Osensei's Feet of Clay
On another thread, in response to something I wrote, Joe Curran asked:
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But just off the top of my head (and these are all on record--documented--not just my opinions): 1. He was a supporter of idealistic fascism throughout his life--he opened his dojo to terrorists, and at Deguchi Onisaburo's behest, volunteered his services as a bodyguard to Hashimoto Kingoro when he was on a mission of assassination. (one bit of proof is actually in Anno and Holiday sensei's book - the treasured bokken that was broken in practice with Hikitsuchi sensei, was given to Ueshiba by Okawa Shumei - - a remarkable man, but one of the architects of WWII, political assassination, and the exploitation of Asia (Ueshiba maintained this friendship--calling Okawa sensei until his death in the late 1950's). 2. I do not argue in the slightest his ultimate goal of a world of peace, and that aiki is love. But he conflated this with himself as an avatar to make this possible, and at times, relegated others' practice as a kind of spiritual energy production so he could do the godlike work of unifying heaven and earth. 3. Stating he was beyond moral questions, he countenanced a number of behaviors amongst his followers that were not only considered immoral in the West, but Japan as well. 4. He worked at the Nakano Spy School, teaching people how to kill, and stopped, not because of his horror at the idea, but because his methods were not considered useful enough - -he was replaced by three Shotokan karate instructors, who tested blows on captives. And no, I'm not going to go in to documenting each of these statements here. That's why I wrote my book (2nd edition release is spring of 2014). My point is the same as I would make regarding Gandhi (who had some truly bizarre ideas on sexuality), on Martin Luther King (who was less than faithful), or Thomas Jefferson (a hypocrite on race). We actually have a better chance of appreciating and learning from great men and women when we see them as men-and-women, not gods. I believe Osensei's heartfelt statements--and the restructuring of his budo as a moral endeavor, came as a result of struggles with his own demons, not only his saintly response to the ills of the world. What I love about Anno and Holiday sensei's book is that, as I can easily become preoccupied with the moral failings of this great man, they remind me of his greatness, a moral vision that far transcended his own humanity. He, like all the best of us, reached for something beyond--not only others, but beyond himself. Ellis Amdur |
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Hypocrisy is almost a guaranteed component in the life of interesting people. Not sure why folks are still so horrified to discover it in those we place on a pedestal. We certainly don't live in a world of absolutes. I appreciate the opportunity to know my predecessors as humans rather than demigods.
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I am entirely on a page with you, Mr. Amdur, perhaps a small part of why, as much as I love aikido as an art and philosophical approach to life, don't fit in well with many dojo groups.
In my own reading, well beyond just your excellent works, much of this information is equally obvious and ignored. I believe it is really important that we don't put those who have pointed a meaningful way forward upon pedestals. Doing so is often a sign of a "follower" preaching their own agenda in the name of their avatar. Of course, that ship has already sailed. Regards, Tarik |
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O Sensei is by no means the first person to have views which are controversial and morally repugnant.. Tony Blair, for example, using his ideas of a moral compass [his religious conviction ] ended up in Iraq pursuing non existent weapons of mass destruction.By doing so he to all intents and purposes, by invading Iraq[along with Mr Bush ] killed thousands of Iraqis and soldiers of both sides. Religious fanatics were the keystone of the Inquisition.The list of great men with great weaknesses could fill pages and pages ,My own view is O sensei was a product of his time, just a human being with flaws. No more no less.Of course his Martial Art prowess must have been exceptional.So let us just do what we can to ensure this legacy is maintained. Cheers, Joe. |
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I said in another thread a few weeks ago that I am continually amazed by the number of people for whom it is not enough for aikido to simply be aikido.
There are those who treat aikido like a religion, and I think the belief that Ueshiba was a kind of saint or prophet is an extension of this. If aikido is just aikido, then Ueshiba can be what he was: a great martial artist with a great idea. And that understanding of O Sensei is not one that can be punctured by his failures as a human being. |
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Best, Chris |
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Of course, one could say that modern Aikido is different from what Morihei Ueshiba was doing, and they might have a point, but I think that most people would be loathe to admit that. Best, Chris |
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(I'll cop to that though). |
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I don't agree at all. In what universe is modern Aikido the best possible product? Why would we declare our Aikido adequate and not pursue the depths of Aikido's possibility just because our progenitors were of questionable morality? Hell everyone is of questionable morality.
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Chris |
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I'm not sure how you get around that. He didn't say anything about an "ultimate, divinely ordained path" - and neither did I. Best, Chris |
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In any case, whatever "oneness with God" is, I think one would be hard pressed to show that an aikidoist is more likely to achieve it than anyone else. |
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The way around this is to interpret his words as merely describing a training methodology which can be used to develop physical skills as found in some Chinese martial arts! You might notice that none of Ueshiba's students actually seem to be transmitting a training methodology like this. But that will work out excellently, when further on down the line, you find yourself frustrated and disenchanted with the Aikido organizations created by those students. :D The only problem is that you then have to start looking pretty seriously at Ueshiba himself, and you start to realize he highly regarded people who were instrumental in large-scale murder and very very dirty politics, and was largely okay with the idea that the Japanese should bring Asia into a warm, protective place just under the heel of its boot. (And other stuff, like certain indignities perpetrated on shoji screens...or was that Deguchi???) :eek: |
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I am now, and have been, a member of the Aikikai for more than 30 years. There's nothing wrong with expressing dissatisfaction with actions of an organization that one belongs to - at least not in the United States. Welcome to Democracy. I'd note that your own teacher was so "disenchanted with the Aikido organizations created by those students" at one point that he left - although he eventually went back. Best, Chris |
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Where people go with that is up to them, of course. Best, Chris |
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(Though of course I am probably reading too much into that and really Ueshiba was just planning on standing still and feeling the spirals of ki go up and down his body so that he could prevent students from pushing him over.) |
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I wonder what aikido would look like, what it would be called if Japan had won the Pacific War? Or if they had been successful in negotiating a peace with the United States in 1942 as Admiral Yamamoto hoped. Obviously any opinion would be mere speculation, but to me an interesting thought after reading Amdur sensei's book.
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Oh, I think I understand what the world would have looked like. My interest here was really about aikido specifically. O Sensei was apparently an ultra-nationalist before the war and certainly associated with folks so inclined. After the war he seemed to adopt this more loving and harmonious persona. I just wonder if that would have been the case if Japan had not lost the war. Obviously this is a question that can't be answered, but I wonder what the old leopard's spots would look like. He was certainly a spiritual character before the war and until his death, but that didn't stop him from his ultra-national politics in the pre-war period.
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I was a white belt when Osensei was alive and aikido was One. There wasn't all these schools and politically bs that happen. he was an inspiration and simply human. Maybe not such a great teacher but an inspiration as his students fumbled around for the teaching. Tohei was the head guy and most responsible for creating aikido in America in the 60's and its amazing to me how he isn't acknowledged enough by the current hot shot teachers. for some his message of aiki was too much, too soft, and they couldn't really do it., Osensei was probably more of an artist than a leader.
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Best, Chris |
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