An International Aikido Seminar at Shiseikan Dojo

Aug. 13, 1992

Mark J. Norton


I attended a seminar for nearly three weeks in Tokyo at the invitation of Minoru Inaba, who the the Aikido instructor at Shiseikan Dojo at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, Japan. Both Diane Zinale and Sekiya-sensei where there also. During this time I was exposed to Japanese culture and daily life, as well as intensive Aikido and Sword practice. The sections which follow detail some of these experiences. For more information, see travel diary.

Practice at Shiseikan Dojo in Tokyo (8/14/92)

After our rest period, the class started with a display of Kenjutsu. Inaba sensei demonstrated Kashima Ryu sword techniques with live katana's. It was very intense and real. This led to a discussion of how this could be accomplished. Sensei described the hara and where our center is located in the body. The center is at the intersection of three forces: an outward swelling of the abdomen, dropping the shoulders, and pulling in on the anus. These forces come together four or five cm. below the navel.

The center is a way of capturing energy and concentrating it, to be expended elsewhere, such as the hands or feet. Sensei indicated that in beginners, tension exists in the head, shoulders, neck, thighs, etc. This tension needs to be channeled to the center by relaxing the area, releasing its energy. The diagram at right was drawn by Inaba to illustrate the path this engergy should take.

To practice Aikido, one must be relaxed completely and everywhere. Then one can accept force or attack. We practiced this by a partner exterting force on me to relax that area of the body. Breathing properly was also stressed. Proper breathing is drawn into the center and released. A natural rythm is used. Don't force it. Deeper breathing will come in time.

We practiced breathing in and expanding the abdomen. This is hard to do without expanding the stomach also. It was done by a partner holding a finger at your one point and testing the stomach to see that it stays relaxed. This was attempted while laying prone, standing, and sitting in seiza.

A brief period of free practice followed. I noticed that two of Inaba's students had problems with me when I attacked, but the reverse was not so. I dropped down low and attacked with my center as Sekiya sensei has shown us. I may have to ease up on them some. Naturally, Inaba sensei had no problem with me when I attacked him. He is very strong.

Ritsuzen (8/14/92)

We started class with a sitting exercise to practice centering ourselves. Given my early morning attempts at the same, I was starting to get the hang of expanding my lower abdomen. Sensei startd to explain that Chinese Kempo students used an exercise to improve balance and to concentrate force into the center. We thend id this Zen Standing (Ritsu Zen) for 15 minutes. This exercise is done by dropping your center and expanding the lower abdomen. Rise up on both feet (on your toes) with knees bent. Raise arms, slightly bent to shoulder height. Breath into your center. Concentrate on relaxing your body and directing tensions into your center.

This is hard to do. Your calf muscles cramp, your arms become painful and heavy. I was litterally sweating in rivers. I cannot say how I got through it. I just kept going in spite of the (intense) pain. My knees especially bothered me and continued to give me a great deal of trouble after this point.

Kashima Sword Cuts (8/14/92)

After Ritsu Zen, we did more centering exercises. Then we took boken and practiced Kashima Ryu sword cuts in seiza. This is done by making your center, raising up the sword, and softly letting it fall, stopping at the correct angle. No power at all goes into the cut. We then practiced the same exercise standing, followed by walking and cutting together. We were told to pick a line on the mat and walk down it with a steady, level center. The toes touch the line on each step.

To this movement, we added breathing in on the up-swing, out forcefully on the cut. We were told to take a big step, bend front knee 90 , and extend the sword. On the upswing, attension was made to relax the shoulders. Next we took shinai and were shown how to deflect the attack, unarmed, by extending from the center. In the moment of contact, the force is directed back at the uke as a threat to face or neck. Many people were bruised by this. Sensei called this an example of Aiki, we accept the attack, direct it, and return energy all in a moment.

In the after noon class, we practiced eight directions with sword and breathing. Next came a blending and receiving exercise based on Ikkyo. The idea was to start back of hand to hand. On eperson attacked by pushing towards his partner, the other responded by allowing the force to go past until the force is gone, then return it by using the hips. Next we did the same from a katatori grip on the gi. Recieved the attack , turn hips away and on the return, use Ikkyo. I practiced this with Beorn from Norway. He is very good. Beorn is a fifth dan instructor and head of Aikido in Norway. For many years, he was a Honbu stylist and is now slowly changing his technique to Inaba's teaching.

