I was once told by Christian Tissier, who spent substantial time studying at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, that while he held the role of dojo secretary (道場幹事, dojo kanji) in charge of the foreigners, he used to organize occasional meetings between Ueshiba Kisshomaru Doshu and some of the foreigners of the Hombu Dojo. I recently stumbled upon the following article, which was published simultaneously in the Japanese and English versions of the Aikikai Newspaper. I found it of great interest since it constitutes a valuable record of one of such meetings, which used to be held at Doshu’s house.
It has been six years since O Sensei's passing. The Master is no longer with us, but Aikido continues to spread and develop, not only in Japan, but throughout the world as well. On April 26th, the day on which O-Sensei passed away six years ago, several of the foreign students currently practicing at Hombu Dojo were invited to Doshu's residence to talk about Aikido in each of their respective countries. In spite of the differences in languages and customs, the eight students, each from a different country, felt they were of one mind and spirit through Aikido. The students were: Richard H. Woodworth, shodan, USA; Christian Tissier, sandan, France; Leif Nielson, shodan, Denmark; Per Winther, shodan, Norway; Juan M. Rivera, Spain; Miguel Carlos Teuscher, shodan, Argentina; Kenneth G. E. Cottier, sandan, England; Bio Gabriel, shodan, Lebanon.
Doshu: Mr. Cottier, you were teaching Aikido in Hong Kong, weren't you? I recall you were there during my visit to Southeast Asia two years ago.
Cottier: It was a very great honor for Hong Kong to have the Doshu visit us. In Hong Kong there is a great mixture of martial arts, and there is friction between many of them. I'm very happy that there is only one school of Aikido in Hong Kong, and that's O Sensei's Aikido.
Doshu: Mr. Tissier, you began Aikido in France. How is it that there are so many Frenchmen in Japan?
Tissier: Well, we are all friends, and when we get together we talk about training, Japan and Hombu Dojo. Thus the word gets around.
Doshu: Mr. Winther, I understand you also study yoga. Is there a spiritual connection between yoga and Aikido?
Winther: I believe so. By studying yoga I begin to understand Aikido. I believe the ki of Aikido is the same as the energy in yoga.
Doshu: Mr. Woodworth, did you begin Aikido in Japan?
Woodworth: I began Aikido in the States. What impressed me the most was the fact that without using strength, one could apply a technique. I was most surprised. Gradually my interest increased, and eventually I came to Japan. At my present level I cannot say anything about the spiritual side of Aikido, but in daily practice, I always learn something new.
Rivera to Doshu: O Sensei used to lecture sometimes, do you sometimes lecture also?
Doshu: I myself do not often do this, but if I am asked, I will say a few words. For the people who come here to practice, however, such things are unsuitable. Therefore I give a demonstration, and we all practice together. As far as talking is concerned, I prefer to do it separately, rather than during practice.
To think of Aikido only as technique is a mistake. The same applies to Judo, Kendo, Karate. All of these have a spiritual aspect too. If there is something in Aikido that you feel is worth pursuing, then I am happy.
Woodworth: Aikido in the United States uses a lot of strength from the shoulders. Even with people who practice earnestly. This I feel is quite different from practice here. I don't know why, perhaps it is due to the difference in strength and suppleness of the legs.
From left: Miguel Carlos Teuscher, Juan M. Rivera, Per Winther, Christian Tissier, Richard H. Woodworth, Leif Lyngard Nielsen, Doshu, Kenneth G. E. Cottier, Bio Gabriel (not visible).
Doshu: Even in Japan, people who practice this way have become numerous. In whatever they do it is all strength. They concentrate on clashing when really they should embrace. DoDo (道, "way) is not something that can be done only when you are young and not when you are old. Rather, if you are old and decide to practice Aikido for a year, you should make a year's progress. If this is not so, then it is not a true do.
Gabriel: If someone does the whole movement correctly, you still find that there is something missing. For instance nikkyo. The teacher shows me how to do the complete movement. I do it, but there is something missing in my technique that it does not affect the teacher. This is the spiritual thing they talk about in Aikido.
Doshu: If a person does not practice earnestly regularly, then he cannot comprehend the depths of Aikido. This is the same for all do. Aikido is not something that can be learned by listening. If this were so we would all become proficient in a day. The reason the technique did not work on the instructor, is that he has been practicing Aikido for almost twenty years.
Cottier: If you see a shodan doing ikkyo, and a nidan doing ikkyo, and a sandan doing it also, they are all doing the same thing, but there are differences all along the way.
Doshu: Yes, and as for myself, I do not know how many thousands of times I have done shihonage. And not once have I felt "Ah, that was a good throw." Rather it was done with the mushinMushin (無心 "no mind") is the mental state that zen and daoist meditators attempt to reach, as well as artists and trained martial artists. It is also practiced during everyday activities. spirit.
Cottier: At one time I was teaching a young fellow, and he was doing the technique wrong. "No, no. You're too stiff, your shoulders are still too stiff." I told him. And instead of becoming better, he was getting worse. Finally I said "Yes, now you're getting it" although it was the same, and he actually got better.
Rivera: This is self-consciousness of course. You are paying attention to yourself and not to the technique. There is one moment, that you become discouraged, when you cannot do anything, then you say: "I can't do anything. Since I can't do anything, let's try it." But we always try to improve ourselves, and there is one moment when we can't and then we relax. The level of consciousness changes, and our practice improves.
Cottier: There is another example: A fellow was waiting for someone in a hotel lobby, this is a true story, and he had another appointment. He looked about and said, "I must leave", and he turned and ran out. There was a glass door, and he went right through it. It was completely shattered. If we had said to him to run through that door, he would not do it. But having no intention of running through the door, he did it.
Doshu: There is a lawyer who regularly comes to practice here. He is a man of logic and reasoning. He is always asking, "In accordance to what law is this movement", or "What is the principle behind this technique?". Always quick to ask questions. No one has ever become skillful asking questions like that. He is unable to do any technique. Aikido is learning by doing, gyoGyo (行, line, row), isn't it? Therefore, if you think about it, you must first practice then become muMu (無, nothing) and honestly do the art. If you think about it, you cannot do anything splendid. This is mushin too, it must be done in an instant — one cannot consciously do it or anything like that. It is merely done, in an instant. There is no logic or reasoning to it.
Cottier: Do you think some foreigners think too deeply about Aikido? I think some foreigners over analyze Aikido instead of getting on with the practice.
Doshu: I myself have not especially thought about foreigners' practice. Some of the foreign students watch a certain person's technique, then proceed to analyze it and only imitate what someone else is doing. Such people will never progress. Your own technique will not manifest itself. Everyone is different, look at all the different faces. The truth at the center of Aikido is still the same, but from it comes different styles. Therefore, out of you Mr. Cottier must come Ken Cottier Aikido, from Mr. Tissier must come Christian Tissier Aikido, and so on. If you watch a teacher and notice his hand moves a certain way, or his feet move this way, and do exactly as he does, it is no good. You will not progress if you rigidly copy someone’s form. You must make it part of yourself — and from yourself must come forth Aikido.
Rivera: Should a person practice with many or just one teacher?
Doshu: In the beginning, one must imitate his teacher, and when he can imitate well, then he can develop his own Aikido. This is important. This does not mean that any teacher is alright. There are teachers with whom you will match, and others that you will not. If you do not match your teacher your own development will be hindered.
