Memorial Aikido class commemorating Furuya Sensei

Our dojo's shomen with photo of Furuya Sensei, O-Sensei, and fresh nandina (nanten) branches

Yesterday, our dojo had a special aikido class, commemorating the late Rev. Kensho Furuya Sensei, who passed away five years ago in his dojo, during an aikido class, on March 6th 2007. The Aikido class was intensive, and we decided to practice without any words. Only the sound of our feet moving over the tatami, and the sound of us taking ukemi. 
At the end of class, I spoke about Furuya Sensei, and we all had Sensei's favorites: Cakes, wine and snacks... 
This anual memorial keiko has become a tradition of our dojo - Masatake Dojo - ISRAEL.

Reverend Kensho Furuya Sensei1948-2007http://www.aikidocenterla.com/memorial/sensei.html

A Great Teacher And a Friend

In 2001 one of my students lent me a book. It was "Kodo Ancient Ways: Lessons in the Spiritual Life of the Warrior/Martial Artist". After reading this amazing book, I became curious about the author. A quick search on the internet, and yeah, I found Sensei's web site. To my surprise, he replied to my e-mail on that day. I thanked him for the interesting book and exchanged some greetings with him. Later on, in 2002, Sensei gave my Aikido Magazine in Hebrew an interview, Several years later, in 2005 Sensei agreed to be interviewed gain. His answers were so interesting...  

Little by little we got to know each other, and he always cared about my dojo and about me. I really don't know why. Some kind of friendship which is beyond distances and cultural gap. Sensei gave my dojo several calligraphy scrolls with wise and beautiful Zen sayings. From time to time we used to talk over the telephone and I used to send him a good tea from Japan when I went there. Sensei also loved Israeli wine and Israeli dried fruit I used to send him for his birthday and for new year.  

The last time we spoke, it was on new years day 2007. I know how lonely one can feel on such a day so it was important for me to call him and to talk for a long time. Sensei invited me to LA to participate in the memorial seminar this April. He told me that when I arrive to LA, he will pay my air-ticket and my stay there... He promised me that we will talk and talk all day and all night. 

Unfortunately I missed this precious chance. During thos years of friendship, Sensei was the only teacher who really personally cared about me. I always knew that I can ask him anything and I always did so... I just never ever thought that he will pass away so young...  There were so many tears in my eyes for many days after he passed away.

originally published by Aikido Center of Los Angeles on their monthly newsletter: http://www.aikidocenterla.com/newsletters/acla-newsletter-4-2007-small.pdf

A present from Fujita Masatake Sensei

About 4 years ago, just after a wonderful Aikido seminar in Holland with Fujita Masatake Sensei, he collapsed in Tokyo at the Hombu Dojo (Aikido World Headquarters). He was diagnosed with a brain stroke, and spent two years in hospitals and rehabilitation. In the past 2 years, he is at home, taken care by his wonderful wife and weekly visits by a medical team. His close students and friend visit him often, and sensei listens to them, sometimes responding a bit with very small body gestures.

We all miss Masatake Fujita Sensei so much.

Whenever we visit in Japan, we go to visit him, and his wife always welcomes us at their house. These visits are always emotional... Our son Kazuki loved so much Fujita Sensei's visit in Israel. He was like a third grand-father for him, and there was always a nice present for him and a good word during Aikido practice. A year and a half ago, when Kazuki was 8.5, we visited Fujita Sensei, and as always, some of Fujita Sensei's close students and us, stood together with Fujita Sensei's wife around Sensei's bed and spoke with each other, occasionally saying something to Sensei. After a while, we all went to the living room to talk over some cake and tea. Kazuki sat quietly for a while, and then he went back to Sensei's room. He sat there, looked around him at photos and at Sensei, and then he went to Sensei's bed, took his hand, and spoke to him: "How are you Fujita Sensei? I hope you get well soon"...

Whoever was with us over there, will never forget that heart-touching moment. We all had tears in our eyes...

Fujita Sensei changed our dojo, and he changes my aikido. He taught me so many things, not only about Aikido, but also about life and how to look at life. He sometimes spoke about his experience as a student of the founder of Aikido for over a decade. Fujita Sensei helped and fully supposted me and our dojo when we had a problem with our previous teacher who taught me for 14 years...

A couple of years ago, I asked Fujita Sensei's wife, to change my dojo's name, and to call it "Masatake Dojo", using Fujita Masatake's private name. She imemdiately said yes. Last summer, when I visited at their house, she gave me Fujita Sensei's personal stamps with his name on them "Masatake". Use them please, she said, I am sure Sensei is glad to know that you are using them as your dojo's stamps.

The name "Masatake" means: Masa: prosperous, bright, clear,  Take: warrior - same as "bu" in Budo. His name was given to him by a very special person - China's last emperor's calligraphy teacher".

Switch your life ON

It has been over 2 weeks since I quit weekend and night time internet. 

Switching off my computer early in the evening, gave me 2 more sleep hours every day. Not touching the computer during the weekend, gives me splendid family time and attention to my family and myself. Suddenly I have more time to talk to my family, drive somewhere, read books, watch movies on tv with my son... 

