Student Guide: Introduction
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Introduction
Thank you for your interest in Aikido, a martial art of self protection. This booklet has been designed to provide you with most of the basic "factual" information you might be interested in as a new student in Aikido. It begins with a general description of Aikido as a martial art, how it is practiced in the Dojo (or practice hall), and what you might come to anticipate as a student.
The second section addresses most of the common questions concerning behavior in the Dojo. Since it can be a new (and sometimes intimidating) experience, these few pages will give you some insight into what is happening. Before long you will find it all as familiar, and comfortable, as a well worn suit of clothes!
Everyone wants to succeed, and students of Aikido are no different than others in this regard. While you will be the key to this success there are certain "milestones" to help you chart your progress along the way. These are measured through a certain duration of practice and the demonstration of your proficiency in particular Aikido techniques. To avoid potential confusion, and to help you follow your own progress, the "guideposts" of these milestones have been presented in the fourth section of this text.
You will no doubt come across many words (and phrases) with which you may not be familiar. Don't worry! This is part of your training as well. You can find these new words and phrases in the fifth section.
If you are the more studious type and would like to find more information about Aikido, the last section of this booklet provides a sampling of interesting references for your review. Several of these can be found in the Northern Illinois University library or through interlibrary loan, and all can be ordered through most bookstores.
Again, welcome to Aikido!
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
A Brief History of Aikido
Aikido was formalized as a modern martial art during the first half of this century. Tracing roots back over 700 years, this method of Budo (martial way) was refined by Master Morihei Ueshiba. O'Sensei (or Great Teacher, as he is now known) was born on December 14, 1883 in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. While young he studied sumo wrestling and swimming to improve his slight frame. In 1901 he had moved to Tokyo, setting up his own stationery and school supply store (Ueshiba Trading). It was there he first began to study the martial arts, learning jujitsu and kenjutsu. Late in 1902 he left Tokyo and returned to Tanabe, marrying Hatsu Itokawa (b. 1881).
Morihei spent 1903 through 1907 fighting in the Russo- Japanese war. When he returned it was said that he had strengthened his five-foot, one-inch frame to a rock hard 170 pounds. After the war he returned to Tanabe, where his father hired Kiyoichi Takagi to teach his son Judo. O'Sensei lived and worked in Tanabe for the next three years, then formed a settlers group and, with fifty-four households, moved to settle at Shirataki. During this time he met and studied with Sokaku Takeda, master of Daito-ryu. Morihei eventually earned a certificate in Daito-ryu jujitsu.
Mid-November 1919 brought news to Morihei that his father was seriously ill. He left Shirataki to return to Tanabe, but along the way detoured through Ayabe when he heard of the new religion Omoto-kyo, famous for its meditation techniques that "calmed the spirit, returning it to the divine". He eventually got home, but his father died on January 2, 1920 at age 76. This was a great blow to Morihei, and he returned to Onisaburo Deguchi (leader of the Omoto-kyo sect) in search of a more spiritual life. Morihei spent eight years with Onisaburo, during which time he converted part of his house into an eighteen-mat dojo (practice hall).
It was during this period that his martial arts started to take on a more spiritual character. By 1922 his approach was known as aiki-bujutsu. In 1924 he was part of an ill-fated trip to Manchuria in search of a holy land, and was only returned to Japan, out of the hands of the Chinese army, through the intervention of the Japanese consular staff. After his return he became interested in sojutsu (spear technique), refining an intuitive sense of knowing where an attack was coming from.
The spring of 1925 proved to be an important one for O'Sensei. During this time he met the challenge of a naval officer, a master of Kendo. The officer was defeated without actually fighting, as Morihei could sense and avoid each attack as it came. After this encounter he went to a well to clean up, where he later described "being bathed in a golden light pouring down from the heavens". This complete serenity of body and spirit led him to the philosophical principles upon which modern Aikido is based.
It was also at this time he changed the name of his art to aiki-budo (from the martial art of aiki to the martial way of aiki). By 1927 Morihei had moved to Tokyo in order to devote all of his energies to the teaching of his martial art. In April of 1931 a full- scale, eighty-mat dojo was inaugurated. Aiki-budo flourished over the next ten years, attracting many students from all different walks of life. World War II saw a reduction in the number of students, and a change where O'Sensei moved to the Ibaragi Prefecture leaving his son, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, in charge of the Tokyo dojo. It was also during this time that the term Aikido began to be used for the first time.
