"Yoshin" - The Newsletter of Aikido Yoshinkai Canada

September 1999 Edition

Deborah - I started training at AYC in 1980. When I started the club was located at Queen and Jarvis. It was a great location but showing signs of wear and tear. Enore Gardonio is the only person presently training who was with the club when I joined. At that time I was a shodan in karate but was looking for a change, not so much in the martial art, but more the philosophy behind the martial art. I tried to train in both aikido and karate for a couple of months, just to make sure I was making the right decision, but I didn't find the two compatible. My decision was to train in aikido and I've never regretted that decision.

I took a break from aikido in the late '80s after incurring a bad knee injury which prevented me from training. During this period I completed my BA at York University. In 1992 a friend asked me to accompany him to an aikido demonstration being given by Kimeda Sensei at Central Tech. The demonstration was a reminder of where I should be so I signed up the next day and have been back at the dojo full time since then.

Yoshin - Congratulations on your recent promotion to Yondan (4th degree blackbelt). Can you tell us what it means to you as a woman to reach such a level?

Deborah - Thank you. I'm very proud to have attained the level of yondan in AYC for a couple of reasons. First, there is a personal sense of achievement. Testing at a senior level tends to be as much psychological as physical, so the demands for training are different. Regular practice is extremely important and generates a continual process of growth, but the intense training required for testing is what makes you really push to improve and helps to increase your knowledge.

Secondly, as you mentioned, there are not many senior ranking females in Yoshinkan aikido. As far as I know, Sue Jeanette, of the Aiki Centre in Windsor, is the only woman to attain the level of godan. I think it's important for women to see that they too can reach senior levels in aikido. It's a predominantly male activity and women need tangible evidence that there's room for them further up the ladder.

Yoshin - Do you feel that women in general face any special challenges in studying Aikido?

Deborah - I think that women face basically the same challenges as men. If you are naturally co-ordinated, the learning process will be easier. Aikido is a complex martial art. I tell beginners that it's like learning a new language. First you learn words (basics), then you learn phrases (techniques) and eventually you're able to put it all together and produce sentences . Also, different people learn in different ways. Some visualize, some learn hands on, some are highly analytical and feel they can only do the techniques when they understand them - but this isn't a gender issue.

I think that if a woman has decided to study a martial art, to some extent she has come to terms with the fact that there will be substantial physical contact . This is the first hurdle. Next is that she will be causing/experiencing pain - in a controlled environment. Thirdly that she will eventually be thrown. I always recommend that a beginner, of either sex, watch a class so that they have a better idea of what they're getting into. I think that women feel more positive about joining a club when there are other women on the mat.

Size and weight shouldn't have any bearing on the decision to take aikido. In Japan it's known as the "Woman's Budo" because effective technique can be achieved without the use of muscle. One of the biggest challenges will be breakfalls and that often depends on whether the person is reasonably fit - good stomach muscles are a bonus when it comes to breakfalls.

Yoshin - What about advantages? Do women have any advantages in studying the art? (eg. patience, multi-tasking, lower centre of gravity, smarter!!!)

Deborah - Umm, again this is a pretty individual thing. Women definitely have the advantage of less muscle. As a result, they learn faster whether a technique is working or not. They can't use muscle or weight to make it happen. Generally men can make a technique work by using muscle or weight to unbalance uke or to throw them. This doesn't mean that women don't make the same mistake as men in trying, at some point, to use muscle. The use of muscle is a natural response to either the inability to make a technique work effectively and/or inability to understand how the technique works. Women do have the benefit of a lower centre of gravity which, when used properly, permits them greater stability.

Based on feedback from a number of men in the club, women often train harder for their tests and have higher expectations of themselves.

Yoshin - In addition to being a women, you are also a small person. How has this affected your aikido techniques? Do small people have any advantages or disadvantages in Aikido?

Deborah - I think height, or in my case lack of height, definitely impacts on how I do aikido techniques. Some techniques work better for taller people some better for shorter ones. An example of a technique highly suitable for a smaller person is shiho nage, where shite has to get under uke's balance. I've seen many a tall person (as shite) practically on their knees when doing this technique with a short uke. Your size should determine the size of your movement, but always in relationship to your partner. I have been fortunate in that Kimeda Sensei has guided me in how to adapt techniques to make them more effective in relation to my height and size.

