Takemusu Aikido Society

The Takemusu Aikido Seminar we organised last weekend was a great success. People from all parts of Ireland, France, and UK came to see Ulf Evenas shihan, a student of Morihiro Saito sensei. Ulf sensei had a brilliant, very didactic approach to this seminar. He tried to explain the essence of Takemusu Aikido to non-Iwama practitioners. He explained the connections between ken and tai-jutsu, demonstrated the principles of jo, and disclosed how rigid kihon practice can be transformed into fluid ki-no-nagare forms. People from various Aikido styles tried to do their best to understand and accept Ulf sensei's teachings. It wasn't easy, but they enjoyed the seminar after all.

On the third day in Japan, I visited Tsukuba Shurenkai, the dojo where I practised four years before coming to Ireland. Everybody was very excited to see me, especially O. san who literally jumped on me and hugged me. Everybody was very interested to know as much as possible about our dojo and students. Special interest was in F., whose teacher was in close touch with Saito sensei and Nemoto sensei, and Y., who does all his best to learn a slightly different Aikido style. So I gave the best introduction I could.  Techniques covered today: Tai jutsu: Tai no Henko Tai no Henko Ki no Nagare Mororedori Kokyuho Mororedori Ikkyo omote Mororedori Ikkyo ura Mororedori Nikyo Ura Mororedori Nikyo Ura Ku no Nagare Mororedori Iriminage Mororedori Iriminage Ki no Nagare Shita kara Ue Mororedori Iriminage Ki no Nagare Ue kara Shita Zagi Kokyuho Bukiwaza: 13 no Jo awase 1-3 Ki no Nagare 4-6 Ki no Nagare 7-9 Ki no Nagare 10-13 Ki no Nagare 1-13 Ki no Nagare

There are no matches in Aikido. Instead, its exercises are occasionally demonstrated for public assessment of skills acquired in day-to-day practices. Until a decade ago*, Aikido was barred from public view for fear that its techniques may be stolen. The situation has changed now. Public demonstrations provide an extremely valuable opportunity to popularize Aikido. The Founder would not unveil Aikido to the public in former days. His sentiment in those days, as I recall it, was not a mere apprehension that Aikido’s techniques may be stolen as a result of their public debut. Uppermost in his mind was probably the fear that that techniques may be subjected to warped interpretations with the popularization of Aikido and handed down to posterity as such. It is important for us to remember this at a time when Aikido has become accessible to the public. The instructors are therefore called upon to observe carefully how their trainees perform at public demonstrations and use their finding...

Today I participated in the ceremony of unveiling of the monument in the memory of Morihiro Saito shihan. It was held in the family dojo of his son Hitohira. Unfortunately, without the city officials and Aikikai representatives attending, this event looked very local, and I strongly felt that was wrong. The legacy of O-Sensei and Morihiro Saito sensei has no boundaries and belongs to the world despite all political contradictions. Construction of Saito sensei's monument could be a great point to heal the old wounds and start the dialogue between two great teachers, but I am afraid without speaking to each other, it may become a cause of conflict escalation. Nevertheless, I am proud to be among those who helped make truth the idea of commemorating Saito sensei in stone.

Construction of the Morihiro Saito Shihan memorial is completed in Iwama, Japan. Takemusu Aikido Fingal, being one of the donators, was officially invited to attend the unveiling ceremony of the monument to honour the memory of Morihiro Saito Shihan. The ceremony will be held at Iwama Shinshin Aikishurekai Tanrenkan dojo and will be transmitted worldwide via Zoom.

The website of Takemusu Aikido Fingal was updated.  Information on Aikido, etiquette, biographies of Morihei Ueshiba and Morihiro Saito were added.  You can see all updates here: https://aiki.ie/