TanshInkol Heodquortar tlJesunlnster,Collbrnlo, U.S.R * Sprlrp99. Vol. #9 REMINISCENCE OF PASSINGOF OSENSEI INNER INSIGHTS: MORTHETUESHTBA (1883 -1969) by limWenrick by Dang Thong PhongSensei Twenty-threeyears ago in Apil, on happinessthat victoriesbing. How- For most people who are reading the 26th day, the Founder of Aikido ever,in thefuture, whenstrength and this article the word Aikido is not left this transient life forever and youth fades so will victories.All vic- unknown.However, there are a few retumed to the No- Thingness.Even tories are relative.Can there be an readersfor whom theword Aikido is though Morihei Ueshibaphysically absolutevictory? What is the effectof new. left this earth, he left his form of non- victoryon an individual. In the eyeof competitive,self transforming Budo the univene, winning or losing in the So, what is Aikido? Very simply in the hearts humanworld stated,Aikido is a martial art whose and minds of isvalueless.It goal is to put an end to violenceand all the dis- is no better fighting. Its aim is to promote both ciples who uh than the rtse internal andexternal peace and har- study Aikido and fall of monv. all over the {# s& tide on the world. beach.Is it (Continuedonpage 2) not a wasteof He had con- "*d time to ducted devote all of IN THIS ISSUE...... painstaking one's life to researchand seeking vic- Article Page had gone tories and through dif- def eating Reminiscenceof Passingof ferent schools others?" O'SenseiMorihei Ueshiba L of the manial Inner Insights 1 arts.Notuntil Master Editor'sNote 2 he was forty- Morihei TenshinkaiAikido Federation two years of Ueshibacon- Honors Morihei Ueshiba 3 age did he centrated all The Meaning of Aikido 4 thoroughly his effort to Fort SaskatchewanAikido Morihei Ueshiba(1883-f 969) understand solvehis own Seminar 6 the unique meaning of nature. He questions.He visitedall the famous QualityNot Quantity 7 foundedAikkloin 1927. templesand studiedphilosophy. He QuestionsFor Master Phong 8 lookedfor a quietplace to meditate. A Day To Remember 9 During O'Sensei'sdevelopment He wassubmeryed with thequestion: Aikido 10 many doubts occuned in his mind. "Whatis MartialAn?" SenseiDang Thong Phong "What is the use of trying to defeat hasreceived... 11 otherswith our skills? In theprime of After severalyears of training and Aikido Seminar 11 youth a person is physically strong, traveling one day, descendingfrom Congratulationsto but strengthfades away with ageand the mountain,he wentinto the yard ShihanMasatake Fujita 11 time.Inthe presentone canenjoy the (Continuedon page4) Aikido Insights ) EDITOR'S NOTE: AIKIDO INSIGHTS INNERINSIGHTS: Cont... Founded 1991 Where did the word Aikido EDITORS: originate? From it's founder, O'- Jim Wenrick, Editor-in-chief SenseiMorihei Ueshiba(1883- Dang Thong Phong,President 1969). He defined Aikido: Ai (uniting in harmonyand love for STAFF: allthings);ki (not fully translatable in English,howeverthe basic ele- Neta Wenrick ments of ki are embroiledin Asian Tam Do culture philosophyart, physical Tanh Van Phan Tuan H. Nguyen training,the vital training energyof Frank TH l:urent life);do (tnuy). Eric Womack Nhan Ho O'Senseideveloped Aikido from Jim Ogborn JimWenrick other martial art forms. Some of Quang Nguyen these disciplinesare: sumo,jujitsu, Tho Le A momentof time has passedsince aikijutsu,bojustu, kendo,etc. the last issueof Aikido Insightswas - AIKIDO INSIGHTS published. Nevertheless,many When forming/shapingAikido, is the Newsletterof the events have occurred. The high- Morihei Ueshibawas not only con- Aikido Tenshinkai Federation. lights were when Master Phong cerned with the functional techni- visited Fort Saskatchewanto 8536 WestminsterAvenue quesof other martialdisciplines. He present a seminar and the Budo Westminster,CA92683 was also involvedwith inner trans- (714) 8e4-rOO3 Crnter celebrated O'Sensei'sPass- formation of himself and his stu- ing. The readerwill find manyexcit- dents. @ 1992,All Rights Resenred ing articles in this issue. One particular Published item for the newsletteris For the beginningstudent of Aikido, Quarterly "Questions For Master Phong." the area of inner transformation, Any reader is invited to send any work or inner issues(ie: anger,fear, questionrelating to Aikido to....All resentment,envy, selfish pride...) is questions will be reviewed by most often neglected.What inter- Master Phong, and Aikido Insights techniques. However, it goes ests many new and novitiate stu- without saying that Aikido as O'- will attempt to publishthem in the dents are the apparentlyeasy, following issue. Senseitaught is much more than techniqueswhich are effortlessly technique(s) and proficiency in and powerfullydemonstrated by the Many thanksto Dang Thong Phong their execution.At the foundation Senseiand