Aikido of Tucson, Seminar with John Stevens sensei

Aikido as the Path of Friendship - Anno sensei's visit to Seattle

AANC Memorial Day Aikido Gashuku, Lake Tahoe, CA

Shinrikan Dojo Aikido Seminar with Keisuke Mizuno sensei

Chicago Aikikai Seminar with Kevin Choate sensei

Aikido Shobukan Dojo, Summer Intensive 2000 with M. Saotome and H. Ikeda

Aikido Yoshinkan at Sacramento, Seminar with Amos Lee Parker sensei

Aikido Shobukan Dojo, June 25 - July 2, 2000
Summer Intensive 2000
By Christopher Gray

The climber advances up the mountain. Each step on the rugged terrain holds the possibility of falling to one's death. Such is the nature of martial arts explains Mitsugi Saotome Sensei. Each step for the martial artist holds the possibility of continued life or immediate death.

The setting was the DuFour Athletic Center at Catholic University in Washington D.C. Aikido practitioners from around the world had gathered for a week-long weapons intensive seminar. The primary teachers were Senseis Saotome and Hiroshi Ikeda. The weapons used for training were sword (bokken and shinai) and staff (jo).

Why train with weapons?

For Saotome Sensei, weapons training makes clear the point of what is at stake in a martial encounter, one's life. The slightest error in judgment finds our partner's weapon landing on a vulnerable place on our body. With this in mind, the training moves beyond mere physical exercise.

Saotome Sensei began the seminar stressing that proper technique includes proper attitude. The external attitude is expressed in one's stance, posture, and physical bearing. One must adopt an open, upright posture, as this allows the greatest field of vision. The internal attitude is the focused intention of one's heart, mind, and spirit. Saotome Sensei used this attitude for what he stated was the theme of this seminar, direct entry into our partner's attack. With this we began sword versus sword training.

Ikeda Sensei carried out this theme by paying particular attention to the timing (de-ai) and combative distancing (ma-ai) of this direct entry. For the timing, we began with the attacker and responder beginning their movements at the same time. We progressed to the point where the attacker began their movement and the responder waited until the last possible moment before countering the attack. For the distance training, the responder moved deeper and deeper into the attack until the responder's weapon was able to reach the attacker's head.

Midweek found Saotome Sensei reminding everyone of the difference between cutting and hitting. He again touched on proper mind/body attitude. Proper alignment of body and weapon is incomplete without a similar alignment of the heart, mind, and spirit. Without such alignment, the weapon becomes lifeless, and may be ineffective in a martial context. Even an edged weapon may not cut without the focused intention of the user.

Different weapons, same mind

Ikeda Sensei shifted the training from sword versus sword to sword versus staff. He used similar movements as he did with sword versus sword. This helped make clear the importance of attitude. Although the weapon had changed, the responder's attitude had not. The responder still used the same mind/body attitude to enter directly into the attack. This training extended further with the responder being unarmed in the face of the sword.

The end of the week culminated with Saotome Sensei's use of two swords versus one. Echoing his opening remarks, Saotome Sensei stressed the need for a mind/body attitude nothing short of awesome. Sloppiness of any sort would result in harsh consequences. Not only was there a threat from the attacker, but the responder's use of two swords also increased the likelihood of self-inflicted injury.

Relevance of weapons training in a peaceful society.

The sword and staff cannot cut, thrust, or block by themselves. They do not have radar to guide them to their target, nor a safety mechanism to prevent injury. Saotome Sensei stated that the effectiveness of the weapon was solely reliant on the user, and the user was solely reliant on his or her self. This self-reliance allows an opportunity for the user to grow their ability and themselves. The user cannot improve without applying themselves in their study. A strong, self-reliant spirit that grows out of committed practice may allow the practitioner to be a contributor to society, not a burden on society.

"Ikkyo, whole life"

Saotome Sensei pointed out that without the necessity of martial ability for one's daily survival, as in the past, the students of today might not apply themselves with the same level of determination and urgency. This is a mistake, he says. Time is no guarantee of skill. Students must apply themselves wholeheartedly or they will not develop any meaningful ability. Every day the student must take a step forward. He stated that O' Sensei said, "ikkyo, whole life". Every day the student must take a step deeper into his or her own life.