Josh Gold
An editorial authored by Robert Savoca Sensei, Chief Instructor of Brooklyn Aikikai.
Kazuo Chiba Sensei, an uchideshi (live-in student) for the founder of Aikido, was my teacher. I was fortunate to be with this remarkable man as a live-in student myself and travel with him on many trips. Chiba Sensei wrote about the traditional dojo having:
. . . an impractical existence. It is not a social club, recreational center or business enterprise, nor even a training hall or school, as it has been treated largely in the West, but it is a sacred place. Not the kind of place that appears instantly when the mats are put down, but one that exists somewhere out there physically, whether or not it is used all the time. It is such a waste, in a business sense, when one considers the size of the space, and such impracticality can be fatal to a dojo in its struggle to survive.
I consider that the life of the dojo is an impractical existence relative to our normal, gaining-losing consciousness, and, as such, is of vital importance to it. Normal, or abnormal as we are, and as we struggle to survive in this competitive and materialistic society, there needs to be a space somewhere that exists for something beyond our sense of practicality.
Our great need for the dojo, which waits out there empty and unused, for us to return to each day, is what gives it its purpose as a sacred place. A place of vacuum where that so-called practicality, which is based on the gaining-losing consciousness, with its consequential conflict and isolation, can be neutralized through a counter existence.”
In reflecting on his words, I find that the practice of Aikido could be considered impractical in light of not receiving awards, rank, or testing one’s self in competition. I consider Aikido to be a system of dynamic martial movements, that is, kata. It involves a large degree of cooperation. Once a person’s balance is taken, that person does not try to counter, does not try to resist. There is no active sparring, and although an uke should be firm and not collapse, they do not offer a fighting resistance. It is not a dance, but it is not a combative fighting system either. And it’s time for its practitioners to stop apologizing or defending their art in regards to this.
Could Aikido be used for fighting or self-defense? Yes and no. All martial arts are based on getting off the line of attack, minimizing an opening, and seeing where the openings of attack are located. In this sense, many of the movements are excellent. But for them to be used in real situations there must be an active testing of the techniques with resistance and duress.
“The argument that young people don’t try Aikido because they only want mixed martial arts or fighting arts is simply not true. Many of my students did not come to the dojo seeking to learn to fight. It is time to let Aikido be what it is.”
It is not my interest to offer Aikido in this way, and when Aikido becomes a system of fighting and resisting and striking and grappling, it is no longer Aikido. It is fine, but it is no longer Aikido.
Many of you who know me well, know that I studied boxing seriously for seven years, and have been practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for about fifteen years. I have nothing but the utmost respect for these arts, and much gratitude to my instructors in them. I also have the highest regard for fighters and competitors in these arts.
Contrary to what some people in Aikido may believe: the ego and misplaced personality leading so many of us astray can be worked on in competitive arts if one has a good instructor. Simply because a system promotes competition does not mean that certain undesirable aspects of competition cannot be transcended.
Truly, though, I am not interested in answering all the “what if” questions (such as “Can a practitioner of Aikido dominate a practitioner of another art?”) For a long time I was interested . . . and that has now passed. Although I feel that Aikido has martial potential, its real value lies in the waking up of an individual. O’Sensei was a deeply spiritual man, and his search through training led to this aspect being manifested more and more, especially as he aged.
As many great people have said much better than me: the world will only change with individuals waking up. When we have woken up more and more, we will transcend the idea of subject and object, stop objectifying each other, stop exploiting each other, and stop warring with each other.
By its very design, Aikido’s purpose is to reconcile. Its “goal” is to resolve subject and object, to bring heaven and earth together. This is the ideal, and of course it is us that get in the way. However, we must still carry on and try.
The argument that young people don’t try Aikido because they only want mixed martial arts or fighting arts is simply not true. Many of my students did not come to the dojo seeking to learn to fight. It is time to let Aikido be what it is. Let the practitioners of Aikido deepen their search of themselves, while keeping the art vigorous and dynamic and sincere. This does not involve a dance-like Aikido or a system of grappling. There is a healthy tension in between the two extremes that may be found.