other advancedstudents. Senseifor his time and energy in- of Aikido is inner transformation. The goal is internal transformation, volved in this issue,particularly for One of O'Senseiconcerns was that harmonyand love. his responsesto the questions.Also studentsseek the understandingof many thanks to Tanh Van Phan, Aikido. This canbe accomplishedby SomeResources: Andrew Avalos, Bruce Maclrod, reading,practicing and listening to JosephJill, Eric Womack, Tam Do the various Senseisand advanced Budo by and Richard Phan for submitting Morihei Ueshiba. studentstalk about it. Beyond the Aikido: The Way of Harmony by J. their articles. hundredsof techniquesAikido is Stevens. not easily understood.In order to All of us at the Budo Center hope The Principles of Aikido by understandAikido a student must that you will enjoyand grow with this M.Saotome. first desire to understandits mean- new issueof Aikido Insights.o Aikido bv O. Ratti.o ing. If thisis not doneAikido is noth- ing more than skill in performing Aikido Insights TENSHINKAI AIKII'O FEIDERATION HONORS MORTHEI UESHIBA by Eric Womack April 26, 1992marked the 23rdyear tion of variousAikido techniques. thusiasmover thesenewly learned of O'Sensei'spassing. Dang Thong techniques.New friendshipswere Phong Senseiof the headquarters McGouirk Senseibegan the adult discovered and the old ones dojo, TenshinkaiAikido Federation seminarand commented on the new renewed. invitedGary WellbornSensei, a 4th mat. He was very kind to tell the dan and his North membersof the Budo Center that Everyoneat the seminarindicated Orange County appreciation of Mc- Aikido Club members Gouirk Sensei'sstyle to attend.Phong Sen- and teachings.He had sei also invited Frank a way of teachingthat McGouirk Sensei,a was both very nice to 5th dan and his stu- watch and easyto un- dentsfrom Aikido-Ai, derstand.His step by Whittier, CA. Mc- step method was very Gouirk Senseiwas to popular. give a three hour seminar at the con- The day was one of clusion of the gratefulness and ceremony.In the true remembrance of spirit of O'Sensei's peace, harmony, teaching, all three togetherness and Aikido associations friendship.On behalf gatheredto honor the of SenseiDang Thong founderof Aikido and Phongand members of his teachings. DangThong Phong presented flowers to Frank McGouirk Sensei Aikido Tenshinkai they have the best ukemi in the Federation.thanks to state. McGouirk Senseishowed everyonewho madethis a veryspe- Phong Senseibegan the ceremony over50students smooth and flowing cialdav.. by readingthe beautifuland moving techniques.He words of O'Sensei.Afterward, saidthatAikido flowerswere presentedand candles is for everyone, lit at the newlyremodeled shrine for old and very O'Sensei. McGouirk Sensei young. All of summedup the ceremonybest by theparticipants saying,"These very beautifulwords enjoyed the are felt with great sadnessin my seminar and heart.All of us havegreat reason to learneda great feel both sad and huppy.Sadfor deal. After two O'Sensei'spassing and happy that hours, a pot- he left us with this wonderful art to luck lunch was practice and this harmoniousand served.Many peacefulway of life; theseare the were reluctant teachingsof O'Sensei."To conclude to stop training the ceremony,a few studentsof the due to en- Budo Center put on a demonstra- Frank McGouirkwasteaching an Aikido technique Aikido Insights REMINISCENCE (Cont.from page1) THE MEANING OF AIKIDO of a hut and poured a bucketof waterover his bodythen lookedat the blue slq. Suddenly,he felt himselfelevated, JoeJill, Aikido Shodan and enlightenedwhile teardrops rolled down his cheel<sin his gratefulnessto the universe."Try to find, and you will Theword"AIKIDO" meansharmony (AI), energy(KI), see."Ilith all his mind and body,he acknowledgeda great and method or way (DO). Aikido was developedby truth of nature. Since then he was one with the spirit of masterMorihei Ueshiba.It was developedfrom self nature.This is what is understoodto be enlightenmentof defensemethods which were takenfrom swordfighting, heaven,a stateof directunderstanding of theperfect truth Aikijitsuand other martial arts. Aikido hasto dowith the mentioned in ZEN. HARAwhich isthe centerof innerenergy. Everyone has this intrinsicenergy but very few peopledevelop it. The centerof the energy(HARA) is a point approximately2 inchesbelow the naval.This is roughlythe physicalpoint of balanceof a man'sbody, otherwise known as the center of gravity.Aikido placesgreat emphasis on this balance point andinner energy.It is the wholebasis of Aikido. The Aikido practitionerlearns to defendhimself through smoothextension of poweragainst one attackeror many. This is accomplishedby neutralizingthe opponentand havingcontrol over his or her actionsat all times.The attacker is neutralizedwithout