A definite disadvantage is when working with shite who doesn't take into account uke's size and height when doing a technique. This is especially noticeable during kakari geiko. Shite throws one person, say who weighs 200 lbs.+ and is 6 ft. tall, they then use the same amount of power/muscle to throw the next person who is 5 ft. and weighs just over 100 lbs. This reflects a lack of experience or knowledge on the part of shite in their inability to adjust their technique according to their uke. This is very common at a junior level when shite is just trying to deal with the technique itself, and not relating to uke.

Yoshin - It appears to me that women seem to drop out of aikido at a higher rate than men. Do you have any thoughts on why this happens? Is there anything that we as members can help to keep our women aikidoka?

Deborah - I'm not sure that women do actually drop out more than men. As there are fewer women in the first place, I think it's more noticeable when they do drop out. There is a high attrition rate for beginners in aikido. How it compares to other martial arts I don't know. I think the main factor for people dropping out is frustration. Those who pick up the basics relatively easily tend to stay longer. Those who have great difficulty tend to drop out. If those who are frustrated aren't encouraged and supported during this early phase, they feel isolated and somewhat incompetent. People often start aikido thinking that they will pick it up quickly but from my experience that generally isn't the way.

It's the responsibility of the fellow students to help these people - after all we've all been there and it's healthy for the ego to remember how inadequate you felt at that level.

It's also important to make new students feel welcome and part of the club; beginners often feel isolated. It's natural that friendships develop as students progress through the ranks. However, the new student can easily feel left out if no-one makes the effort to include them in conversations or activities. The fact that aikido is hierarchical in it's structure also creates a distance between beginners and other students. The responsibility to make new students feel welcome belongs to us all.

Yoshin - In recent years, you have taken a large role in the club's executive. Can you fill us in on what issues and activities the club's executive has been undertaking.

Deborah - Yes, the last couple of years have certainly been busy ones for the Executive Committee. We've organized two clinics with Chida Sensei, the 35th anniversary demonstration for Kimeda Sensei, the Cranes donation in celebration of Sensei's 35th anniversary and development of a Code of Conduct as well as the day to day administration of the dojo. Next year's activities are still tentative. Potentials are a clinic with Takano Sensei and/or a trip to Germany.

I'd like to take this opportunity to mention that the Executive Committee would never be successful in it's endeavours if it wasn't for the tremendous help we receive from volunteers in the dojo. A heartfelt Thank You to all of those people. Craig Deveau has been the major contributor to web developments - not just for AYC but also for other Yoshinkan dojos. Last year Michael Cook and his merry band of volunteers developed the best Christmas party - we're hoping they'll aspire to outdo themselves this year!

Yoshin - Any final thoughts?

Deborah - As a final thought, I'd like to say "Never take your aikido training for granted". AYC students are privileged to train under Kimeda Sensei. Through Sensei we have benefited from his years of dedicated training both in Japan and North America. Through his association with the Hombu dojo in Japan we are able to offer clinics with the top ranking aikido instructors. As individuals we can acknowledge and appreciate his contribution by training hard and to the best of our ability; honouring the spirit and letter of the Code of Conduct, helping to maintain the dojo and generally making AYC a positive experience.

The highest ranking North American instructor in Yoshinkai Aikido, Takeshi Kimeda Sensei, was greeted warmly June 4 at the start of a three-day clinic in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The anticipation and expectations of students of all levels at the Shuwakan dojo in Indianapolis were ballooning as they polished their etiquette, honed their focus, and painted and washed their dojo. With one month to go before Kimeda Sensei's visit, we talked about training with focus and energy, and then we practiced it. Seniors told juniors, "What will be evident to the observer who knows nothing about Aikido is your energy level, your focus and your intent. Train hard."

Kimeda Sensei had agreed to conduct a series of workshops at the 12-year-old Indianapolis dojo, and to give a public demonstration at a nearby public school gym. An 8th dan, he has run schools in Toronto for almost 40 years.

