"Yoshin" - The Newsletter of Aikido Yoshinkai Canada

March 1999 Edition

Kimeda Sensei - When I went to Meiji Gaikuin University, I was interested in Karate, but the club was not operating, so I joined Aikido during orientation. I didn’t know anything about Aikido and later found out what Aikido was all about.

Yoshin - Had you heard of Aikido before?

Kimeda Sensei - Never.

Yoshin - Was the University Club large?

Kimeda Sensei - At that time there were about 50 - 60 students.

Yoshin - What is the difference between the kind of Aikido that was practiced back then and what we are doing now?

Kimeda Sensei - Back then, we didn't have a permanent dojo, so we couldn't practice inside everyday. We used to practice outside in a field after class. We would do push-ups, jogging and physical exercise. We also used to practice a lot of kicking and punching. Every day we would do 2-3 hours of training. Since we were all young people, our Aikido was a lot more physical.

At first, I had trouble keeping up with the rest of the class, so in my second year, I started to do extra training at the Aikido Yoshinkan Headquarters Dojo (Hombu Dojo) during the evening. When I was in my third year, I was chosen as the captain of the University Aikido Club, so I was teaching as well as running the club. At that time I was a shodan (first degree black belt). By the time I graduated, I had my sandan (third degree black belt).

Yoshin - What was the training like at the Aikido Yoshinkan Headquarters at that time?

Kimeda Sensei - At that time, headquarters had only been open about 6 years. So Yoshinkan Aikido was quite new. Gozo Shioda (Kancho Sensei) had started Yoshinkan Aikido at that time. The phases of martial art development are Go, Ju, Ru, Ki (strength, flexibility, flowing, xx). At that time, we were very much in our Go phase, so the Aikido was very strong and hard. This was true for both the techniques and the exercises as well.

Yoshin - When you finished University what did you do?

Kimeda Sensei - I was going to join my father in his business, but I had a friend who wanted to go to the United States. So I went along with him. He was an English major in university, so he spoke very good English. I didn't speak a word of English at that time. At that time, it was not easy for Japanese people to enter the United States without a reason, so I asked Kancho Sensei for permission to go to the United States to be an Aikido instructor. He agreed, so I was able to get a visa and went to Los Angeles. At that time, I really didn't want to teach, it was the only way I could get a visa. I really wanted to be a tourist and explore for a few years and then go home. However, before long we ran out of money and had to start teaching. We started in Los Angeles, went to New York and Detroit. In Detroit, we met the son of the Mayor of Dearborn Michigan, who is a yondan in Judo. We formed a partnership and started a judo/aikido school. Later, I went to Los Angeles and taught at a club that was started by an American who was teaching Yoshinkan Aikido. I taught 7 days a week. I had immigration problems at that time and couldn't stay in the United States anymore. Another university friend who had since joined me came with me to Toronto to see if there were any opportunities there. We met a kendo instructor, Nakamura Sensei, who introduced us to the father of Canadian Karate, Tsuruoka Sensei. After we did a demonstration for them, they offered to let us stay at Tsuruoka Sensei's house, while we got established. So in 1964, I moved to Toronto. Tsuruoka Sensei had a dojo near Yonge and Bloor, so we went and taught there. This was the beginning of Aikido in Canada. I think we were the first people to teach Aikido in Canada.

Yoshin - What happened then?

Kimeda Sensei - I stayed for about four years. My parents called me. They wanted me to come back to Japan and join my father's business. I tried it out for a while, but it didn't work out. At that time I asked Kancho Sensei if I could come to the Hombu Dojo as an Uchi Deshi (live-in) student, so that I could get additional training. I stayed there for about 9 months before I came back to Canada.

Yoshin - What was it like to be a live-in student?

Kimeda Sensei - It's quite different. At that time, there were many excellent instructors at the Hombu Dojo. My instructors were Kushida Sensei and Inoue Sensei. At that time Chida Sensei (the present chief instructor at the Hombu dojo) had not yet started Aikido. His predecessor, as chief instructor, was just a white belt. There were about 10 uchi deshi and 15 riot police force live-in students. We lived, slept and trained in one large room. We would train 5 times a day, 6 days a week. Once a week Kancho Sensei would hold special Kenshu instruction classes. We learned quite a lot. It was hard, but very fun. We would also train with the regular classes as well.

Yoshin - Would you say that it was a big period of growth for your Aikido?

Kimeda Sensei - Yes, it was one of the most important times for training in my Aikido career. I had been gone for some time without an instructor so it was a great opportunity to re-train myself all over again. I corrected many of my faults and learned many new things, so I had a lot of confidence when I came back to Canada.

