THE FOUR PRINCIPLES I Spring 2012 Newsletter Happy New Year everyone! We will explore the four basic principles in this spring newsletter. Please find new meaning, challenge, and inspiration to add to I hope that this New Year brings you all a year of personal growth your aikido. The basic principles remind me to relate to all things and happiness. In Japan, at the end of each year, they vote to and everyone simply and honestly so that there can be connection select a kanji that best represents the closing year for all to reflect and stability. If we can relax completely, we can really be open on for the coming New Year. and extend our ki to those we touch and are touched by. At the end of 2011 the chosen kanji read as “kizuna,” which See you all on the mats again in this New Year. Happy 2012! means bond or connection. For the Japanese, it was the connec- tions made throughout all of Japan after the earthquake and tsu- Sato Sensei, nami hit Northern Japan. The whole nation came together quickly, AWA Chief Instructor, Rokudan bonded, and helped to work towards a steady recovery. The Kiku Matsu Dojo, Chicago, IL Japanese also noted they felt the connection from the whole world as it stepped up and helped in aid, recovery, and rebuilding. I have learned from the actions of Japan as they continue their recovery process. They inspire me with their calm and their willing- ness to extend out to others despite their experience of hardships and the sometimes slow and difficult progress toward rebuilding their lives. By necessity, the Japanese have connected as family, community, nation, country, and now all countries reach out to connect with them. This is the power of unity and communities, both small and large. This year the AWA both gained and lost valued members. Certain bonds and connections within our family were strengthened while others were weakened or broken. As our training continues, it is important for us all to keep aspects of the AWA mission and pur- pose in mind; to continue to pursue the unification of our hearts, our aikido technique and our bodies; and to provide a community for people to share their aikido. In this way we can keep our con- nection, our “kizuna,” to aikido and the bridge of friendship that brought us all together in the first place. NEWSLETTER Spring 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS: ANNOUNCEMENTS: Conflict Resolution and the Four Principles Congratulations are in order!: by John Hannon Sensei......................................................3 Marcos and Maia Mendez welcomed a baby girl, Sophia Midori Mendez! Living from the Center: The Four Basic Principles of Aikido by Eric Wegner Sensei......................................................4 AWA Scholarship Fund!: Did you know the AWA has a scholarship fund? The fund is de- The Four Principles of Aikido: A Short Interview with Four signed to assist AWA members who need to travel but would not Members of Roshinkan Dojo by James Landry Sensei................5 otherwise be able to afford to. If you would like to contribute to the fund, please contact Sato Sensei. Aikido’s Four Basic Principles: An Elephant Discussed by Folks with Vision Impairment? by Joe Vaughan Sensei..............7 AWA Quilt Raffle!: Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the AWA Scholarship Fund. Relax Completely by Michael D. Goodman Sensei.................7 Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. Please contact Kris Teach the Four Principles with the Jo Sumner or Lisa Davies for more information (celtickris@sbcglobal. by Roque Wardel Sensei....................................................8 net or [email protected]). A photo of the quilt is available on page 20. The Four Principles by Richard Price Sensei............................8 DAN PROMOTIONS: You Want Me to What? How to Explain the Four Principles Shodan by Kris Sumner..................................................................9 Wes Bailey, Kyushinkan, GA Mental Imagery for Accessing the Four Basic Principles Buck Bania, Mountain Spirit Aikido, MT by Jonathan Knipping Sensei.............................................10 Colin Caldwell, Retsushinkan, NC Lisa Davies, Kiku Matsu, IL Keep One Point—Or Others Will Do It for You Yuki Matsuoka, Aikido of Rossmoor, CA by Matija Grabnar...........................................................11 Chase Valdez, Aikido of South Brooklyn, NY On the Road by Laura DeGraff Sensei.................................12 Carlos Rosarios-Rios, Bayamon Aikikai, PR Adrian Romo, Kiku Matsu, IL Teaching the Four Basic Principles to Children Kris Sumner, Kiku Matsu, IL by Josh Paul Sensei...........................................................13 Brian Shipkin, Kiku Matsu, IL Shodan Essays: What Is Aikido? and What Is Shugyo? John Thomas, Memphis Aikikai, WV by James Trimmier............................................................15 Isaac Gibson, Aikido of Morgantown, WV Brian Zachariah, Kiku Matsu, IL Nidan Essay: Aikido History and Future Nidan by Renat Takhtaganov......................................................16 