Mark, with all due respect I was speaking in very general terms about learning most anything. I'm really glad you've found a good teacher teaching you what you want to learn. But I wasn't thinking about aiki at all when I wrote what I wrote (and yes, I do get out and get involved in the IS world too). Some, believe it or not, may actually be looking for that elusive aiki *while also* looking at the entire art, history, tradition, etc. as well. As such there is more to talk about.