Yoshin - What happened when you came back to Toronto?

Kimeda Sensei - I lost most of my old students, so I had to start over again. After a while I invited Mits Kurasawa Sensei (currently 7th dan) to come to Canada. He is also currently located in Toronto and has a successful Aikido club. At that time, Takeshi Kushida Sensei, who was one of my most important teachers, also wanted to come to the United States. I arranged for him to come to the United States to the Detroit area. For the next twenty years, I trained under Kushida Sensei. I would go to Detroit about 15 times a year, spending 4 days to a week training with him. I really grew at that time. Studying with Kushida Sensei brought me into the floating stage of Aikido (Go - Strength, Ju - Flexible, Ryu - Floating). I also learned many weapons techniques (sword, knife, and staff) from Kushida Sensei. Thus my Aikido is a mixture of the strong traditional Hombu style of Yoshinkan Aikido and the floating style that I learned from Kushida Sensei. For the last 5 years, Aikido Yoshinkai Canada has been associated with the Hombu dojo, so I have not had the opportunity to train with Kushida Sensei any longer. But he was one of the most important teachers in my life.

Yoshin - You have often stressed in class how important it is for senior belts to continue to learn and grow by continuing to train with their masters even when they have left and started their own dojos.

Kimeda Sensei - Yes. You cannot train by yourself. You need to have someone tell you how bad you are doing, how good you are doing and how you can improve. The only way to learn well is from someone else. Continuing to learn from Kushida Sensei was a real benefit to me. Now I am a student in Iaido, under Ohmi Sensei. I always like to have someone, who is better than I am, to show me different martial arts or angles. It is important to learn feelings, mental challenges, respect and discipline from a teacher.

Yoshin - I understand that Kushida Sensei invented many of the weapons kata that we are practicing today?

Kimeda Sensei - Yes. Kushida Sensei created a tremendous number of weapons techniques. He was able to fit weapons movements into natural Aikido motions. He was able to create aiki-ken, aiki-jo and aiki-tanto movements. I really admire him. He is one of the most outstanding Aikido Grand Masters.

Yoshin - Who were the biggest influences in your Aikido career?

Kimeda Sensei - My Sempai (senior) Sasagawa Sempai introduced me to Aikido. Gozo Shioda Sensei was of course a major influence in my Aikido. Finally, all of my career, Kushida Sensei looked after me and guided me. These three Sensei are the most important people that I learned Aikido from. I appreciate everything that they did for me. In appreciation for what they have done for me, I would like to continue to promote Aikido and continue to train and grow.

Yoshin - Many of us have heard of Shioda Sensei and Kushida Sensei but I don't think many students have heard of Sasagawa Sempai.

Kimeda Sensei - Sasagawa Sempai was my senior. He started the Yoshinkan Aikido Club at my university. He brought senior sempai into the university club to teach the students. He was the first captain of the university club.

Yoshin - What are you most proud of in your 40 years of practice of Aikido?

Kimeda Sensei - I think that the spread of Aikido to Canada, the United States and the world is wonderful. I was able to participate in the early stages of bringing Aikido to North America. Many of the senior Aikido instructors in Canada in Yoshinkan and other styles trained under me as my students. The seeds that I have planted have sprouted and I am hoping that over the next ten or twenty years they will blossom and grow.

Yoshin - What do you see in the future for Yoshinkan Aikido in Canada?

Kimeda Sensei - There are now so many styles of Aikido, such as Yoshinkan, Aikikai, Tomiki, Ki Society and traditional Daito-Ryu. We have to be sure to strengthen what makes Yoshinkan different than the other styles. We also need to make sure that we keep the traditions that Gozo Shioda left with us. Gozo Shioda left us a legacy of a style of Aikido that was based on harmony, but was self-defense oriented. We are different from the other styles of Aikido due to the six basic movements that Shioda Sensei created: elbow power #1; elbow power #2; cross-step in body change; 95 degree pivot; after-class exercise #1; and after-class exercise #2. We also have our basic stance, which is different from any other Aikido group. We stand on our right side, in strong position. In North America, we added: 180 degree pivot cross-step back; cross-step 180 degree pivot shuffle back; and tai sabaki (body movements involving centrifugal force and centripetal force exercise). This makes a total of 9 basic movements. This is our basic Aikido alphabet. If we practice these every class, we create Yoshinkan Aikido forms, techniques and movements. Of all the things that Shioda Sensei left, the basic movements (Kihon Dosa) are the most important. The secret of success in Yoshinkan Aikido is the study of basic movements if we want to continue to grow.

