About Aikido
Hironobu Yamada Sensei (1938 - 2017) was from an Aikido perspective, a father to me. When I met him in 1999 while in Aikido Shinjukai, my cup was half full. Discarding its contents, I found my cup running over, repeatedly.
Yamada Sensei told me that he had the fortune of recording training sessions with Tada Shihan which aided his learning. He gave me a similar honor from which i will always be grateful (it was always with the condition never to share it in social media). The breadth and depth of his technical capability especially in oyo waza and buki waza continues to amaze me even until today when i watch them. He was the consummate researcher.
Ethic Charter from Aikikai Hombu
What is Aikido? (link to Aikikai Hombu)
Taken off the Book Aikido, by Kisshomaru Ueshiba;
In Aikido, the moment of contact is the decisive time for action. The techniques of Aikido are rationally structured from a dynamic viewpoint. They may be outlined as follows.
The human body, in motion, becomes like a spinning top. When not in motion the body is in the stable posture of an equilateral tetrahedron. This triangle-stance is the ideal posture from which to start the techniques of Aikido. When the movement begins the body becomes like a spinning top. In this sense the techniques of Aikido should reach a state in which you can change the opponent's centrum by your own spherical motion which revolves around your centrum. Thus you maneuver and spin off your opponent with your motion.
The principle of Aikido is summarised as follows: TURN when pushed, and ENTER when pulled. This circular motion is different from the straight movements of jujutsu. It has more variety. When it is fully utilised in budo, it leads to another more effective area. This is the development of spherical motions, which consist of centrifugal, and centripetal forces.
Aikido in Singapore - A History
Why Do I Practice Aikido in the Form that Hironobu Yamada Sensei Teaches?
Yamada Sensei spoke and taught many, both on and off the mat. He is like a parent who held my hand and showed me the way through the forest, allowing me to video and make notes of the turns that we took, things to look out for, areas to explore. When it is my turn and with others in my care, should I not at least try to do what he has done in return for his kindness? Or do I just tell the students of the future, "I felt safe walking through the forest with my parent", and without further direction await the surprise/unexpected outcome of what might happen ahead...
One of the most memorable conversations which seared into my mind was in October 2013 when I returned to Aikido after a hiatus of 7 years (after leaving Aikido Shinju-kai while studying the sword).
H. Yamada Sensei: ... Stanley san ...
Me: ...................................................... Hai Sensei.
H. Yamada Sensei: .. No stop Aikido ...
Me: ......... (still holding onto my tea cup, my eyes cast downwards) Hai Sensei.
H. Yamada Sensei: ... Stanley san ...
Me: ..................................................... Hai Sensei.
H. Yamada Sensei: .. No stop Aikido ...
Me: ........... (putting the tea cup down) Hai Sensei.
H. Yamada Sensei: ... Stanley san ...
Me: ..................(turning up to look at him) Hai Sensei.
H. Yamada Sensei: .. No stop Aikido ...
Me: ........... (looking right at him as he sat on my left. He was looking right back) Hai Sensei..
What are Basics?
Conversation I had with Yamada Sensei prior to 2003...H. Yamada Sensei: Stanley san...
Me: ...........................................Hai Sensei.
H. Yamada Sensei: Basics are very important
Me: (I have heard many renditions of this statement in Singapore...so i wanted to clarify...) ... Sensei, what exactly would you consider "Basic"
H. Yamada Sensei: (Thoughtfully) ...hmm.. Katate Dori Ai Hanmi, Gyaku Hanmi, Shomen uchi... Ikkyo, Nikkyo, Sankyo, Yonkyo, Irimi Nage, Shiho Nage, Kote Gaeshi, Kokyu Nage, Kaiten Nage, Tenchi Nage ...Â
Me: ... Hai! Thank you Sensei! (you don't want to know what i had heard from local school here prior and what is taught...for years)
A Difficult Conversation with My Teacher
Conversation I had with Yamada Sensei prior to 2003...Yamada Sensei: Stanley san...
Me: ......................... Hai Sensei!
Yamada Sensei: Aikido not about fighting...
Me: ......................... Hai Sensei!
Yamada Sensei: If want to learn fighting, then should learn something else.
Me: ....................... I am not sure I understand Sensei...
Yamada Sensei: Fighting requires coming very close, reducing distance ...different...Aikido movements are with some distance...
Me: ................ But Sensei, I took Aikido in order to learn how to defend myself, and the people around me; the weaker, the innocent and defenseless who are otherwise not able to defend themselves...
Yamada Sensei: ................
