10. Conclusion

Well please look at the chronological table showed in Chapter 2 again.

Table: The Bases of Aikikai and Iwama Style Aikido

In this table I added two commentries on Iwama style chronological line :

1. "The common principle of Ken, Jo and Body techniques" completion is discribed in the thesis Chapter 7 (third).

2. "The phased teaching method" origination is described in the thesis Chapter 2 (Note 6).

In early 1970s Aikikai style had been already spread and established its firm position as the main style of Aikido due to the efforts of several leaders; the 2nd Doshu, Koichi Tohei sensei and so on. Just around that time Iwama style had begun to show up in Aikido world in the form of Morihiro Saito sensei who devised new phased teaching methods for O-sensei's Aikido to be used to teach the general public.

Since then about forty years have passed and Iwama style has been gradually understood as O-sensei's latest style. However I don't deny that Aikikai style is Aikido. Because the ultimate concept of Aikido is exactly the same — Harmonization. I never have any objection to this noble concept. By the same reason Aikikai style people should not deny Iwama style itself.

However the big difference between the two styles lies in the difference of the contents and methods. Speaking in a little more detail, it means that the detailed forms and the total number of the techniques and the efficiency (rationality) of teaching methods are very different.

If you seriously want to acquire the real self-defence techniques it is clear that Iwama style is practically suited, as I have related in this thesis. Why don't you begin by taking a step towards that goal of overcoming some difficulties by switching from another style as I mentioned above?

Last I would like to write about the mental side of Iwama style because I'm afraid some people may think that Iwama style is deals solely with strength but doesn't focus much of mental training (the concept). On this issue, first I am going to introduce the words of Hitohira Saito sensei as follows:

"There are some seniors who intend to stop their juniors' techniques or inflict (unnecessary/injurious) pain with their martial power (physical strength). These seniors are acting in opposition to O-sensei's Aikido because their techniques are only martial techniques but never involve mental discipline. They (the seniors) are wrong and should be avoided. I can do it, you can do it and everyone can do it, it is the real O-sensei's Aikido. We must pour mental discipline into our techniques."

In order to harmonize with your partner one-sidedly you have to have the mind of self-restraint first. O-sensei taught this discipline as the word Masa-katsu A-gatsu ( The true victory is victory over yourself ).

In Iwama style this is also a most important discipline. In other words the relative strength against your partner is not important, the absolute strength( See Note at the end of Chapter 4 ) that you could control your partner at any time before you move is important and it is our ultimate goal. O-sensei said about this situation:

"We don't practice Aikido to win over the opponent. We practice it to make a situation that we have already won."

O-sensei also said to one of his former disciples, a well-known teacher, when he was asked to extend the range of Aikido techniques in order to beat all opponents, as follows in the middle of 1950s:

"Your idea is wrong. We must be strong. However it is not enough only that. The age of winning or loosing, strength or weakness had already gone. The age of Love is coming now."

The name of the disciple is Minoru Mochizuki sensei, the head of Yoseikan style Aikido, and he came from Kodokan, the Mecca of Japanese Judo, in 1930. After the war he went to France in 1951 and stayed there for about three years. His style is a comprehensive mixed style, Aikido with Judo, Karate, boxing, wrestling and so on. He says in his book that he was taught the idea of Harmonization by O-sensei.

The sound of Japanese word "Ai" has two meanings, one is Harmonization and the other is Love, and O-sensei said occasionally "Ai (Harmonization) is Ai (Love)." O-sensei then clearly declares in these words that the ultimate aim of Aikido is "Aikido of Love."

However at the same time we must consider the fact that at that time O-sensei had already almost acquired absolute strength with his Aikido itself. If we can remember this fact we will also figure out the meaning of the saying of O-sensei "We must be strong" as it is a necessary precondition to reach Aikido of Love.

In other words O-sensei could only have acquired the spirit of real Harmonization because he almost acquired absolute strength. In the world of Budo, we must first be strong before we can proceed to develop the spirit of Budo.

Of course, we the general public including myself, will almost never to be able to acquire absolute strength. However as long as we are have any anxiety about our strength as martial artists, we can't embrace the real feeling of Harmonization and Love with everybody from the bottom of our heart, can we?

Even though unskilled presently, if we continue to train in our style's method we may believe that in the future we will be able to approach the acquisition of absolute strength. At this point our anxiety will be disappeared, our hopes will be born, our heart will be stable and then we will be able to imagine and realize the mental state that will allow us to be able to harmonize wholeheartedly with everyone.

We can this mental state "Absolute Harmonization" as a formal expression. ( See Note at the end of this chapter )

Iwama style is the style that aims for the goal of Aikido of Love presupposing our acquirement of absolute strength by Katai-keiko, Ki-no-nagare and the Weapons techniques. While the ultimate aim of Aikikai style is also the same, Aikido of Love, its practical techniques are however only Ki-no-nagare that starts at beginners' stage and the Weapons techniques are not compulsory.

It can therefore be said that while they are both aiming at the same destination, Aikido of Love, the two styles are very different in the routes taken towards that destination.

At this the end of the thesis, I want to appeal again for all enthusiastic and industrious Aikidoka around the world, especially to young beginners who are intending to enter Aikido world, as follows: Could you try to take the route of Iwama style if possible? You will be able to enjoy the great bounty of O-sensei's Aikido itself.

The End