The Aiki Dojo
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Awarded “Outstanding Cultural Organization”50th Anniversary Southern California Japanese Chamber of Commerce – Recipient of the Brody Multi-Cultural Arts Grant 1988 Aikido Center of Los Angeles, LLC, 1211 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 – Tel: (323) 225-1424 – www.aikidocenterla.com The Aikido Center of Los Angeles The Aiki Dojo Direct Affiliation: Aikido World Headquarters, 17-18 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan Los Angeles Sword and Swordsmanship Society Kenshinkai The Furuya Foundation October 2013 Volume XXXII Number 10 Letter From the Editor we think it amounts to something worth prac- In This Issue… by Mark Ehrlich ticing. Hopefully we all will so we can get Editor, The Aiki Dojo better and make the world a little better, day Letter From the Editor by day. by Mark Ehrlich.…..….…….Page 1 Fall has arrived in Los Angeles. The days Integrity have grown shorter, and the nights cooler. This issue, Ito Sensei discusses the impor- by David Ito…..…….……….Page 2 The farmers markets brought out the very last tance of integrity to our practice and overall of their grapes and peaches (which tasted de- character by relating stories of those who The Mysterious Shingen Tsuba liciously sweet this year) and put up the first demonstrated great integrity from the past, by Rev. Kensho Furuya……...Page 3 of their pumpkins and apples. And strolling including one of Sensei’s mentors at Hombu Our Neighbors, Our Food around the streets of Little Tokyo, I notice Dojo. Maria Murakawa weighs in with the by Maria Murakawa.....……..Page 4 many people bedecked in their Fall finery, the latest food reviews, yet interestingly enough darker colors striking quite a contrast to the makes a realization about the fundamentals of Why Wrong Feels Right bright, warm daylight we still have here. training while doing so. And as we always (But is Still Wrong) do, we have Sensei step out of the archives to by Rev. Kensho Furuya.……..Page 7 For me, this month marks a chance to take a share his thoughts on two different topics, one Class Schedule ……....….….Page 8 last, deep breath before plunging into the last, of interest to our Iaido students on a particu- deep pool of the year. Before we know it, larly notable tsuba, and one of interest to any Dojo Map …………………..Page 8 another year will have come and gone, so I try martial artist on how easily wrong can feel to make a practice of using October to reflect right in our training until we finally see the on what I’ve done so far and observe what light, if we get that lucky. You’ll also see a Upcoming Events remains to do before the holiday season. Do- few announcements appearing throughout October 26th ing this keeps me honest. Also, I find Hal- about upcoming events at ACLA that we Instructor’s intensive loween a great time to connect with my young hope you’ll want to share with us. nieces and our children’s class families, and October 27th the other children in my circle. Joining in on I hope you enjoy reading this month’s news- Children’s Class the fun of costumes and treats and games letter. Please let us know; we always wel- Halloween Party helps keep me feeling young at heart, even if come your feedback and contributions. November 28-29th I’m not the young fellow I once was. Giving Dojo Closed this kind of attention to myself and to others Until next time, take care and be well, and I’ll Thanksgiving has yielded me benefits not only in my prac- see you on the mat! tice but also in my relationships with others. November 30th Instructor’s intensive This month, The Aiki Dojo considers some perspectives on what’s right. Of course, eve- SAVE THE DATE! December 7th Dojo Christmas Party ryone has their own views, but we’ve taken up those principles which seem to have with- Dojo Christmas Party December 21st stood the test of time and, to our way of December 7th Osoji thinking at least, offer a way of being consis- Year-end cleanup tent with the Way as we understand it. For December 28th us, Aikido means something more than Last intensive of the year throwing people down. It means practicing Last practice day of the year right relations with ourselves, other people, the natural world, and universe at large. That December 29th sounds perhaps like a challenging agenda, but No children’s class Aikido Center of Los Angeles www.aikidocenterla.com Integrity Many talk about loyalty, but how many can really live it, espe- by David Ito, Chief Instructor cially when it comes at a cost? “The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to During the Warring States