like AYC was in its infancy. Well, 'way back' then, our club was part of AYANA (Aikido Yoshinkai Association of North America) with Kushida Sensei, (then 8th Dan) in Ann Arbour, Michigan, as President. Kimeda Sensei was Vice President of AYANA and Chief Instructor for Canada. Our curriculum (kyu techniques) were those developed by AYANA. In 1986, AYC (Aikido Yoshinkai Canada) separated from AYANA and became a separate entity with Kushida Sensei's blessing. The curriculum consisted of more in depth techniques than our current requirements. For example, 6th Kyu (yellow belt) consisted of 12 techniques which included the 7 basics and breakfalls #1 and #2. There was also a higher failure rate for kyu and dan testing, needless to say.

Our club was smaller in both premises and students, as compared to our current situation. We shared a judo dojo with Hatashita Sensei. As subtenants, our training was limited to 1 1/2 hours each class, two nights per week and weekends, with a combined senior and junior class for the first hour, then seniors for the last half hour. The tempo of the training was faster and intense to make full use of our limited time. The small student number created an excellent atmosphere and synergy for learning. We were,as a collective, a very close group of seniors and juniors. Since very few new members joined and stayed, we developed a solid nucleus of very disciplined students with a strong desire to constantly improve our level of training. My seniors were Mustard Sensei and Thompson Sensei (Alister). They were and still are a great source of inspiration and help. They both have the ability to instill fear and bring out the best in your training just by looking at you. A common element back then, as it is now, is elbow power #5, the raising of a beverage at a local bar afterwards.

Yoshin - Are there any current students who were also around at that time?

David Ho - The only current and active student that is still with Kimeda Sensei when I joined in 1980 is Enore Gardonio, although his hair is a lot whiter now. There were other former students at that time who have now started their own clubs like Mustard Sensei, Thompson Sensei and Stewart Sensei. Also, there have been some students who joined a few years after me that have re-surfaced after an extended absence.

Yoshin - How has the club changed since you started?

David Ho - Three Dojos later and a greater student body is the big difference since the first bow onto the mats. (Better showers and change facilities help too). Although the kyu techniques have been streamlined to help develop a new nucleus of students into the next millennium, the heart and spirit of our club is and continues to be Kimeda Sensei. His passion and energy has not waivered or waned since my first class when he said, "make one mistake during test and I will not pass you". Yes, students have come and gone and come back and gone again, but at the centre of our club is a constant. These are the students who have remained loyal to Kimeda Sensei in the true tradition of the budo spirit. Change is part of the growing process, but my personal belief is that all students, past and present, have benefited from their Aikido training under Kimeda Sensei, whose core value remains the same, to train hard.

Yoshin - Why did you start studying Aikido?

David Ho - There is no particular reason why I started training under Kimeda Sensei. In retrospect, it was a series of fortunate events that led me to Aikido. My friend, Dr. Bun Lum, who in 1980 was already a 3rd kyu in Aikido and a 3rd dan in Karate under Tsuruoka Sensei, invited me to watch both an Aikido class and a karate class at their respective dojos. I did not give it further thought until a month later when Dr. Lum asked me, "what's it going to be, Aikido or Karate?". After a slight pause, I said "Door #1 (Aikido)." My decision at that time was based solely on the fact that I remembered the Karate dojo was very crowded and quite small while the Aikido dojo at Queen and Jarvis had mats for protection (I'm very delicate) and was more spacious with a smaller number of students. So that summer in 1980, I signed up and I have been a member ever since.

Yoshin - Have you done any other martial arts before?

David Ho - Before Aikido I participated in high school sports only and not much else. Since I started Aikido with no previous martial arts experience, you could say that I started with Shoshin (editor - "beginner's mind"). The only other martial art which I studied for 3 1/2 years in 1992 was Iaido under Ohmi Sensei at our current dojo, when it was first offered as a supplement to Aikido training. Iaido has greatly influenced my personal development in all aspects of Aikido kumitachi and kumijo kata techniques. ... Is the Tao of Golf considered a martial art? Other than Aikido, golf is my passion.

Yoshin - What changes do you notice in Aikido Yoshinkai techniques from the old days?

David Ho - Again, with those "old days" gone by, the most noticeable change is not the techniques itself, but in their execution. A nikajo is still a nikajo. Since 1988, our club has had the privilege and honour of hosting clinics by various Honbu chief instructors (i.e. Shioda Sensei, Chida Sensei, Inoue Sensei and Takeno Sensei). After these clinics, there is a prevailing mood among some of our students, myself included, to investigate the methodology of the techniques' execution. Each visiting Sensei has demonstrated that, in their opinion, there is a different key point or points to each basic technique. My personal thought is that these great Sensei's were highly influenced by Shioda Sensei at various times in his career, during his tenure at the Honbu headquarters. During their respective time with Shioda Sensei, they were able to isolate key points within a technique that have benefited their own physique, style and development of Aikido. These great Senseis are now imparting their knowledge to those that wish to learn.

So really, in my opinion, there is no relevant change in the foundation of Yoshinkai basic techniques, from which other advanced techniques are derived from, but a more evolved method of execution unique to an individual. An apple is an apple no matter how you slice it.

Yoshin - You are currently Yondan (4th degree black belt). I understand that the dan tests used to be a lot different when you took your Shodan (1st degree) test?

David Ho - The process for black belt grading from Shodan to Yondan is no different than it is now. Grading for black belts in those "good old days" only separated passionate and serious Aikido training from recreational Aikido training, but this is also the case today for individuals.

A mere explanation of the differences in techniques or that there were periods of intense training in preparation and periods of focus during grading will not do them justice and I will not attempt to do so here in respect for those that have been there. All students that grade for any level of black belt will experience their own physical limits and triumphs. A description of what it felt like or what it takes is equivalent to rehashing old high school track and field days. One has to personally experience that AYC period to fully appreciate its significance and impact. I prefer to look forward to future goals and accomplishments instead of reminiscing of the past.

Up to 1990, previous black belt requirements contained a curriculum with more techniques. All students who have graded for black belt will have experienced both tangible and intangible results and benefits. I personally believe that since I am a product of that period, it has greatly influenced my development and understanding of Aikido dynamics.

Yoshin - You have seen many new students start over the years. What advice can you give to a new student entering the club.

David Ho - My personal thoughts are:

David Ho - Firstly, please re-read my thoughts regarding the previous question. Secondly, there are no common errors, we all make mistakes, especially me. This is why we train.

My personal thoughts for the seniors are:

This brings in mind a question, what is a "club"? Often I hear people who join a gym say they are joining a club. Really this type of club is a commercial enterprise. The gymnastics club my daughters were interested in and our own Aikido Yoshinkai Canada are a different type of club. AYC is a non-profit organization. It is a club run by and for its members. In my mind, this means that there is a different relationship between a member and his/her non-profit club and a member of his/her for-profit club.

In a non-profit club, there are duties and obligations on both the club and its members. In the case of the gymnastics club, these duties were set at a 3 to 1 ratio of time enjoying the benefits of the club and fulfilling the obligations of operating the club.

At the AYC headquarters, we do not ask much of our members. However, it is a good idea to think of the principles of what is a "club" when it is time to pay dues, when we use the bathroom, shower and changing facilities, when there is an opportunity to help clean the dojo, when we complain or when we need help in running a special event or the club itself.

This club does not run by itself, yet everyone enjoys the benefits of the club. My observations are that Kimeda Sensei and a few individuals do almost all of the work around the dojo.

If you have the time, please see if there is anything that you can do to help run the club. If you see someone working for the club, remember to smile and thank them.

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