Jun Akiyama

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[Daniel Lloyd]

Hey Jun,

Out of curiosity's sake, do you participate in any of the discussions or do you just focus on maintaining order? I just figured/assumed you'd get bored from time to time so I thought I'd have a chat with you. Find out about you.

What style of Aikido do you practice? What's training like? What's your lineage for your particular dojo? Have you only practiced Aikido or have you dabbled in other arts?

:) I'm all ears. And anyone else who would like to answer those questions themselves [for/about themselves] feel free to do so. That's all, just answer those questions. Nothing more. :)

Cheers.

Daniel

[akiy]

Hi Daniel,

I tend to keep out of participating in the forums as my time is limited. Also, I prefer not to share particular details about my own training as I do not wish to color this forum with any particular bent. I hope that makes sense.

Best,

-- Jun

[ChrisHein]

Hi Daniel,

I tend to keep out of participating in the forums as my time is limited. Also, I prefer not to share particular details about my own training as I do not wish to color this forum with any particular bent. I hope that makes sense.

Best,

-- Jun

I understand where you're coming from, but I must admit, I've been curious about you and your training myself!

I have, a few times, been talking with other Aikido students about something that happened on Aikiweb, and said, or heard said, "Man I wonder what Jun thought about that one".

In some ways it feels like I sort of know you, because I see the direction you're taking Aikiweb, read your posts, and see your frustrations. But on the other hand, I really don't know anything about you.

If you ever do feel like sharing, I for one am interested!

[ninjaqutie]

Jun is like the man behind the curtain in Oz. The eternal man of mystery. :D

I actually respect the fact that he lets us do our thing. He truly is a moderator. If we get out of line, he either reminds us or puts us in the corner if needed. I think we all forget exactly how busy he is keeping this thing going. It is a lot of work.

THANKS JUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AsimHanif]

I had the opportunity to introduce myself to Jun at Endo Sensei's last visit to DC.
Jun was very gracious and humble. I think we were both happy to put face to 'pen' finally. I also saw Jun take beautiful ukemi from Endo Sensei.
Whatever his 'style' may be, I got the impression he was a nice guy who likes aikido.

[SeiserL]

Without disclosing the story that is not mine to tell, I can attest to the man's integrity, commitment, and skill.

His contribution is to provide a forum to collect and to be a catalyst to the conversation.

[Janet Rosen]

Without disclosing the story that is not mine to tell, I can attest to the man's integrity, commitment, and skill.

His contribution is to provide a forum to collect and to be a catalyst to the conversation.

Same here.

[Ron Tisdale]

I've met Jun, and really admire him on and off the mat. All I can say is,

THANKS.

Best,
Ron

[Nick P.]

I had the opportunity to introduce myself to Jun at Endo Sensei's last visit to DC.
Jun was very gracious and humble. I think we were both happy to put face to 'pen' finally. I also saw Jun take beautiful ukemi from Endo Sensei.
Whatever his 'style' may be, I got the impression he was a nice guy who likes aikido.

I too met Jun at Endo Sensei's last trip to Montreal; I agree, nice guy.

[Beholder]

Somebody has to mention the action figure.

OK here's the action figure (http://home.earthlink.net/~jimbaker6/jun/jun.htm).

[ChrisHein]

It's funny, one day I was wondering if Jun had a dojo, so I searched Jun Akiyama, I came across the wrestler; I was a bit perplexed!

[Keith Larman]

Met him briefly up at the Aikiweb seminar a few years back. Didn't train with him directly but saw him on the mat. Nothin' but respect from me.

[mathewjgano]

I believe I had the chance to meet him one time while I was in Japan, but I missed the opportunity.
...and speaking of opportunity, I'll take this one to also say thank you. I think he does a great job here!
Take care all,
Matt

[Flintstone]

What. Job?

[Janet Rosen]

What. Job?