After the war the practice of Aikido moved to Iwama, where the new Aiki Shrine and Dojo were established. On February 9, 1948 the Ministry of Education granted permission for the reestablishment of the Aikikai under a revised charter. The headquarters of Aikido was moved to Tokyo in 1954, where it took the official title Aikikai Foundation: The Hombu Dojo of Aikido. Morihei continued to practice and give demonstrations, visiting Hawaii for the first time in February of 1961.
January 12, 1968 saw the completion and commemorative ceremony of the new three-story, Hombu dojo building. Later that year O'Sensei gave what was to be his last demonstration in honor of the completion of the new building. Morihei Ueshiba passed away peacefully on April 26, 1969. He was 86 years old.
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
The Ethics of Aikido
Modern Aikido draws much of its form from the older arts of Jujitsu (bone breaking techniques), Kenjutsu (sword fighting techniques), and Aikijutsu. In their original forms these techniques (and many others) can be quite damaging, and even deadly, to an opponent. Aikido, however, as an art of self-protection, teaches no forms of attack or aggression. Students practice many forms of attacking, but only as a means of helping fellow classmates master the Aikido techniques.
Aikido also embodies a philosophy of peaceful coexistence and respect for other people. An Aikidoka (one who practices the arts of Aikido) would learn to use the minimal amount of physical force (and the maximal amount of their intellect) to defuse an attack and eliminate a potential threat. Aikido requires both of these principles as commitments from each student.
The classic example of these principles is best given in the following form (from Westbrook and Retti's book Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere). In the lowest form of ethical combat a man, without provocation and on his own initiative, attacks another and kills him. This person has no respect for the life of another, or for the martial training received.
The next higher form has the man invite the attack, either through an insulting remark or gesture. When eventually attacked he responds by killing the one he had provoked. This man is not guilty of an actual attack, but is responsible for inciting the other man. In both of these first two cases, however, the results are the same: a person is killed.
In the third level the man neither attacks nor provokes another to attack. When attacked, however, he defends himself in a subjective manner. He takes care of only "number one", and the other man is injured, perhaps seriously. Ethically this is a more defensible action than the previous two. This method of protecting himself from danger, though, results in harm to another.
Aikido seeks to develop in each practitioner the fourth and highest level of ethical self-defense. Neither attacking nor provoking an attack, each person can learn to defend themselves with such skill and control that the attacker is neither killed nor seriously injured. This is the beauty of the Budo developed by Master Ueshiba.
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Your Instructors
Dr. Jeffrey B. Hecht is the program Head Instructor. Dr. Leslie B. Hecht is the Assistant Instructor.
Sensei Jeffrey Hecht has studied Aikido since 1984. He spent three years teaching Aikido in the Martial Arts Program, Physical Education Department at the University of California at Riverside and another ten years teaching for the Aikido Club at Illinois State University. He has earned the rank of Sandan (third degree black belt).
He became interested in Aikido when he joined the Orange County (CA) Sheriff's Department as a Reserve Deputy in the Search-Rescue unit. Though his primary responsibilities included locating lost hikers and giving first aid, he was also involved in regular law enforcement activities. "Those were usually difficult situations", he recalls. "People, as a rule, are not happy to see law enforcement officers. I wanted to find a way to preserve each individual's dignity while removing myself, and others, from physical danger. Aikido training helped me learn those skills".
Assistant Instructor Leslie Hecht began studying Aikido in 1986. She has had the pleasure of studying at both the University of California at Riverside and the University of California at Irvine. Les co- taught an Aikido class at the Riverside YMCA, and assists with the teaching duties here. She has earned the rank of Nidan (second degree black belt).
The Hechts' primary teacher over the years has been Sensei Ace Atkinson. Ace first started with Aikido while stationed on Okinawa during the mid-1960's. He learned from Toda Sensei and Iwata Sensei, both students of O'Sensei. Ace was promoted to Shodan in 1967, and was able to practice with O'Sensei before his death. Sensei Atkinson then went on to learn with Kohichi Tohei Sensei, and was later promoted to the rank of Nidan by Tohei Sensei in 1974.