Dale Eisenberg, Mission Aikido, CA Yondan Essay: The Application of Aikido in Daily Life Van Scott Fisher, Keishinkan, TN by Luke Maranto.............................................................17 Keith Washington, Kyushinkan, GA Erin Campbell-Claud, Keishinkan, TN Aikido Inspiring Many Generations by Charles Watkins.........19 Thomas Urmanin, Wadokan, PL Photos Page by AWA Members.........................................20 Mateusz Wojciechowski, Torun Aikikai, PL Seminar Calendar...........................................................21 Yondan Derek Duvall, Kyushinkan, GA Bob Hodge, Kyushinkan, GA NEWSLETTER PRODUCTION STAFF: Luke Maranto, Kyushinkan, GA Lynn Seiser, Kyushinkan, GA John Hannon Sensei, Co-Editor, Shugyo Center, Sebastapol, CA Tomasz Tyszka, Wadokan, PL Kris Sumner, Co-Editor, Kiku Matsu, Chicago, IL To make newsletter suggestions and submissions for consideration: The Universal Ki says RECYCLE [email protected] [email protected] or All contents within: © 2012 Aikido World Alliance 2 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012 Conflict Resolution and the Four Principles by John Hannon, Sensei, Nidan Dojo Cho Shugyo Center, Sebastopol, CA An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life: A fight is going on inside me, he said to the boy. It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil—he is anger, picture treatments: envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resent- 0.25pt black stroke, ment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The 50% drop shadow from upper right. other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compas- sion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too. The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, Which wolf will win? The old Cherokee simply replied, The one you feed. - American Indian Proverb He called aikido, “medicine for a sick world,” for it is meant The conflict that we see in the world around us is a reflection of the to develop peace, strength, confidence, and compassion for conflicts with in us. It may, at times, feel as though conflict seeks oneself and for others. us out and challenges us beyond our capacity for harmony. It is in these moments of challenge that we are tested and to one degree (1883–1969) as a practice capable of healing the world of dis- or another succeed or fail. It has been said that the natural state of sonance and strife. He called aikido, “medicine for a sick world,” this objective universe is harmony and that only in subjective real- for it is meant to develop peace, strength, confidence, and com- ity is there conflict. As humans, we coexist in an objective reality passion for oneself and for others. Ideally the practice of aikido is while, for the most part, being completely driven by our subjec- done in a noncompetitive environment and develops the personal tive experiences. It is the collision of these subjective experiences philosophy of those who practice it in a way that shapes their life that proliferates the suffering between us, and it is likely that the outside of the dojo. motive of our every act is an attempt to alleviate this suffering for ourselves. First and foremost in the practice of aikido is the goal and sincere interest in not fighting. Now, this sounds like an oxymoron to most At first, one might consider the martial arts to be practices that people, since aikido is qualified as a martial art. It is sometimes thrive on and proliferate conflict. There is no doubt that they have difficult to convince people that in fact aikido is not a method this potential; however, the martial arts should be understood more of fighting. Aikido ends a fight or conflict… preferably before it deeply than this. For, while they are outwardly martial, traditional starts. This is the philosophy upon which all of the others principles martial arts have great potential to be inwardly pacifying by build- are based. If you really want to practice aikido, the art of peace, ing self-confidence in the face of conflict. In that way, the martial you can’t be looking for or accepting a fight. Instead, you have arts are preemptively conflict-resolving in nature. It is my belief that to dedicate yourself to developing an awareness and sensitivity the true goal of the martial artist is the pursuit of peace within and that will keep your spirit out of conflict in the first place. Become outside of oneself. aware of danger zones (physical, mental, and emotional). Try to understand your blind spots and buttons (again physical, mental, The martial art of aikido is particularly suited as a practice to and emotional). Be courteous and friendly without being naive. develop the skills of conflict resolution. It is often called The Art These things go a long way to help maintain peace within and of Peace and was envisioned by its founder, Morihei Ueshiba without. (continued) 3 NEWSLETTER Spring 2012 (continuation) Just about every aspect of aikido can be applied you experience with each of the principles to one’s daily life.