9. Switching to Iwama Style (2)

Whatever style of Aikido you follow, all Aikido is derived from O-sensei and this inheritance (O-sensei's legacy) and the comprehensive concept of Aikido is the property of the Ueshiba family. We are therefore obligated to respect the successive Doshu formally as the center of the Aikikai organization at all times without regarding whether or not we belong to Aikikai. All Aikidoka can coexist under the sole ultimate concept (goal) of Aikido — Harmonization and Love.

It is natural that a lot of people in the future will continue to practice and inherit Aikikai style although it represents the techniques that were arranged using one part of O-sensei's techniques by the 2nd Doshu. However it is also natural that some people will continue to practice and inherit Iwama style, that is O-sensei's techniques under the present situation. That is a matter of historical facts not a matter of organizations.

We Japanese are called one of the most polite nations since the days of old especially with respect to the relationship between the teachers and the disciples in the martial art world. This relationship is a strong bond. In a sense it is a splendid thing but it can result in our thinking emotionally rather than rationally.

I believe the sole thing that we should seek is the truth. All of us, beginners included, have the right to seek it. It must be the same in Aikido world, too. We should never prevent people from seeking the truth and looking for the rationality in things.

Of course I know it is very difficult for us to switch from one style to another since organizations are apt to be given priority over individuals in our society. However when you decide to research some other style of own free will, it is important that you should will yourself to do it. And if you can keep good relationship with the previous teachers, seniors and fellows even after you switched styles then I think that you must be a very courageous person.

In Iwama style people have to train both the Body and the Weapons techniques in a parallel way because they have to learn the relationships between the two.

However this should be viewed differently. The large number of the techniques means many flexible applications of the techniques in an actual self-defence situation. This is also worth the effort that is required especially for young people since it offers so much more to explore. Like me, even elderly people can surely acquire both techniques. Incidentally I switched to Iwama style in my mid-fifties, and the longer I practice it the more pleasant I feel.

This is the official opinion of Aikikai headquarters nowadays. It is possible to hold the view that the Weapons techniques are optional if we think only in the context of an actual self-defence situation.

However O-sensei's last completed Aikido in Iwama is composed of both the Body and the Weapons techniques. This is Iwama style and in it the Weapons techniques are compulsory not optional because the Weapons techniques are indispensable to training not only the breath power but also the Body techniques.

Please refer to the indispensability of the Weapons techniqus at Chapter 7 (the third).

If you feel discomfort in hurting your pride you had better not to change your style since whether your switch to another style successfully or not depends on your ignoring one's own pride and being committed to the change. You can't switch unless you abandon your pride of your present skill (dan) once and for all.

If the style that you are switching to is rough and forceful style, it is not the real Iwama style as I mentioned in the previous chapter.

Although a little martial power is needed at the first stage of it, eventually the real Iwama style requires mainly breath power to perform the techniques without the need for much martial power. Furthermore the Ki-no-nagare of Iwama style is the real Ki-no-nagare and helps one perform the techniques rationally and sharply without any mutual collusion with Tori's harmonizing to Uke's free attack one-sidedly. As I have related in the last part of Chapter 7, Iwama style is suitable for women and elderly people if you have a competent teacher who follows the correct curriculum.

Yes, I agree it and it is one of the major difficulties in learning Iwama style at present. Anyhow you can try to contact Iwama style dojos by using the following method if you live in Japan. The best way is to ask whether you could stay at Ibaragi dojo at least one week. Then Hitohira Saito sensei may allow you to stay if you are eager and serious about learning Iwama style. If you don't have enough time or live far from Iwama, you would be had better consult Hitohira Saito sensei asking which dojo is the nearest to your residence or as to what you should do.

Please call †Ibaragi dojo (Iwama style) — 0299-45-3788 (dojo) / 0299-45-2224(Sensei's residence)

Yes, I agree it that this is also a big problem in learning Iwama style. If you don't continue Iwama style practice then you revert to your former style or practice a mixed style. Anyway you can obtain information from Ibaragi dojo about the places where Iwama style dojos are located nearest to you. Once you know the basic principles of Iwama style, you will be able to learn and research by watching the videodisks or the reading the books of Morihiro or Hitohira Saito sensei.

I am very happy that you are now acquainted with Iwama Shinshin style due to this thesis.

That is all right and it is better that you continue in your present style. However in the future when you become a leader/teacher it may be for you to think about this aspect — content of each style as a martial art.