period in Japan there lived a famous do. The hard part is doing it.” daimyo or feudal lord named Uesugi Kenshin who was lauded for General H. Norman Schwarzkopf his honor as much as his successes on the battlefield. Uesugi had a fierce rivalry that lasted for more than 14 years with the great bat- It can be said that in tle tactician, Takeda life our choices de- Shingen. Throughout fine us, and if we their rivalry, neither take that proposition could gain the deci- one step further we sive upper hand in can see how life be- battle. Since both comes an accumula- daimyo were said to tion of choices. For be masterful military most, the hardest part tacticians, they began lies in knowing to develop a mutual which choice to make respect for one an- and when. Many other and even ex- people try to choose changed gifts several the direction that times to show their makes the most sense mutual admiration for or aligns with what each other’s skill. they want in life, The Great Battle at Kawanakajima by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi There is a famous while for some the with Uesugi Kenshin in the center and Takeda Shingen on the left story that illustrates path of least resis- Uesugi’s admiration tance or the easiest road possible seems like a better choice. Occa- for Takeda, as well as his legendary honor. The legend goes that sionally, a few lone standouts surface who choose neither the logi- during the time of their rivalry Takeda was engaged in a battle cal nor the easy path but one that ultimately leads them down a with some local daimyo who had successfully cut off his region’s path toward their greater selves. supply of salt, which was crucial in the preservation of food. It was a decisive move that could have severely crippled Takeda’s Shortly after O Sensei passed away, forces and could even have led to his demise. Uesugi believed this some of the instructors left to start to be a dishonorable act and sent salt to Takeda with a letter that their own schools or organizations. stated, “Wars are to be won with swords and spears, not rice and One of the strongest instructors who salt.” In the end, Uesugi never did best Takeda, but his decision stayed was Kisaburo Osawa, who not to attack showed just how far higher individuals will go to live was one of Hombu Dojo’s strongest a life of virtue. Seizing the moment, Uesugi could have destroyed Aikidoists and also one of its high- his adversary in his moment of weakness, but to him a dishonor- est ranking. He was extremely able victory is tantamount to defeat. When the time comes, will gifted and more than one shihan we forgo our honor for gain? reportedly referred to him as “enlightened”. Osawa Sensei en- Astronaut Neil Armstrong can be thought of as one of our greatest Kisaburo Osawa Sensei joyed great popularity and could American heroes, but before he walked on the moon I think he have been wildly successful had he numbered one of the greatest men ever to walk the earth. He was decided to strike out on his own, but instead he decided to follow well known to be an extremely modest person, but despite his reti- O Sensei’s request that everyone support his son and successor, cence the people who knew him always talked about Armstrong Kisshomaru Ueshiba. In a time when Japan’s economy wasn’t being a person of strong character. A little-known story during the very strong and the opportunities were minimal, one might have Korean war, when Neil Armstrong served as a fighter pilot, illus- guessed that Osawa Sensei would think of himself first. However, trates just why many of the people who knew him described him as he was reputed to be someone of firm conviction; therefore, to a “superlative” person. It was just after dawn and Armstrong was someone like him honor and loyalty weren’t just terms – they were on patrol flying his F9F Panther jet over North Korea when he tenets by which he lived his life. I think that Sensei’s character spotted a large group of unarmed North Korean soldiers doing was greatly influenced by the time he spent with Osawa Sensei at their morning fitness exercises. As he flew over and surveyed the Hombu Dojo and he always talked about how much he admired scene, he chose not to open fire on the unarmed soldiers and just Osawa Sensei’s loyalty and personal sacrifice. When the opportu- flew on. When asked why, he stated, “It looked like they were nity presented itself, Osawa Sensei chose honor over personal gain having a rough enough time doing their morning exercises.” because he knew that living the Way meant that our actions – or, moreover, choices – dictate whether we truly live the Way or not.