HIS Karate-Do

I can’t believe it, but summer is on our doorstep (I know this because my daughter and my daughter-in-law, who are both teachers, just went on summer break).  Summer is one of my favorite seasons, longer days, more sun, and more oama and papio (if I ever have time to go fishing ;).  Where does the time go?  Is it just me, or does it seem as if time goes faster and faster, the older one gets – or do we just appreciate it more?  As an AJA, I know I’m approaching one of the honored (or dreaded) milestones in a “mature” Japanese man’s life, celebrating one’s 60th year – the Kanreki.  It was kind of a neat thing, nearly twenty years ago, celebrating my Yakudoshi (“My, you look so young for 41 years!”) – I remember brushing off such remarks and compliments, still feeling (and kind of looking) like I was in my twenties, haha.  But the Kanreki is different; the Kanreki feels so….old.  I remember my Dad’s and my father-in-law’s Kanreki’s – I was in charge of the program and “entertainment” for both parties.  At my father-in-law’s party, his eldest brother (passed away a couple of years ago at 95) gave the toast.  He [...]

“Shoulders down! Shoulders down!”, my old Aikido instructor, Kimura Sensei, used to bark at us regularly. I remember being constantly reminded of the importance of the “One Point” (tan tien, hara, or the center of gravity located 2 inches below the navel), the fallacy of relying on “Chikara” (too much strength or tension), and his familiar “Shoulders down!” command. Today, over 45 years later, in a different training hall, teaching a different martial art, I often talk about one’s hara and the problems with over-tensing the wrong muscles at the wrong time. You will often hear me tell students not to let their shoulders “float”, especially at the point of impact while executing technique. Man, I hate to write too much about technique because one cannot avoid getting too detailed or analytical; as in boring, haha. The best way to learn to technique is always through practice, practice, practice…though it’s gotta be done correctly and with purpose. However, it is possible to enhance a foundation of good, focused practice by a (small) serving of the sensei’s perspective – even if it means I have to write a few paragraphs. I like to use the rather mundane image of squeezing a [...]

Back in 1963, when I was just twelve years old, my dad had decided that I should learn the art of Aikido (not well-known then). I asked dad if I could invite a friend. After he said said yes, I quickly called up my best friend from school and told him how neat it would be, to start training and learning a martial art together. In the few days before we joined, we sat in the living room of his home and weaved all kinds of fanciful scenarios of how our new-found skills would wow the girls in our class and awe any bullies in the cafeteria into submission – this is how twelve year olds think;) Aikido turned out to be more than we’d hoped for; though there were no fawning girls or awed bullies. Over the next few years, we learned throws, falls, rolls, holds, the bo and the bokken; not to mention a little bit of Japanese culture. By the time we got involved in other activities and had gradually ceased our training, we had completed intermediate school and graduated from different high schools. I only got to see my childhood pal on special ocassions or during [...]