Interview with Inaba-sensei (8/14/92)

A discussion of distance then followed. Sensei described Maia using this diagram:

Inaba sensei then demonstrated this further using katanas with Seki-sensei. This in turn led to an extension exercise to avoid attacks. If nage makes a good center and extends his hand with ki at the moment of attack, it is impossible for the attack to follow through. There is no opening.

I had trouble relaxing and centering low in the afternoon. When corrected to sink into a low stance to recieve an attack, my legs would hurt and tremble again. It was very difficult and prevented me from really performing the techniques correctly.

That evening, after dinner, several of us gathered around Inaba-sensei to ask questions. He made the following statements:

"You must learn to completely relax your shoulders, neck, and upper back. This is a deeply personal thing which you must make your own."

Where did you learn Aikido?

"I learned Aikido from O-Sensei, Nanabi (sp?), and Yamaguchi."

What is the essence of your style?

"Centering and softness."

Why do people have so much trouble learning Aikido?

"O-Sensei and Yamaguchi could not explain what they knew. They gave hints that few understood. I came to a personal realization aft many years of practice in Aikido and Kashima Ryu."

"The mind has its own center and attracts energy to it. This leads to head and upper body tension. By breathing and centering, the two can be balanced. You [Mark] should do this at work. It will help your body to retain its balance."

"Misogi is a part of this camp. Cleaning away the old to start the new."

After dinner, several of us gathered in my room for discussion. Several of the others were having problems with the lessons so far also. Its nice to know that I am not alone in having difficulties.

Inaba-Sensei's Gift (8/18/92)

I neglected to mention sensei's gift to us yesterday. Before going over to the Shrine Assoc. Office, we asked to borrow bokken to take with us to Iwate tommorrow. Sensei disappeared for a moment and returned Kashima Ryu bokkens for each of us as a gift. He told us that these are the last of this kind of bokken. They are no longer being made in this manner. He personally selected good ones for us. The Kashima Bokken is straight, fairly heavy, well balanced, with a heavy wooden tsuba. We were all quite surprised and excited to receive such a gift and thanked him with enthusiam.

Kesa-giri Practice (8/23/92)

Practice was held in the Kyudo Dojo, which has polished, hardwood floors. We started with Ritsuzen for 15 minutes. It was just as difficult, but I was able to relax a little more this time. Next, we practiced Zen walking, using the footstep pattern described earlier. This exercise is done very slowly by shifting the weight from foot to foot. Knees are deeply bent. You are supposed to move forward by feeling the force generated by expanding your hara. It is deeply relaxing and creates a very calm state of mind. Next we practiced Kesa-giri in the Kyudo courtyard (outside in the sunshine).
Some of the points covered were:

  1. Step correctly, in line, toes pointed out.
  2. Extend your hip slightly on the cut.
  3. Open your chest.
  4. Let the sword fall of its own accord, don't power the sword.
  5. Cut from neck to hip.
  6. At the end of the cut, relax knees, body, shoulders.
  7. Kiai on each cut, the shorter the better.
  8. Remember breathing and centering.

Practice startd promptly and we started with Kesa-giri. It is good that we didn't start with Ritsu-zen, since my knees and body are at their limit now. Two hours of kesa-giri followed with 45 minutes of it outside. Inaba-sensei emphasized cutting with your whole mind. When you cut, you must have will to kill. Developing this state of mind came quickly. I was practicing with Sekiya-sensei. On the fifth cut, I accidentally broke his boken. I felt pretty bad about this. It indicates that I am developing power, but I'm not truly soft in my strike, yet. Practice was quite intense, but I was flexible. I had problems with stamina and breathing. Kesa-giri is fundamental. It trains the mind and body to focus on an instant of attack and response. We tried this using Shomenuchi Ikkyo, but I could not do it using the proper mind-set.

Reflections on Shiseikan Visit (4/27/94)

Its been about a year and a half since my visit to Japan. Once again, Sekiya and Diane are visiting the Salem dojo and Chelmsford. Some of the things Inaba-sensei taught me in Japan have been absorbed, but others have not.

For various reasons, I am now in worse shape than I was two years ago. I've gained about 10 to 15 pounds, which is heavier than I should weigh. A certain amount of stamina and breath have been lost and I have slowed down some.

I have, however, retained some of the sensativity that I gained in learning to absorb an attack as it is made. There are times, when working with certain practice partners, that I feel very light and flexible during a throw or technique. Some of the principles of Kashima make more sense to me now, but I have not really gained the flexibility that they demand. This is in equal parts due to lack of practice, injuries, and no guidance. In some ways, the lack of someone to teach and guide me in these things has been the biggest problem. This is not to say that Lou has not helped, but he is not trained in the things that I would like to learn more about.