Finally, let the people of Aikido see the value in other combative fighting arts and give them the credit they deserve. Many fighters are spiritual people seeking themselves. They are effective at walking that path. Whatever path you choose, go deep into that and be grateful. It’s enough.
Thomas Merton wrote about the desert, which reminds me of the true significance of a traditional dojo, which Chiba Sensei wrote about above.He said: “The Desert Fathers believed that the wilderness had been created as supremely valuable in the eyes of God precisely because it had no value to [people]. The wasteland was the land that could never be wasted by [people] because it offered them nothing. There was nothing to attract them. There was nothing to exploit . . . The desert was created simply to be itself, not to be transformed by [people] into something else. So too the mountain and the sea.”
I offer that perhaps Aikido is the same: the fact that there is no competition, no real rank, no awards, essentially nothing to be had is its real value. I am deeply grateful to my teacher for all that he gave me and this world—I hope that I can pass a small amount of it on through my work here in Brooklyn.
Robert Savoca
Chief Instructor, Brooklyn Aikikai
Great contribution. Thanks for writing this article.
Thank you, for teaching aikido !
That’ beautiful!
Well said. Thank you.
And it’s time for its practitioners to stop apologizing or defending their art in regards to this
Robert, right on! This needs to be said and address more thoroughly. The value of a martial art is not always measured by how effectively you can beat someone into submission in a cage. Even that scenario is highly contrived. Unfortunately, this definition has come to dominate the debate. This also begs the question–to what degree do we mix or experiment with the art to bring it closer to a “combative art”… and in the process, losing its true essence?
Gassho
I think its true, nobody want to fighting every day. the purpose of martial arts is to survive in any situation. not only winning the fight
“By its very design, Aikido’s purpose is to reconcile. Its “goal” is to resolve subject and object, to bring heaven and earth together. This is the ideal, and of course it is us that get in the way. However, we must still carry on and try.” How do you propose to achieve this ideal through the study of a martial art if non compliant testing is not a fundamental part of practice?
A good and refreshing article. Thanks
Love this.
You say “Aikido’s purpose is to reconcile.” Sounds nice, but I say, no. Aikido is The Way of Aiki. It’s purpose is to develop aiki. Nothing else. You can then try to put that aiki into your AIikido, or, into your Judo or Jujutsu or whatever.
100 % 👏
Ryugan Sensei, this is a wonderful distillation of the essence of Aikido, particularly from Chiba Kazuo Sensei’s perspective. A similar, but still slightly different, point of view from Kanai Mistunari Sensei is:
“Harmony does not mean just getting along with people on the basis of the lowest common denominator, or creating agreement without regard to rules in order to avoid confrontation and maintain an easy going or overly comfortable environment. Harmony, as used in Aikido, does not involve compromising, diminishing, or diluting opposing things and their individual essences. Such an approach waters everything down, sacrifices the essence of things, erodes standards of behavior and attitude and thereby diminishes each individual. Rather, Aikido’s harmony brings different-even opposing-elements together and intensifies them in a way that drives everything toward a higher level.”
Thank you for this very important article and valuable lesson.
Great Article thanks 🙏!!
I think it is a good article, but should not stop there. I think this is a part and there are more parts that are just as viable. Andrew Benioff’s view point of from Kanai Mistunari Sensei is also a part.
Also Miles Kessler’s statement that I use on my web site is also a wonderful part:
Aikido is unique among martial arts in that it teaches calmness and creativity in the midst of aggression …. compassion and non-violent responses towards violence …. and resolution of conflicts without harming others.
Perhaps we could see the parts like the blind men describing the elephant. Each man feels a different part, but the parts are all parts of the elephant.
I tell people I don’t teach fighting. I teach how to end the fight.
one of the finest pieces I have heard from anyone at any grade. One we should all read and think on for a long time, Once understood then start to train again.