He created this site singlehandedly.
He maintains it singlehandedly.
It is not his dayjob. It is a labor of love.
Being both a supporting member and at times buying sponsored links, I assure you the income generated from those things cannot possibly cover the price of server, his time, etc.
On top of, yes, actively reading threads and replying to private messages concerning moderation issues.

[Keith Larman]

What. Job?

Geez, Alejandro, did someone step on your cookie? Even my 10-year-old doesn't sulk around as much as some of you. Seriously, it isn't healthy, get over it.

I would suggest you guys put your money (literally) where your mouth is, put up your own discussion board and moderate it as you see fit. Then you can happily say what you want to say the way you want to say it. And run it the way you want. And life will be good. If it turns out to be a superior place then "they will come".

[oisin bourke]

Geez, Alejandro, did someone step on your cookie? Even my 10-year-old doesn't sulk around as much as some of you. Seriously, it isn't healthy, get over it.

I would suggest you guys put your money (literally) where your mouth is, put up your own discussion board and moderate it as you see fit. Then you can happily say what you want to say the way you want to say it. And run it the way you want. And life will be good. If it turns out to be a superior place then "they will come".

Totally agree. Grow up, man.

[raul rodrigo]

Alejandro, since Janet's answer to you was the correct and obvious answer, part of me suspects that you would define Jun's job as "getting in the way of Alejandro's fun."

[Flintstone]

Totally agree. Grow up, man.
I'm more than grown up, thanks kiddo.

[Flintstone]

Geez, Alejandro, did someone step on your cookie? Even my 10-year-old doesn't sulk around as much as some of you. Seriously, it isn't healthy, get over it.
So sorry my old self cannot dig through your slang.

[Flintstone]

Alejandro, since Janet's answer to you was the correct and obvious answer, part of me suspects that you would define Jun's job as "getting in the way of Alejandro's fun."
He regularly does. Good observation. Besides, defending one's POW here is not fun at all, but somebody must do it.

[Flintstone]

He created this site singlehandedly.
He maintains it singlehandedly.
It is not his dayjob. It is a labor of love.
Being both a supporting member and at times buying sponsored links, I assure you the income generated from those things cannot possibly cover the price of server, his time, etc.
On top of, yes, actively reading threads and replying to private messages concerning moderation issues.
You have your opinion based on your experiences with the man. Well, me too I do have mine. Is it really so hard to understand?

Listen, I do have my reasons to disagree with his moderation. I said it in private before and I publicly state it here once again. Now three/four people got offended by my opinion because it differs from theirs. Well, grow up men, he can be the creator, the moderator, the ruler, the Emperor... but he's just a man and yes, he does make mistakes. But that's just my opinion.

[Janet Rosen]

I'm not "offended." You are ascribing motives or feelings to me that don't exist.
I read the words you wrote: "What. Job?" - which doesn't really tell me anything specific about your opinion other than that you wonder what exactly he is doing.
I replied specifically to those words. I can't read your mind, only your words.
If this is not a discussion board in which we have such a discussion, what ARE we doing here, any of us?

[Flintstone]

Nope, Janet. What I wonder is what exactly "he is doing great". Because... in my own opinion, his moderation is NOT a great job, as Matthew said.

That said, some of you require from me to grow up just because they obviously believe Jun's doing a great moderation job and don't understand that maybe other people's feelings are not the same.

So yes, if we cannot discuss what ARE we doing here? Or do we all need to agree all the time about all the matters?

[Janet Rosen]

Well, seems to me you and I have cordially agreed to disagree - works for me.

[Flintstone]

Well, seems to me you and I have cordially agreed to disagree - works for me.
Great. Works for me too ;) .

[akiy]

Hi folks,

Just a quick thought from me that I'm fine with people thinking I'm doing well and fine with people who think I'm doing horribly. I certainly can't and won't please everyone, and I'm OK with that. So, as far as I'm concerned, there really isn't much there to get into an argument about...!

Hope you're all enjoying the first days of Spring.

