Musubi Revamped Musubi Heralds
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BIRANKAI EUROPE NEWSLETTER MMUUSSUUBBII Issue 1 July 2010 Chiba Sensei details the history of change CONTENTS 1 Revamped Musubi Revamped Musubi heralds 2 Inspiration in Musubi New Order issolving Birankai Continental 2 Editorial Europe was somewhat painful but necessary for us to main- 3 Dissolving BCE Dtain focus on integrity. It was a ques- tion of our ability to self cleanse and 4 Birankai Austria to change with minimum sacrifice. Its existence has heavily shadowed the 5 Birankai France European Union as an ideological model of ten years and has proved 9 Birankai Deutschland to be too ambitious in reality when the (Germany) individual member countries were still struggling to establish their own foot- 11 Hellenic Birankai ing as national organizations. Having carried out the dissolution does not Photo: Beata Darowska 13 Birankai Israel necessarily mean to deny the idea of Chiba Sensei creating a big family beyond the 14 Birankai Polska (Poland) national boundaries, but it should be tion through a unified format. In and will be realized of its own accord December 2009 both editors, Dee 16 Chiba Sensei in Europe while the member countries strive hard Chen of London for Musubi and to establish their own identity as Suzanne Brunner of Lausanne for 17 Birankai Portugal national organizations. Shiun met in London for its smooth From 4 February 2010, I have had transition and to exchange plans for 18 Birankai CH (Switzerland) three meetings at Hombu Dojo, Tokyo, the future. I would like to take this Japan, two of which were with Doshu opportunity to express my personal 19 British Birankai and with Mr Tani, the secretary of the thanks to Norberto Chiesa the first International Department of Hombu editor of Shiun, which was initially 27 Doshuʼs visit in Cardiff Dojo. These meetings have resulted published from the town of Lussan, in the formal recognition from Hombu France in 2002, and to Suzanne for the following member countries: Brunner as the second editor of Shiun Deadline Birankai Poland, Austria, Switzerland, for the past two years. A special for January 2011 issue: Greece and Portugal. I decided to thanks to Dee Chen as the editor of 1 December 2010 withdraw the request for recognition Musubi since 1995 and whose work for France and Germany as I see that as the General Secretary has been these two countries are not ready at instrumental in the steady growth of this stage. My only wish for this event British Aikikai and British Birankai, is that this could have been done with- who has furthermore taken the chal- out traveling to Japan in the middle of lenge as the editor of the new version Photo: Milena Kremakova winter. (It was the coldest winter in 60 of Musubi of Birankai Europe. I would years!) like to ask the Shihankai Europe and Along with this major shift of dissolu- the leaders of the national organiza- tion of Birankai Continental Europe tions to give their strong support and in the summer of 2009, the Shihankai backup for this new venture to be Europe decided to merge Musubi and successful and meaningful to us all. ☯ Shiun into one single publication, Chiba Sensei, London October 08 Birankai Europe Musubi, in order Shihan TK Chiba 8th Dan to encourage the flow of communica- April 2010 Shihan Chris Mooney finds inspiration in Musubi and the diversity of European culture feel privileged to culture, economic situation, political us guidelines and the underpinning write for the first instability, a country that is at peace, pillars of centeredness, connected- pan-EuropeanI a country that is at war, the weather, ness, wholeness, liveliness and Birankai maga- language, etc. This requires actively openness. We should take care zine. acquiring intelligence coupled with to cultivate these forms, as I have Despite the tur- a martial awareness. This I would observed gaps in knowledge of moil of our recent consider is one form of musubi. techniques during examinations and history in Shihan Chris Mooney On my travels, one of the key ques- on tatami. Birankai Europe, tions which was often asked of me is The great strengths we have within and with the developing autonomies “what is the teacher-student relation- Europe are the diversity of our cultures within our respective countries, I think ship?” In my experience, from the and the diversity of students who had it appropriate to talk about musubi. earliest days when I entered the Dojo, entered the school via different organi- What is musubi? A translation of we were taught a form: to sit in seiza, zations, but were all enthused and musubi is connection, unification, to bow to the kamiza and then to say sincere in wanting to study within the blending, harmonious interaction. ‘onegaeshimasu’ and at the end of Birankai group. The drive and energy As most of you will be aware, I have class ‘domo arigato gozaimashita’. of these people to come together to been travelling throughout Europe This is said by both the teacher and make something very fresh and new since the early 1980s, when I gained the student, and therein begins one is inspirational. There is no reason why my first insight into teaching Aikido in form of musubi. The concept of the this cannot continue. Indeed, now another culture, in Athens, Greece. teacher and student as being separate armed with a little bit more knowledge Armed with limited knowledge and and opposite is a product of dualistic and experience, my spirit is optimistic. experience, but an enthusiastic spirit, thinking. In my view, the essence of Perhaps I am still in danger of falling and with a touch of idealism (a chasm the teacher-student relationship is into idealism, but practical experiences I continually fell into) I taught what where we experience the benefits of have given me a better sense of where I knew. Subsequently, I found myself both teacher and student at once. the edge of the chasm lies. in Bern, Switzerland, whose culture From my viewpoint, there are three Finally, I would like to thank the would appear to be diametrically things on which is it important to focus. many people who were very support- opposed to that of Greece. In both ☯ The first thing is our own person- ive during the period of time when these cases and in the many other al daily practice. A key part to this I was injured. I would also like to cases to follow, I understood that I was study is regular practice with our express my gratitude for the experi- in the process of a student, developing teacher in our Dojo. ence of learning from you, your Dojo an awareness which I would build on ☯ The second thing is a healthy and your culture. ☯ in teaching within other cultures. teacher-student relationship, which As a teacher you acquire sensitivity is an education in the principle of to factors which can impact on Aikido ki-musubi. training in each country, such as ☯ Thirdly, Chiba Sensei has given Shihan Chris Mooney 6th Dan Editorial has not been as successful. In the end nated by the five Aikikai organizations: he had the job of extracting Dojo infor- British Birankai, British Aikido mation from the websites. Our thanks Federation, Scottish Aikido Federation, roducing to all our translators Norberto Chiesa, United Kingdom Aikikai and Komyokan this first Lucienne Suter, and of course Aikido Association. issue of Suzanne and Christophe Brunner for Our next issue is due in January BEP Musubi has proofreading the French articles. 2011 and we welcome submissions been made so Thanks also to Davinder Bath and before 1 December 2010. ☯ much easier with Franco Chen. the cooperation Photographs taken at the course in of a small Dee Chen Cardiff on 18-20 June 2010 conducted Dee coterie of dedi- by the Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba and his cated workers. Suzanne Brunner has son Waka Sensei Mitsuteru Ueshiba been busy collecting the data from the are included. This was the Doshu’s Editor: Dee Chen [email protected] continental Dojos and ensuring that all first visit to the UK since he became Assistant Editor: Suzanne Brunner submissions are both in French and Doshu in 1999. Both were well [email protected] English. In the UK the response to received with around 800 practitioners Sub Editor: Chris Howlin Chris Howlin’s request for information in attendance. This event was coordi- [email protected] BE MUSUBI July 2010 Dissolving Birankai Continental Europe Shihan Mike Flynn reports on the legal and financial hurdles completed t certainly has is depicted below is the complete Birankai to be used exclusively by been an event- sequence of key events which in Chiba Sensei in support of his work ful year within essence concluded in February of in developing Aikido in Continental Ithe European this year. Europe. Birankai. As most On behalf of the Shihankai, I would of you know, like to thank the President of BCE, 2 BCE summer camp 2009 in a decision was Joël Bertrand, all officers of the BCE, Poland taken in Poland and the members of the Dissolution The expenses for this camp totalized Shihan Mike Flynn during the 2009 Committee, for their work. Their self- 17,999.21€. Summer School to dissolve the less contributions in support of the BCE has covered a loss of Birankai Continental Europe (BCE) growth of Birankai over many years 2,409.21€, as follows: and focus our energies on the estab- can not be understated. Our sincerest ☯ the sum of 1,053.21€ (£957.37) lishment and maintenance of healthy gratitude to all of you. has been paid back on 24 September National Organizations.