A Famous Photograph of O Sensei

An old man walking, aware

this moment is being

preserved, 

watering with a practiced hand

green, green plants in black & white

with grace and harmony. 

Another image: at night, at war,

far, far away, after Curtis LeMay’s

incendiaries turn the dojo roof  

to yellow flame.  It falls to the

old man’s son, Kisshomaru, to

water with efficient desperation. 

No photographer, no green,

green plants.  Alone, on a roof, watering

to preserve an old man’s dream. 

© Hal Taylor, April 30, 2008 

[Based on a picture of O Sensei watering plants in Iwama found in Invincible Warrior, page 158, by John Stevens (Shambhala Publications, Inc. 1997) 

My favorite picture of the Founder.  He is wholly centered in his posture, even in the simple act of watering flowers.  This is O Sensei at peace in Iwama, but still very much aware of his surroundings, including the photographer.  The reference to his son, Kisshomaru, fighting flames that threatened to engulf the Tokyo dojo, is from the same book, pages 67-68.]

Aikido To Me

I've been practicing Aikido for about three years now. Maybe it's not a long time, but it's enough time to turn my life around. In the past, I was searching for a way to balance my inner-self, and to find harmony between my body and mind. I was already practicing yoga, meditation, and kung-fu when I became more aware of my health, my energy level, and how it connected with my emotional state. Aikido taught me how to fully be in my body, and to expand my awareness and learning of being here and now. It was not an easy task, but it's the best way for me to connect intuition and inner wisdom.

During training, I learned how to rise above my physical conditions, how to tolerate pain and quiet my mind, how to become more focused and have fun with it. Pain became my best ally, because it showed me where I needed to change, emotionally and physically. I learned to take full responsibility for my health, to find the right knowledge, and then became my best doctor. I'm 51, and I have found my way to feel young, healthy, powerful, and to freely flow with my life.

Guly Erwin    

2^nd Kyu

Haiku

"Genesis"



Verticality

When added to a circle


A spiral is born
 


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"Portrait"
 


White, O-Sensei's beard


Broad, his smile, watching practice


Eternal, his chi
 


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"Kokyunage"
 


Blending with circle


Spiral up, balance taken


Breath spiraling down
 
 


Michael Ashley

“Trust the process…”

This is something that was explained to me in other classes that I have taken, but it also applies to Aikido. 

In Aikido it is stressed that we leave our worries and concerns about the outside world outside and concentrate on what we are learning and doing while we are in the class.  Unlike activities such as running and yoga, where you can find yourself wandering back to your life’s stresses and worries, Aikido is an activity that can make it very easy to put all of that out of your mind while you are training.  This practice has helped me to come back to work or home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.  My husband also practices Aikido and we both have seen positive impacts on our relationship. 

It is also stressed in Aikido to focus on your physical self – your breathing, your posture, your movements – so that you can feel balanced and grounded and you can get in touch with the power that is within you.  I believe that this aspect will help me as I age (I am now 52) to keep good flexibility and balance, and will help maintain healthy bone density and muscle tone. 

By going through the process of learning the movements and philosophy of Aikido, I believe that my life has been enriched mentally and physically, in addition to the friendships that have resulted from being around others who are caring and treat each other with respect, and who also “trust the process…” 

Laura Klaich