If you go anywhere in the world the same basic movements are practiced in Yoshinkan Aikido. One of the strengths of Yoshinkan is that the same exercise, movements and techniques are practiced around the world. That is because it is easy to instruct and communicate these basic movements. This is the one big difference between Yoshinkan Aikido and other types of Aikido.

Yoshin - Is practicing the Kihon Dosa important for everyone?

Kimeda Sensei - Absolutely. We (including myself) have to remind ourselves that the Kihon Dosa are not just "forms". There is a purpose for the exercise. We have to remind ourselves how important these basic exercises are.

Yoshin - This past year, a number of your most senior students received promotions.

Kimeda Sensei - Everyone of them tried very hard to get their next belt. Enore Gardonio received his 6th dan. Philip Akin and David Ho received their 5th dans. They trained very hard for a year and a half for their tests. They were fantastic and did very nice tests. I am very proud of them. I am hoping that the other junior black belts will also train hard and follow their seniors.

Yoshin - This year marks the 40th anniversary of your involvement in Aikido and the 35th anniversary of Aikido Yoshinkai Canada. What special things do you have planned for this year to celebrate these occasions?

Kimeda Sensei - We wanted to do something special to mark these events. From June 30th to July 4th we will hold 5 days of clinics and a demonstration. We have invited Chida Sensei, the chief instructor of the Hombu Dojo, the headquarters of Yoshinkan Aikido around the world, to come from Japan. He will hold 5 days of clinics. On Saturday July 3rd we will hold a demonstration at Ryerson University, with Chida Sensei. We will invite all of my friends from other martial arts groups to celebrate with us. It is not a big thing, but it will remind ourselves of the blessings that we have had over the last 35 years. I hope we will continue to grow over the next 35 years.

Yoshin - Is there any message that you want to pass onto the students of Aikido Yoshinkai Canada?

Kimeda Sensei - I think that the key to doing Aikido is to enjoy practicing. The founder of Aikido, Ueshiba Morihei Sensei, said that Aikido is love, to care, to have concern for others and to have nice harmony and communicate. This is the way for us to train. If we train this way and carry this through to our everyday life, we have accomplished Aikido. Finally, I appreciate the support that everyone has given me over the past 35 years, and I hope that everyone continues to grow as a result.

With over 65 people in attendance, the event was a tremendous success and a great time was had by all. Working with a limited budget, a little creativity and imagination, and a lot of enthusiastic volunteers, event organizers successfully transformed the dojo into what was affectionately dubbed the "Club Aikido".

The evening started out with a nice reception, as we waited for all of the guests to arrive and for the food to be set out. This gave everyone a chance to mingle and to reminisce over the events of the past year, and of course, to make the obligatory trip or two (or three, or four, etc…) to the bar to fill up on some Christmas cheer!

Dinner was served in a buffet setting, and we were all treated to an eclectic selection of dishes that were prepared by various volunteers. The Japanese-style dinner tables gave everyone a chance to practice their seiza and anza techniques, once again reminding us of the many practical uses of Aikido in our daily lives.

When the meal was over, Kimeda Sensei was invited to say a few words to everyone, and to hand out the door prizes to all of the lucky ticket holders. Afterwards, Kimeda Sensei and Ohmi Sensei were presented with gifts from the Aikido and Iaido students, and the party was underway.

For the rest of the evening, the booming thunder of backward breakfalls gave way to the pounding musical beats of Latin, Meringue, Disco, retro 70's and 80's, and other various musical styles. The glowing disco ball and spotlights added a true nightclub effect, however there were many disappointed Aikidoka once they learned that these were not going to become permanent fixtures in the dojo! The evening was topped off with a Limbo contest. Congratulations to Arlene for her gravity-defying performance, and to Michael for his immeasurable enthusiasm (and for keeping all of his clothes on). The Limbo contest was followed up with a "power" clean-up session that went into the wee hours of the morning.

Many special thanks to event organizers Deborah, Michael and Philip, and to all of the other volunteers who helped to make this evening a memorable one - Andrew, Arlene, Cecilia, Clint, David H., David M., Eva, Gregory, Ian, Jacob, Jean, Jennifer, John, Kaja, Myrna, Pablo, Paulus, Sharry, Stella, Tanya, Tierra, Warren, William, and to anyone else who helped out with the event. We look forward to having an even bigger and better celebration in 1999.

