Aikido

Kitsap Aikido

http://www.journaled.com/MA/Aikido/KitsapAikido

One very important element of our lives is Aikido. Dan had been training for almost 10 years when Kalen met him at the Berkeley Aikikai in December, 1983. At that time, Dan had attained the rank of Nidan, or 2nd degree Blackbelt. Kalen trained for almost 3 years, and took her Nikyu (2 levels below Blackbelt) test when she was six months pregnant with Brendan, in the fall of 1986. After moving to Washington in 1991, Dan was without a dojo to train at, until he started his own in 1994. Kalen resumed her training in the summer of 2000.

Kitsap Aikido practices at the Kingston Community Center and Dan has several students who are almost ready for their Blackbelt tests. While on the Odyssey, Dan has left the dojo in the capable hands of senior student Lewie Clark, assisted by Albert Furst, Michael Westphal and Jason Parker.

Dan would like to share some history with you, to let you all know what Aikido is all about, and what it means to him:

It is a good time to write a little about a training that has occupied a great portion of my life for the past twenty-five years. The martial practice of Aikido is at its best a way of transformation for an individual. The founder of the art was a man named Morihei Ueshiba. Aikidoists call him O’Sensei, or great teacher. He was probably the pre-eminent martial artist of his time in Japan, but what has marked his life as historic was his taking an ancient fighting form and making it relevant to all levels of complex twentieth century life. He died in 1969 at the age of 86, still teaching, still growing. He left his “way of harmony” to those who would follow, to develop it under the leadership of his son, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, and now his grandson, Moriteru Ueshiba. It is a testament to the power of O’Sensei’s personality that people from all walks of life, all over the world, can read his writings, practice his art, and feel a personal connection with the founder. Although I began my training in 1976 after O’Sensei’s death, I feel very lucky to have met and trained with his son and grandson. The second and third doshus (leaders) of Aikido have carried on the tradition and nurtured the growth of this fascinating art with a felicity born of love.

Ai (harmony, cooperation) Ki (universal energy) Do (way, path) is sometimes translated as a way of harmonizing ourselves with everything in nature utilizing the inexhaustible energy of ki (chi in Chinese). The founder equated the “ai” in his art with love. Observe an Aikido practice and you will see people of all ages partnering together. It may be difficult at first to see the “love” as they make attacks, execute throws, and take falls all over the mat; but after a time one will be impressed by the courtesy, devotion, and affection the practitioners show toward each other. The reason this can take place is because the art itself is designed to take violence and resolve it in a life affirming, energizing transformation. Aikido is practiced strenuously, aerobically, meditatively, slowly, quickly, all according to the tenor of the moment and the wishes of the people training. The only real enemy in Aikido is one’s own ego, which constantly gets in our own way, tripping us up.

Aikido is an excellent system of self-defense, although most people train in it for self-improvement and simple enjoyment. It does not depend on size and strength and thus is an ideal equalizer. I have used it to break up fights in high schools I taught in, without harming or humiliating the individuals involved. I have trained with people as young as five years old and as old as eighty-four. I will always be grateful and indebted to my teachers: Steve Sasaki Sensei – founder of the Berkeley Aikikai, Akira Tohei Shihan (master teacher) of Chicago, Kazuo Chiba Shihan of San Diego, Ichiro Shibata Shihan of Berkeley, Lorraine DiAnne Sensei of Springfield, Massachusetts and currently Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan of New York. It is all of my partners, however, and my own students at Kitsap Aikido in Washington that continuously inform me of how far I have come and how far I still have to go on the path.

I believe in the Founder’s dream, that Aikido could spread its philosophy of peaceful resolution of conflict worldwide. As my family and I travel around the Pacific Basin in our boat, we look for and find new Aikido friends and re-unite with old ones. Wherever we do this, we are amazed at the growth of the Aikido family, because that is what Aikido practitioners feel like. I read the papers when I can and follow the agony of hatred and war all over the world, and recommit myself to follow the Way of Harmony, first within my own heart, and then with anyone I contact. I recommend Aikido to all people of good will, and I hope for the possibility of peace, for our children and the children of the world.

- Dan