Again and again, students practiced moving together in Kihondosa Rensuku (United Basic Movements) as they prepared for their part in the demonstration. Senior students polished their fast technique-slow technique patterns. Two students with less than a month of Aikido practice cast aside worries and decided they too would be in the demonstration.

A dozen students moved toward their chosen tasks. Fluorescent tubes were replaced, hotel and restaurant reservations made, food planned for and bought, floors and walls were painted, a special gift was arranged for Sensei. Energy among students mounted …and then was met by the almost boundless energy from Kimeda Sensei.

The schedule called for a senior rank class on Friday evening, Saturday morning class to include children, a Saturday afternoon class, then the public demonstration at a nearby school gym. The weekend would end with a Sunday morning class. More than 40 of the school's students attended including more than a dozen black belts. Guest yudansha came from Toronto and from Lexington, Kentucky including Keisuke Mizuno Sensei, 5th dan.

As Kimeda Sensei began his first clinic, several things became apparent. He had put much thoughtful study into this - his life's work, he was happy and eager to share what he knew, and he had no need for pomp to distance himself from others. Everything seemed for him to be interesting and important: from folding a hakama properly to correct sword movements. And indeed, it was apparent that everything was all part of a life's study.

He cautioned students to not copy all his movements exactly, as some were his evolution of movements after much thought and reflection. Rather, he said, study what your own teachers show. His actions taught another lesson: be a thoughtful student, someone seeking to grow, not entrenched and demanding things be your way.

The Shuwakan's head instructors, Chris Howey and Evelyn Dysarz, both 5th dan and married to each other, invited Kimeda Sensei to the Indianapolis dojo to enable their students to benefit from the same type of training they had in their early years in Aikido. Chris and Evelyn began their training in Detroit in 1973 under Takashi Kushida, a gifted teacher and Aikidoka.

As the 6 p.m., public demonstration neared, the temperature was a humid 90 degrees, the town's basketball team was on TV in the playoffs, and Billy Graham was preaching to thousands downtown for free. And the school's air conditioning and loud speaker systems weren't working.

Despite the heat and difficulty in hearing, the hardy and attentive audience watched as the students - including the two 10th kyus- showed the classical and powerful Yoshinkai form. As Kimeda Sensei and his student, Enore Gardoni, began the second part of the demonstration with the slow, focused movements of an Iaido kata, a glimpse of another time and another place glimmered for the 100+ onlookers.

The Shuwakan dojo is affiliated with the International Yoshinkan Aikido Federation (IYAF). The school is both non profit, and tax exempt. Its Aikido teachers all volunteer without pay. It can be reached at its website under its incorporated name: www.aikiconcepts.com.

Students kept thinking, "Thank goodness, we're taping all this," as Kimeda Sensei energetically showed yet another technique at Sunday's clinic. After the clinic time expired, he quickly shared yet another kata. We were in overload, but the video camera would capture it.

We did many things that weekend. Some we would immediately understand and adopt, some we would not understand and likely forget how to do, all would cause us to think and to grow. The big message, though, came through loud and clear, and visibly inspired students for weeks after: study hard and study well. Thank you.

In 1990 Kimeda Sensei organized a big public demonstration at Ryerson Polytechnic (as it was then was) and the main attraction was Gozo Shioda Sensei himself. On this occasion Reubens Sensei acted as translator for Shioda Sensei. Some of you may have seen the professionally produced video of this demonstration.

Reubens Sensei had lived for many years in Japan and trained with Shioda Sensei. His dojo is located opposite the West Hampstead underground station and is not exactly what I expected when I showed up for the first class. It is actually a large converted garage and at this time of year unheated. It is however air-conditioned. This is achieved by throwing open the door and all the windows! The mats are laid down directly on to the concrete floor and believe me they are hard! So the next time you are moved to complain about training conditions at AYC headquarters, think of the Meidokan Dojo.

Although almost all of the techniques taught are familiar, the style of Reubens Sensei's class is quite different. Most of the teaching is done in Japanese. During the warm up exercises the students shout out every second and third count after the class leader. This develops a good class spirit. Reubens Sensei conducts a high spirited and dynamic class. Although he conducts separate classes for juniors and seniors it was hard for me to tell the difference. On my first class, a junior class, we practiced techniques that involved flips and also suwari waza!

