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The last blog entry of mine, "What isn't taught in Aikido class" might not be your average Aikido blog entry fare, but it serves to preserve a part of Aikido that isn't pretty.
We just can't sweep the ugly truth under the rug and forget about O'Sensei's war experiences and the horrors of the way the Japanese, at that time, acted during the war. But many would love to do that, to sweep the ugliness under the rug and forget it. To bury what is too shameful to remember forever. Some will not face it, some distract out of embarrassment with glossy folklore romanticism. Some, well they flavor it with mystical salt and pepper. Others are very happy the ugly truth is redefined and misunderstood. But, this ugly truth, the history, is very vital in understanding Aikido and what is behind it. Because as time marches on history gets further away from the truth, from accuracy, as it slips into misty obscurity. It becomes forgotten or ill-remembered, at best. The result is the distortions and twisting of the truth, or the real reason behind why we practice Aikido, and why it is about love, and what that truly means.
This truth is something, unbearable for some as it is, should be the first lesson taught in Aikido. If this was done, it would best serve Aikido and be truer to O'Sensei and his Aikido.
I don't think there is enough people in the world of Aikido who knows about what I spoke of in my blog entry. We kind of go blindly into Aikido accepting what we are told as being the history the reasons, because we are told that from those who are authorities. This could be as result of they are just orally passing down what they where told, or they just don't want to talk about it.
If a person who joins Aikido and is mislead intentionally or unintentionally -all of which basically not being told what I described in my blog entry - is an injustice to Aikido and O'Sensei.
I know that there is a philosophy about things that if it is close enough or they get the general idea, despite the background fact not quite right is good enough, "it's close enough..." That is only good for horseshoes and hand grenades- both of which do damage.
10-31-2009 11:15 AM 