I now believe that Aikido can add value to one's life with physical, mental and emotional benefits. When Aikido is combined with other aspects of our lives, students can exploit what is learned in a skilled manner in virtually any context they choose. Sometimes our beliefs are confirmed by this amalgamation and sometimes they are refuted. On the whole however, each time we integrate our practice and beliefs, a little more knowledge is gained.

Historically, most material on the use of Aikido has emphasized the harmonious dimension of the art. Training has and still is, largely focused on harmony-based approaches. All along however, there has been a practically-based school, one that has inherent appeal for those who are pragmatic minded.

Kimeda Sensei has endeavoured to respond to people's requests for an art that brings together aspects of self-defence with regard for one's health and well being. He has taken us deep into the world of Aikido, discussing basic and sophisticated techniques with the personality only he can exhibit.

This design results not solely from precedence of one discipline or another, but from a plethora of resources relating to martial art methods and sources that integrate Aikido with practical self defense and movement science. Key elements (basics) are explored and should be applied to almost any situation. They are road maps in that they show various paths and contain tips on preferred routes. However, as students, we must learn to choose from among the options to determine which will best blend with our existing Aikido and learning styles.

This refreshing approach by Kimeda Sensei challenges the student to understand the "why" of intervention methods instead of just the "how". Thus he seems to deliberately avoid rigid protocols. Basic techniques are expressed with detail to ensure superior outcomes, but as we progress, students are not required to adapt to any sort of dogma or fixed intervention sequence. This is best understood from the Shodan level on. Much studying needs to be done by all of us to determine optimal methods of passing on the expertise and knowledge that Sensei has so willingly shared. My hope is that we will be challenged to think through the ideas and incorporate into practice those that resonate. It is my bias that in this process, each student will realize the potential of the combination of Aikido's practice and theories, that has been forwarded to us by Kimeda Sensei. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be his student and will endeavor to continue my study of Aikido with the spirit that he has instilled in many of us.

If you're afraid, then you're tense. If you're tense your muscles will be tight and your movements won't flow. This is especially noticeable when doing breakfalls as the body jars on impact rather than absorbing the impact.

Surprise in the dojo is usually a result of not paying attention. If you are not concentrating on the techniques being practiced then you are not focused; this too can lead to injury.

Doubt is often rooted in a lack of confidence, lack of knowledge and occasionally a lack of natural ability. The student should strive to learn the techniques practiced at his/her level.

As in all things, Aikido is a process of growth. A natural flexibility and sense of coordination will help the student, however some people just don't have these. The warm-up exercise are designed to help stretch and strengthen the body and to focus the mind for the class ahead. The basic movements practiced in each class are to reinforce their importance relative to any technique and to make them second nature to the student. Some will have more difficulty than others in executing these movements with flow, focus and control. The only way to achieve this is through practice. As the student improves, so will their level of confidence, thus reducing or eliminating doubt.

A prime area for injury is when either shite or uke hesitates when practicing a technique. If shite hesitates then it is difficult for uke to follow, there is a lack of harmony and continuity of movement. If there is no commitment in a throw at the end of a technique, then uke may have difficulty in executing an effective breakfall or flip. These imbalances are potentials for injury.

If uke hesitates, then she/he will be moving too slowly for shite's actions and so will not be positioned correctly. When uke lags behind shite, this too can lead to injury as uke is unprepared and out of sync.

There is certain etiquette in Aikido designed to avoid injury.

Firstly you train at your uke's level. If the uke is junior, then you train at that person's level (also taking into consideration their natural ability) not your own.

It is shite's responsibility to keep an eye out for uke. This is especially important when practicing throwing techniques in a crowded dojo, or during kagerikako.

When visiting another dojo, train their way. Don't try and force your techniques on their students as they may not react in the way you anticipate. Keep an open mind. In the reverse, if you have been training away from your home dojo, don't enforce the techniques learned away on the home students, unless approved by Sensei. Sensei is the one who determines which style and techniques are to be practiced in the dojo.

Other ways to avoid injury are to maintain or develop a strong and healthy body. If you are tired or unwell, don't practice but watch the class. Much can be learned by watching others practice.

Many of the muscles used in Aikido are not used in everyday life. In order to keep them strong and flexible, you need regular practice.

If you are injured and depending on the severity of the injury, seek medical advice (sports clinics are generally more compatible to the mindset of people who work out regularly than many family doctors). Again, depending on the injury, if you can't practice you can learn by watching so make an effort to come to class, even though at times it may be a frustrating experience.

Finally, injuries can have both physical and mental origins. Most people will have an injury at some time during their training, however, if a student develops a reputation for causing injuries, the problem may be more one of attitude than technique.

Train in good health and watch out for your uke.
 

Return to Top