Reubens Sensei is currently selling copies of the book Total Aikido-The Master Course by Gozo Shioda and his son Yasuhisa Shioda and translated from the Japanese by Reubens Sensei. This is an excellent book that I highly recommend. It gives very good descriptions of many techniques complete with detailed drawings and pictures. What I appreciate about the book is the list of common mistakes that accompanies each technique. This is invaluable for improving one's techniques. If you only buy one book on Aikido I would strongly recommend this one.

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All of the functions surrounding this year's celebrations were sold out well in advance and were attended by a variety of local and international students and teachers. Once again, Robert Mustard Sensei came in from Vancouver to attend and translate, David Fryberger came from New York, Nick Mills' dojo from Mississauga was well represented as were Yoshinkan dojo from as far away as San Francisco and Philadelphia.

Our special guest again this year was Aikido Yoshinkai World Headquarters Chief Instructor, Chida Shihan, who traveled all the way from Japan to be with us. Chida Shihan, of course, was our guest last year in a series of similar clinics held at AYC. This year, while many of his clinics may have seemed similar on the surface, there was a certain depth that came across that was probably due to the relaxed atmosphere, which pervaded each of Chida Shihan's classes. In fact, this was one of the most enjoyable things about this years' clinics: both during his classes and afterwards, Chida Shihan seemed to be quite at ease. He was almost always accessible, always approachable, whether it was to answer questions or just share time.

Also, and I'm not sure whether to attribute this to the relaxed atmosphere, or an improvement in our attention span as students, but it seemed that Chida Shihan was able to clearly communicate specific technical details regarding the techniques and how to make them work. Each of his classes were extremely clear and to the point. "This is what we're going to do. This is how you do it - exactly. Now try it out!" And, not surprisingly, I could see that many students were actually able to "get it". No mystery.

Overall, the underlying lessons that Chida Shihan focused on throughout the 5 days included the importance of making big movements, of maintaining a strong center, of executing proper uke, and of circling around uke's power when acting as shite. In each instance, Chida Shihan gave clear demonstrations of his point and then led us through specific drills designed to enhance the likelihood that we might come to "feel" just what he was talking about.

On Saturday afternoon, a public demonstration was held at Ryerson Polytechnic University. The event was opened by a moving performance by the Japanese drumming group, Yakudo, who set the mood for the dramatic demonstrations to follow. Next, after welcoming comments, Kimeda Sensei was presented with a special gift on behalf of the students of AYC. In recognition of his tireless efforts introducing and spreading the art of Aikido here in Canada, Mr. Sid Ikeda, President of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Center, presented Kimeda Sensei with a commemorative letter marking his induction into the Cranes National Tribute. The Cranes National Tribute is a powerful work of art permanently housed at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Center. It incorporates dedications to 2,000 people and organizations and is a celebration of the Japanese Canadian community at the millennium.

The demonstration itself, along with Kimeda Sensei and Chida Shihan, included the area's top instructors from the arts of Karate-do, Judo, Iaido, and Jodo. Over a two-hour period, the more than 500 spectators were treated to a superb display of Japanese martial arts. To close the afternoon, Chida Shihan gave a brief but dynamic free style demonstration and then Kimeda Sensei gave a broad ranging demonstration of basic principles, weapons techniques and free style. Needless to say, the packed auditorium did not leave without a lasting impression!

It should be noted that an event such as this does not happen by accident. A great number of people volunteer a great deal of work and they should all be commended for their contributions. While it is impossible to name everyone, the Board of Directors would like to thank you all for your dedication. You should know that Kimeda Sensei deeply appreciates your efforts.

Finally, don't forget that a professionally edited video of the clinics is now available!!! There are 2 tapes in the package and they cover all of Chida Shihan's teachings over the five days as well as the complete demonstrations of both Chida Shihan and Kimeda Sensei. Each of the techniques taught by Chida Shihan is clearly demonstrated and easily visible. Both tapes in the set serve as wonderful mementos of Kimeda Sensei's 35th Anniversary, and have the added bonus of being extremely insightful learning resources.

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