(ENG-Version)
- When and where did you start Aikido?
1981, summer, San Francisco, but I stopped rather quickly (far from my house and too young) and began seriously in 1987, at the Aikido Center of Los Angeles in Little Tokyo. It was a very rough neighborhood at that time, but the dojo, in an artist's loft in downtown LA, looked like something from 17th century Japan on the inside.
- Why did you start Aikido?
Self defense. Physical, mental and spiritual training. I'd always felt a strong attraction to martial arts but had never started. I chose Aikido because the techniques looked interesting, it was a kind of jiujutsu, had weapons training and I had great respect and attraction to the moral/ethical tenets and objectives of O-sensei and his new budo.
- How was your first trial lesson?
In SF (San Francisco), a lot of falling down and standing up. Confusing. Physically and culturally.
In my reboot in LA (Los Angeles), I didn't have a trial lesson. Just committed to myself to go and train.
- How many teachers have you studied under?
First I built a foundation of 8, nearly 9 years under one teacher in LA - Kensho Furuya - who began Aikido at about 12 years old at LA Aikikai, lived in Hombu dojo in 1969 as kenshusei for a year, earned a Masters Degree from Harvard in Japanese studies and East Asian Religions, studied under Kanai sensei in Boston and Chiba sensei in San Diego and later became an ordained Buddhist priest. He told me many amazing stories about teachers he trained with, including Koichi Tohei before his split from Aikikai.
After my first 3 years, I became one of three deshi. For nearly 6 years. It was tough, particularly psychologically. He was very smart. Perhaps too smart.
I had visited Japan in 1992 and 1994 to train at Hombu dojo (10 days and then one month) and felt my destiny lay in Japan.
In 1997, Feb, I moved to Japan. I left my job as a trial attorney, my position as an assistant instructor, sunny southern California ... for cold, cold Tokyo and the hard mats of Hombu.
You can read about it in my book Aikido in Japan and The Way Less Traveled. LOL. Seriously.
- How many Sempai did you (or do you) study under?
Whoever I could train with. Lost count over the years.
In anything, if the next generation sees any farther it's because they are standing on the shoulders of those who have gone before. I am very grateful for all the help I have received over the years.
- Did you have any experiences with other sports before Aikido?
Yes. In America, you grow up from elementary school playing football (gridiron), basketball and baseball, as the seasons go Fall to summer. I played basketball, soccer and tennis in high school. After university I became a rather serious triathlete. Turned out I was a good swimmer, perhaps from surfing in California. I don't know. I had fraternity brothers in university who were Olympic swimmers and used to try to train with them - impossibly hard.
- Did these early experiences with sports have any influence on your Aikido style?
Basketball was my first love. Great for martial arts. Move from your center. Watch your opponents center. Use left and right hand. Etc.
Swimming helped strengthen my left (weak) side and has helped every Aikido injury I've ever had. It works on a natural timing and involves the whole body, plus stretches the body out while giving the swimmer a bit of a break from gravity. Highly recommend it but work out a routine, e.g. intervals. Don't just dive in and go.
- What are the differences between Western and Japanese Aikido?
"Ude bakkari" (too much use of the arms not enough use of the body in performing the techniques). Training in Japan helped ground my Aikido in my hips and legs rather than my arms. In Tokyo, you sit on the floor a lot (or I did in my flat), you walk everywhere, notions of strength and power are a bit different.
- When did you come to Japan?
First time 1992, second 1994, to live Feb 1997. I still remember getting off the bus at TCAT ( Tokyo City Air Terminal) - it was freezing - and Tony Hind picking me up. Drank single malt scotch I brought, watched Braveheart and practiced the next morning. Asakeiko lead by Kishomaru Doshu.
- When you started training In Japan, did your idea of Japan change? If yes, what changed?
Living there? Winter 1997. My idea of Japan? Not really. I tried not to draw too many conclusions based on too little information from my prior visit and just to experience it as it was revealed to me in daily life. I learned quickly a lot of little details of daily life: renting a flat, buying things for it (spent 10,000 and bought furniture from a sushiya that was closing in Akebonobashi). I learned that while martial arts was closely linked to Japanese culture it also was uncommon for the average person, after high school. "ehhhh, you left where, to come here and do what?!!!"
- When did you get Shodan?
Good question. 1991? I think. Pretty sure. I was training 6 days a week. Sunday's I rested or went to church.