-- Jun

[lbb]

That said, some of you require from me to grow up just because they obviously believe Jun's doing a great moderation job and don't understand that maybe other people's feelings are not the same.

Not to belabor the point, but I don't think that's why people are telling you to grow up. It's because you seem to be stuck on the idea that things are "not fair" in a way that very much resembles a child's reasoning on fairness (and honestly, I'm not saying that to be insulting). We all have our views of what the rules ought to be and how things ought to work, children no less than adults. Once children have grasped the idea of rules and fairness, they generally go through a period where they believe that their own sense of fairness and rules is universal, or that it should be. When a child comes into a place where the rules don't agree with that child's sense of "ought to be", the child often gets stuck on that point: Not fair! Ought to be! Ought to be fair the way I think of fairness, ought to be the rules that I think make sense!

People are not trying to get you to accept that Jun's moderation is great, and they're not calling you childish for believing otherwise. They're telling you that it is what it is, and you need to stop expecting it to be perfect (or expecting that you can and should make an eternal bone of contention out of its imperfections) and move on, rather than get stuck on a childish point of "ought to be".

[Flintstone]

Oh, I see. Stubborn equals childish. Ok. Well, let me be childish again: Not fair! Ought to be!

But yes... why should I care after all. It's that kind of behavior (yours) what makes politics what they are, perverting it to conform the establishment.

[lbb]

Alejandro,

If you are with a group of people, and everyone wants to play volleyball, but you want to play football instead, what would you call it if you continue to argue with them that they should play football and like it? Then you refuse to let it go when the others say that it's fine if you want to play football, but they want to play volleyball, and wish you the best of luck in finding a football game as they go off to play volleyball. Then you bring your ball and insist on playing football in the midst of their volleyball game. And then you make out that it's "that kind of behavior" -- that of others -- that is the cause of the problem.

Stubborn? Childish? Maybe both?

[mickeygelum]

Alejandro, Dear Alejandro....

Mano, have you not realized yet, that this is a community of self-stroking egotist! April Fools!!!!

For all that is pure, it defended the molestation of a minor by a "Well Respected Shihan", stating that forgiveness is due!

Does it not surprise you that the incessant ramblings by certain New Englanders is void of thier GLTB overtones and thier mutiple identities, herein. Failing, the emplaced features and moderation that is so undeniably maintained?

Lest we forget the fifth kyu shihans, they sure set us straight, how the real aikido folks do it. Never to mention, Ole' Petey shihan wetting his pants at Holiday Park Sport Center when he found out who he was mouthing off to.

I must have been smoking crack when I saw posts disappear, as I have seen, had perpetrated upon me...then had emailed to me with hate mail from certain individuals. The same individuals, that claim vast followers and great aiki skills, yet do not have any one to vouch for thier abilities!

Dear Alejandro, you must must be mistaken, confused or just clueless. Those things do not occur here, it is impossible...the integrity of this site is beyond reproach...immaculate, as I see it!

Simply amazing what $10 a year will get you these days!

Train well,

Mickey

[Flintstone]

Mary, there you go again.

I see it more like me and my supposed group of people have a football ball. And then all of them insist in playing volleyball with the football, while I keep telling them that a football is for playing... you guess what? Football.

Yours is a flawed analogy from start to end. But it's ok if you belong to the establishment and are on the side that keep on wanting to play volleyball... with a football.

Mickey, great point you have there! LOLed a lot! But anyway, what are you doing here? You don't even play aikido! You have things like you know, shomen ate. And more important, you can pull it out for real! Doh!

[ChrisHein]

I would like to take a moment to say thank you to Jun, for creating and working hard on this website; my favorite Aikido website.

I would also like to take a moment to say thank you to all those who are brave enough to offer dissenting opinions. Those opinions tend to shake things up, and make us think honestly about what we are doing.

[lbb]

Time to stop scattering seed on toxic ground. Have a good weekend, y'all.