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When I did judo I had a Japanese-Canadian sensei and called myself a judoka. When I did shotokan karate I had a French-Canadian sensei and called myself a karateka. When I started aikido I had a Japanese sensei and when I called myself an aikidoka he said that I could call myself what I wished but I had to understand that the '-ka' means that (1) I devote my life to the study of aikido, (2) I make my living from aikido, and (3) I am prepared to die at this moment if challenged by anyone for any reason.
I have called myself a 'student of aikido' since that day.
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