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"Noe Valley Voice" (May 1990) |
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[Although not included in the article, the photo above depicits Gengo Sensei, currently the sole teacher at the dojo, throwing students Doug Uyeno and David Eves at AIKIDO OF NOE VALLEY].
PRACTICING THE GENTLE MARTIAL ART OF AIKIDO (PART II)
by Janis Mara
(Con't)
"People are usually impressed with the atmosphere [at the dojo]. Higher-ranking aikidokas don't feel its an onus to help beginners," says Gengo. This is not always the case in martial arts, he says, which emphasize discipline and a hierarchy based on skill and experience--from the senior black belts down to the white belts, or beginners...Gengo estimates that approximately 30 percent of the Aikido of Noe Valley students are beginners...
To signal the end of practice, Gengo claps his hands twice. The students immediately assume seiza position, sitting erect with their legs tucked under them. This traditional position is designed to help students focus their attention. Although the Noe Valley aikido is more relaxed than many, says Gengo, he still emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between regimentation and sloppiness.
"Usually class begins and ends with hakushu, the opening and closing ritual. In between, there's a warm-up, then we practice three or four techniques," he adds.
Like judo, aikido began in Japan. Aikido's founder, Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), is said to have been the master of 31 martial arts. To fashion aikido, Ueshiba combined elements of many of them, including spear-fighting and swordsmanship, as well as karate punches, jujitsu throws, and some judo techniques.
"Ueshiba believed strongly in the unity of mankind," notes Gengo. And two years ago, Gengo helped to further this philosophy by traveling to Moscow with a delegation of 30 aikido teachers. "At that time," he recalls, "there were about eight people practicing aikido in Moscow. When we returned a year later, there were 500. Now the Soviets tell us its up to 1,000."
"In January, seven Soviet aikidokas came to the United States for an exchange visit. Perhaps this was in some small way a realization of Uesbiba's goals," says Gengo.
Ueshiba was a friend of Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, and students of aikido would often train in both sports. "Fukuda Sensei [the judo master who launched the Soko Joshi Judo Club at 1622 Castro Street 18 years ago] was excited to have an aikido dojo here," says Gengo. "She remembers how, when she was a little girl, aikido and judo people would work out in each others classes." The shared space between Noe Valley's aikido and judo schools thus forms a link to the earlier days of each discipline.
Although aikido is less forceful than many martial arts, Gengo says it is extremely effective. He began practicing aikido [28] years ago when working on the psychiatric ward at McAuley Neuropsychiatric Institute at St. Marys Hospital in San Francisco. Although he knew judo at the time, Gengo needed to be able to protect himself and "restrain someone without harming them. Aikido worked for me on the wards," he says.
An added benefit of practicing this or any martial art is that it can help those who are unused to physical combat become more adept at handling potentially violent situations. This can be a plus for women in particular, who want to avoid being victimized. Gengo estimates that roughly half the students in the dojo are women.
Instructor SueAnn McKean [who is no longer an instructor at the dojo] got into aikido when she was in college studying philosophy and psychology. She was feeling "out of touch" with her body, she says, and found aikido to be the answer. In her jobs as a personal trainer and aikido instructor, McKean says its important to stress "the feelings and attitudes you're trying to embody, rather than just technique. I see myself as a mom sometimes nurturing the new kids so they can grow."
O'Connell emphasizes good form as a way to apply the spirit of aikido. He says, "AI means harmony, KI means spirit, and DO is the the way. You can interpret this as: in any situation where things are not in harmony but colliding, how can we get them to work together?"
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