No argument with any of Robert’s well expressed thoughts, and I love the Chiba Sensei article about Dojo as a Sacred space. I would only add that no apology is required either by those who present aikido primarily as a practical system of protection. If I deliver on a young man or woman’s initial motivation for training (usually personal protection) they may fall in love with aiki, as I did almost 50 years ago. Then they may stay long enough to experience aiki as life changing shugyo.
If I/ they meet their short term self defense objectives then leave – I say wonderful ! They feel success, and only have good things to say about their aiki experience.
As far as I can understand, Aikido was created by O’ Sensei Morihei Ueshiba with a great technical influence from Daito Ryu, and the reason that attracted him to study under Sokaku Takeda was the art’s martial effectiveness.
Then he developed and added a philosophy of love and harmony but I don’t believe in doing so he disregarded or undervalued the effectiveness of the art, after all he still considered Aikido to be a martial way.
How can we establish peace, protect what we love and harmonize with ourselves and our environment if we lack the means to physically support this philosophy?
In my understanding, O’Sensei also created Aikido as an all encompassing way and not a set of techniques.
So if I can use physical techniques from other striking and grappling arts to achieve the goals of peace and harmony proposed by the founder, isn’t that Aikido?
I also believe we can not appreciate true harmony if we don’t experience conflict, we can not truly know peace if we don’t learn from violence, and the safe and scientific way to experience conflict and violence in a controlled manner should be in the Dojo, and through keiko learn ways to prevent and bring conflict to an end.
If there are elements In other arts that can contribute to achieve our goal i think they should be taken into consideration.
And yes, the culmination of Aikido is peace but we can not reach that level without the knowledge and means to establish and defend it.
We should not try to obtain the end result without going through the process that O’Sensei himself went through, learning effective martial methods that later lead him to discover the importance of harmony both in a physical and philosophical sense.
I have also trained in Boxing and Jiujitsu for many years and I feel these arts complement Aikido in a wonderful way, and open more chances and possibilities to keep learning and discovering a way to harmony.
Dear Robert,
Very much appreciated your perspective and that of Chiba Sensei.
That the dojo is a “sacred space”….”there needs to be a space somewhere that exists for something beyond our sense of practicality.”
And your perspective, “Many of my students did not come to the dojo seeking to learn to fight. It is time to let Aikido be what it is. Let the practitioners of Aikido deepen their search of themselves, while keeping the art vigorous and dynamic and sincere. This does not involve a dance-like Aikido or a system of grappling. There is a healthy tension in between the two extremes that may be found.”
We are at a transition in Aikido and we need more courage in forging ahead into articulating the beauty, power and value of this art…
With thanks,
Patrick
An interesting reflection on the dojo and aikido as a sphere of activity with its own reasons for practice, both martial and spiritual. Interesting note at the end though, after saying there’s nothing to be gained from it, to say one would like to share everything one has gained.
A dojo is not a “sacred place” if instructors or organizations are turning a blind to unsacred behaviors. It’s not a sacred placed if you allow senior students and chief instructors to protect their lineage and the ego of their teachers versus protecting the sacredness of all life and treating all new students with respect and care.
It is not okay if chief instructors speak out more about the value of their teachers versus the harm that their teachers have caused and the ongoing ripple effect thereof.
It is not sacred to say that aikido is not a fight yet men can do what they please without a woman being able to object. And then once a woman speaks out the retaliation towards her is not reconciling but more injurious.
If you speak of reconciliation, where is the reconciliation that you are engaged in to repair damage done by your teacher and your organization which continues to impact people daily?
Dear TK-
You may come by and see the work we are doing directly in our dojo. I hear you and agree.
-Ryūgan (R. Savoca)
My God
Such Amazing Words and energy shared. Thanks à million
This is sooooo why I practise aikido
Searching people why share this spirit
Thank you soo
Sunda y I will Teach for first time à seminar
I will talk About this
It is my heart
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Veroniquea Van outrive
http://Www.hikari-healing. be
Perfect summary thank you