- Did your state of mind change after getting Shodan?
Not really. Shoshin. I went through the usual phases perhaps, over the years. Serious, too serious, naturally serious.
- What is the difficult thing when you teach?
Teaching PRC ( Peolple's Republic of China) Chinese males who were raised in a single child family by their grannies and grandpas and mommy and daddy and told how wonderful they are. The women become good students more easily.
My choices were to climb Everest barefoot without oxygen or to teach Aikido in Beijing, so I took on the bigger challenge.
- How often do you practice?
Every day but Sunday. Even when I teach I jump into class and take ukemi for my students, which apparently no local teachers do. "Lose face". I need the exercise and they can feel ukemi. I practice iaido and weapons - suburi. Just part of the day, like brushing my teeth. I do something - each day.
- Is the way you practice changing?
Yes. I stopped "thumping" people awhile back. I have no interest in competing in class. I try to give to my partner and help him/her as much as I try to receive from the class. Perhaps I've grown up a little bit.
- What's your favorite technique? Why do you like it?
Ikkyo and irmi nage. Both foundational to Aikido. Both very difficult. Both very useful.
- What do you like most in Aikido’s philosophy?
The notion of no enemies and an alternative and rational proportional response to the world's inevitable aggression.
- What is making Aikido the martial art that you want for yourself?
Wow. Hard question. Its techniques. Its philosophy, morals and ethics. Its goals of personal development.
- How do you take care of your body?
At 40, laughed at my wife's Pilates DVD as she was doing the routine on our tatami. Then I tried it. Ouch. I've always tried to keep very fit and supplement my training. "Ancient ways" are good but other ways can add value. I have memorized certain routines and vary my exercise to trick my body from developing too much "economy of motion". Yoga, Pilates, swimming, body weight exercise (using the floor, horizontal bars, parallel bars, rings, etc). Tabata training - very short routines - and short sprinting to help maintain testosterone and HGH naturally.
Rest and sleep. Sleep repairs the brain. Rest is when your muscles recover and build.
Diet - good healthy food, low fat, raw food, fruit & veg. eat "healthy" 6 days a week. Sunday eat whatever I like.
No smoking.
Alcohol in moderation.
- Have you ever experienced injuries?
Not too many. Nothing major. Some though. Can't list them or some "baddie" might try to use them against me. LOL.
- What did you learn from your injuries?
Be alert in training. Take care of my body. Rest. Time gets us all. Perseverance. Endurance. Patience.
- Which season is the best for training?
Any season. Any time.
- At what age is it best to start Aikido?
Another tough one. Perhaps there's not "one size fits all" answer. Aikido requires a certain maturity. Whatever age it can "stick" with a person.
Really, it probably depends somewhat on what you want to do Aikido for and perhaps whether or not you hope to become a professional teacher.
- Have you ever used Aikido or your budo experience outside the dojo, in a real situation?
Yes. Unfortunately, several times. At least two were "life and death". You don't even think about it in the midst of it. Afterwards is another story. For me, afterwards, at some point, I felt a combination of relief, exhilaration, amazement and a sick feeling in the stomach. Sometimes the full impact doesn't hit you until years later.
- What were your happiest and hardest moments in Aikido?
Training at Hombu dojo. Anytime, but particularly during my sabbatical year of 1997. I had no job. I just trained 3-5x day and helped someone teach Aikido in Tokyo.
- Can you tell us about some funny situations during you time in Japan?
Yes, read my book. LOL. Too many.
- Did your body size condition your training during your time in Japan? If yes, in which sense?
Body shape, size, our constitution, our temperament ... all these things that make you impact your training and the ultimate "expression" of the art you study. I never use the word "style". Style is for clothes.
For me, I am a bit tall, and I didn't want "Franken-aiki" - power in my arms like the famous monster and so many I meet from outside Japan, so I trained a lot with one teacher who was .... "vertically challenged". The goal was to have "small man's" aikido in a bigger body. Don't know if it worked or not.
- Can you give a few suggestions to the new generation of professional aikidoka?
Find the best teacher you can wherever you are. When you've learned all you can go find someone who knows more.
Train hard. Train smart. Train daily.
Savor every moment in life. Eshajiori. 会者定離
Never lose your beginner's mind and thirst for learning and improving.
Go forward, find your own Way.
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