Excellent example of Iwama Style Precision.  Kessler Sensei is a great teacher; visit him in Israel sometime.

5th Kumi Tachi as demonstrated by Miles Kessler Sensei

“I had the opportunity to make a comparison between different styles, as I had practices several number of them. I do not intend to criticize other Aikido styles here, instead I would like to explain how I concluded at Iwama style after practicing Aikikai Hombu style for so many years. As you probably might know, Hombu style dojo is founded by O’Sensei’s son Kisshomaru Ueshiba. O’Sensei perfomed his style in Iwama from the forties till 1968, a year before he died. Iwama-Ryu Aikido taught by Saito Sensei, is exactly this traditional style which O’Sensei formed and developed in these thirty years.

Morihei Sensei’s education was as simple this sentence ” Watch carefully, and you will understand.” On the other hand, Kisshomaru Ueshiba Sensei and Saito Sensei grouped and classified O’Sensei’s techniques in order for them to be more clear.

No matter what style one is working in, the objective is always the same; blending with your opponent, being in harmony with him. Therefore, Aikido is defined as way of peace, upon the request of O’Sensei. Obviously, there are clear distinctions between Iwama style and other styles. The tools to get to the objective differ from each other.

In Iwama style Aikido, different that Hombu style, you do not expect your opponent to harmonize with you or watch you when you are performing your technique. The key here is not to be over tolerant with the opponent, but instead blend with him. Therefore practice commences with firm grips and attacks. Intensity of the performance is adjusted to the level of the opponent. A couple may not find a way of blending at the very beginning but in order to form such a harmonization, a solid control should be established over the opponent.

In Iwama style, basic techniques are very clear and should be performed as clearly. Thus, these techniques are performed meticulously. Only when the basic techniques are established well, practice can be elevated. On the contrary if these basic techniques are not well performed, even in a couple of years’ time, once can face real difficulties.”

Daniel Toutain, Iwama-Ryu, 6th Dan

http://www.iwama-ryu-tr.org/eng/toutain.html

A conversation yesterday with a new student brought back some interesting memories and reflection about training Aikido…

How did I first get interested in Aikido?  Well, before I saw or even heard of Aikido a friend gave me a book (in about 1985), “Chop Wood, Carry Water” and it got me to thinking.  The rest is my personal history leading to wanting to see this “thing” called Aikido in about 1991.

How  that translates to training Aikido is summarized by FJ Chu:

“The actual practice of training may be different from the ideal of training.  Actual practice is simply doing the same thing, again and again, hoping to become just a little bit better……The student tries to increase their physical power, breathing, muscular flexibility and body co-ordination…..Sometimes (sic) mistakes, injury, or discouragement ….some are tempted to quit.

The Martial Way reminds the faithful student to stay on the daily path of practice, to keep mind fresh and alert, and continue to continue.  If one does, he/she can approach perfection as a person, with a heightened sensitivity about mind, body, and environment, and an enhanced to deal with every aspect of life.  {One’s lessons are highly personal.} Devoted training gives each person a secret power, one that cannot be thoughtlessly revealed. To defeat opponents but to not meet the requirements of daily life indicates a misunderstanding of essential skills.”

As in, chop wood,, carry water.…

For anyone interested:

Alert and Relaxed…Practice Basic Aikido Movements…Go Slow before you Go Fast….
Breathe…. and….

Susie's 3rd kyu.... One uke was just not enough!

If an Aikidoka feels these demonstrations have competitive qualities, then the experience opens the door to practice non-attachment, not an easy thing to do in Western culture and with people watching!

It may help to see that the uke(s) are collaborators bringing you energy that you can transform into a safe resolution for all, if possible.

“My motto for teaching is to have a happy practice that clearly demonstrates the day’s lesson, so that students can understand fully and take it back home with them.”

Morihiro Saito Sensei

"Train Aikido with a light heart" O'Sensei

While in Iwama (Japan) in 1996  I had the pleasure of becoming friends with Miles Kessler,  where he directs the Integral Dojo in Tel Aviv teaching Aikido and Dharma practice and is Director of Aikido without Borders.  Our dojo is committed to supporting his vital efforts for peace in the Middle East.

Below is a simple statement by Miles about how practicing  Aikido and participating in one’s dojo creates access to cultivating one’s consciousness and offers a  path of  transformation.

“As a microcosm of a harmonious society an Aikido dojo is a learning community that fosters the values of harmony, tolerance and mutual respect. The fact that the art is nested in a Japanese cultural context is a great benefit because it’s culturally neutral. And, of course the principles of aikido are universal, so everyone can get them regardless of cultural interpretations. These conditions are the prefect context for cultivating the level of consciousness where creative solutions to difficult problems can arise.”

source:   Interview with Miles Kessler   ( http://blog.aikidojournal.com/2011/10/24/interview-with-miles-kessler-sensei-of-aikido-without-borders-by-tom-collings/#comments )

In Aikido, suwariwaza, seated techniques, had roots in samurai days when protecting persons of higher rank.  Also, many see this as a kind of ukemi; that is, being present and capable from any place in time and space.  Below is another addition to our thinking about suwariwaza:

“During the Edo Period, the rigorous demands of the preceding “Warring States Period” gave way to a time when the majority of people spent their lives sitting in seiza on tatami mats and drinking green tea. Sitting like that people began to wonder what they would do if something unexpected should occur. It became necessary to develop ways of defending themselves by means of throwing needles or methods of avoiding the thrust of a short swords. In such confined situations what was called for was the thing we know as suwariwaza (seated techniques). Generally speaking, of the techniques developed during that long period 1603-1868 more than one-third are said to be seated. Truly, “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

Interview with Kenji Tomiki    Aikido Journal, 10/2011