Ace started the Aikido Program at the University of California at Riverside in the Spring of 1973. At the beginning classes were held twice each week, with only a small handful of students attending. Ace persevered, and the program began to grow both in size and reputation. In 1985 Shihan Ron Granville, of the Western Region Aikikai, promoted Ace to Sandan (third degree black belt). His skill and work was recognized again in 1987 when Shihan Roy Suenaka promoted Ace to Yondan (fourth degree black belt). Ace continues to practice and teach in the Riverside area, with U.C. Riverside Aikido having grown to over 140 students practicing in fifteen different classes each week.
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
What is an Aikido Class Like?
A person interested in training in Aikido should be ready to commit themselves to at least three hours of training (typically two classes) each week. A typical practice session would consist of several parts. Each session starts with general stretching and warm- up kinds of exercises. These are used to loosen the student's body for the physical practice ahead, and to relax their mind from the worries of the day just finished (or about to begin!).
Aiki Taisos are the second phase of a practice. These are a review of basic movements in Aikido. They are practiced as both a means of further preparation for physical activity, and learning the techniques themselves. It is said that, in order to become truly proficient at the Aiki Taisos, one must practice them "10,000 times". Unfortunately, the Japanese symbol for "10,000" is the same symbol for "infinite". All students, regardless of how many years they have been practicing or their rank, continue to learn the Aiki-taisos by beginning each practice session with them.
The third portion of practice consists of interactive training. During this phase (usually the longest portion of each class), Sensei (the teacher) will demonstrate an art to the students. Students watch the demonstration of the art, then practice (with one or more partners) until Sensei begins the next art. These practices typically begin with an attack from a practice partner. It may be a static grab (when one person "grabs and holds onto" another), a dynamic movement (grabbing, punching, or kicking), or some combination of the two. The Aikido art demonstrated may result in an immobilization (where the attacker is brought to the ground and neutralized), a projection (where the attacker's energy is redirected upon themselves so they are off- balanced and fall), or both. As skills are refined the attacker may begin to use weapons (a blunt object such as a stick, staff, knife, sword, or gun) in their attack. There may even be multiple attackers attacking simultaneously.
The last portion of each class consists of a short "cool-down" period. Students practice breathing and centering exercises. Time is allowed for sharing the impact Aikido has made on one's life. It is a time to gather together the learning that has taken place and prepare to bring it into the world after class ends. Aikido is not something that just happens in the Dojo. It extends into every facet of life.
Link to: Prairie Aikikai Home Page, Student Guide Table of Contents
Aikido at the Prairie Aikikai
Aikido classes typically meet several times each week. The exact schedule of practice days and times changes from time to time. Classes are occasionally delayed, and even canceled outright, for a variety of reasons. Whenever this is necessary students will be notified as soon as possible in advance. All students are always encouraged to attend as many classes as their schedules will allow.
Registrations by the quarter are encouraged. A monthly registration is also available. Prospective students may participate in up to two classes at no charge, and visitors/observers are always welcome. Registrations are accepted anytime, or before the start of any class. New students receive a copy of this book with their paid enrollment. Replacements or new versions (as it is revised) may also be purchased.
New students will be asked to complete both an "Student Registration Form" and an "Waiver and Release of Liability Form" before being allowed to practice in any class. The Student Registration Form provides basic information about yourself (name, address, telephone number, and previous Aikido practice). It is entered into, and maintained in, a computerized data base kept on all Aikido students. This data base is used by the instructor for tracking each student's attendance and promotion history.
The Waiver and Release of Liability Form is to reinforce with each student that Aikido is a physical contact activity. While every effort is made to reduce the potential for injury there is still the possibility that injury can and will occur. Students participating in Aikido practice at their own risk, with the full understanding that they cannot hold the Prairie Aikikai, their instructors, Jeffrey or Leslie Hecht, or fellow students liable for any accident or injury that might occur as a result of their participation. Students under the age of eighteen must have their parent (or legal guardian) sign this Waiver and Release of Liability Form.