I recommend this to everyone. Don't let internet rule your life. You will be happier, healthier, and will surprisingly discover, that everything in your mailboxes waits for you and doesn't go away when you turn your pc on in the morning.

Switch your life ON.

:-)

Jiun - Master Calligrapher (1718-1804) "Shinnyu - essential nature

Jiun 1718-1804, my favorite Japanese calligrapher always hits right into the center of my mind with his straight and powerful works. Please enjoy this shodo by Jiyun. The words are "Shinnyu" with the meaning - something, or someone's true nature as it is, nothing more and nothing less.

Found it on this web site: http://www.japanese-arts.net/calligraphy/jiun.htm

Musubi in Aikido

Musubi: to tie, bind, connect... One of Aikido's teachings and a big challenge in our training. Creating a beautiful musubi, brings birth to a beautiful waza (technique). Creating a bautiful musubi in life, will bring birth to beautiful relationships at work, at home, with nature...

I wrote today this shodo (calligraphy) of the Japanese word "Musubi". I hope you enjoy it.

Musubi

Yoko Okamoto Sensei - Aikido - Kyoto Aikikai.

From my Kyoto Aikido diary:

We arrived on time - too early, as usual. We had about 30 minuets to kill and it was raining. The old shops on Senbon street were not open yet, so we just took an early morning slow walk good enough to wake up a bit.

The simple map took us easily through  a couple of narrow allies, and there was the dojo, righ in the heart of Nishijin district - a neighborhood, famous for its unique machiya houses belong to families that for generations over generations, produced silk products and especially the beautiful Kyoto kimono and obi.

The Nishijin Aikodo dojo is one of the most beautiful dojos I ever saw. Okamoto Sensei (6th Dan Aikikai) expected our visit, as we were introduce to her by email, thanks to Lee sensei from North Valley Aikikai. After a short conversations, we changed into keikogi and hakama. Before class began, Okamoto sensei was already on the tatami mats, busy with her own warming up. Facing the dojo's shomen, she stretched, while the students gathered behind her, and slowly lined up in seiza. A minute or two before class began, the dojo was silent.  One deep bow, and another one, and then a series of thorough warming up exercises with clear and meticulous explanations.

Warming-up naturally developed into training on some basic movements, concentrating on correct ukemi (response to our partner's actions). Those movements developed naturally into various basic techniques.

Sensei practiced personally with everyone. With the Japanese she spoke Japanese. With us she spoke English. With the French she spoke fluent French...

Among many things, there is one meaningful thing I especialy remember. Okamoto Sensei was very clear and precice about what she asked every one of us to do. When she came to you, you know exactly what she wants from you, and she made sure you do it. You may think this might be an obvious thing for a teacher, but for most of us, it is not easy at all to expect the student to do something he actually is able to fulfill now. When you teach, there are priorities - what to understand first, and what to learn next. Our ability is created step by step, and Okamoto sensei is gifted with the talent to recognize the exact ability and potential, each student currently has - even with first time visitors from other dojos.

Okamoto sensei's teaching and aikido, are clear, precise and impressive. I feel that although I attended just one class of her, I took with me something meaningful and precious which still echoes in my mind and is still influencing my approach to teaching aikido. I would like to express here my sincere gratitude to Okamoto Sensei.

Please do not miss an opportunity to train at Nishijin Dojo Aikido - Kyoto Aikikai, and to learn from Yoko Okamoto sensei.

Dojo web site: http://www.aikidokyoto.com/English/Eindex.html

Kyoto Aikido Aikikai: Follow Koyama San to heaven

An elderly woman with shiny eyes and a charming smile approached me right after warming up exercises ended. In a dojo, it is quite common that the senior members make sure that the beginners and the guests are receiving the best possible attention and care.

It was my first time to practice with the Kyoto Budo-Center Aikido Dojo. Training was great, Yoshida Sensei was great, but my most memorable and heart warming experience there, was training with Mrs. Koyama.

Although she looked so thin, and much older and smaller than me, as soon as we began practicing together, I realized how quickly and smoothly she moved, and how easily she adopted herself to each and every movement I made. While I hardly managed to control breath, she remained calm and she even whispered questions and friendly comments.

I am sure she has at least a couple of decades of aikido training experience. She told me that it is the first time an Israeli Aikidoka is visiting their dojo, and that she never traveled to Israel...

When the class ended, I went to thank her for training together. She showed interest in Israel, and I asked her about the idea to visit us, train with us, and teach. When she heard it, she smiled and said "The only thing I can teach or show, is the way to heaven, because soon I will be there, I am 80 years old".

80? unbelievable.

Whenever I remember her, I see in my mind her beautiful aikido and her bright and charming personalty. Training with Mrs. Koyama is one of the most inspiring experiences I ever had in Aikido, and I will never forget it.

I think I'm not the only one who wishes to see men and women, young and old, training together with such joy and care.

I am looking forward to seeing her again this summer.