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Ken McGrew · 01-09-2012, 05:15 PM

Once again we have tag team attacks from Harden and Chris against myself that are insulting in their form and intent. Surely others will jump in soon. Jun, how long will this be allowed? If I addressed these people they way they address me, which I have done in frustration on occasion after tiring of turning the other cheak, I would be reprimanded for doing so. Harden is the primary source of conflicts on these forums and yet he is allowed to stay without correction. Will the community allow him to continue to make these insulting posts against me without end?

Once again we have stating that I don't know what I'm talking about and stating that I'm somehow confused about Saotome Sensei's teachings. If I respond by quoting Saotome Sensei at length then they will attempt to silence me by accusing me of trying to speak for Saotome Sensei, of claiming to be a Shihan, or other devices. I have had long conversations with senior teachers in ASU including Ledyard Sensei whose association Harden continually uses in an effort to dismiss my views. While Ledyard Sensei and I don't agree on everything, I am certain he would express the view that I do know what I am talking about, given that we agree on at least 90% of the views that I express, and the other senior teachers have also assured me that I am presenting Aikido as they understand it and were taught by Saotome Sensei. Harden is in no position to judge my understanding of what Saotome Sensei teaches. And he is not qualified to claim that he knows what Saotome Sensei is doing or teaching. As far as I know Harden doesn't have a Dan rank in anything.

I have repeatedly posted the interview with the Hikitsuchi Sensei, awarded 10th dan from O Sensei who was there before and after the war. He thought highly of Doshu. I know he is ignored in these posts because he completely undermines the claims that are being made. I have at least four sources for the statement that the movements of Aikido mimi the movements of weapons and nature: O Sensei, Doshu, Chiba, Hikitsuchi Sensei, and Saotome Sensei. I have posted the links and quoted from these sources repeatedly. I am backing my statements with source materials. It is not so important whether O Sensei had a certificate to teach weapons. He observed weapons systems. The flow from opening to defense or offense and back again in the sword is very much like the creative nature of Aikido, though somewhat more confined. Saotome did not merely make up the weapons movements that he teaches. He took the things he'd learned and organized them into new kata for teaching Aikido principles, but he got the movements from O Sensei and from some sword training which he had done.

Harden isn't attempting to engage in a real discussion but rather simply to use me as the target of his aggression. So I probably shouldn't respond. When I'm accused of not understanding my teachers or not sourcing my statements then I feel compelled to do so. Anyone else might feel compelled to do so as well.

For the record, I do not agree that Doshu is the villain being described here. I'm with Ledyard Sensei on this one.

01-09-2012, 05:15 PM	#26
Ken McGrew Dojo: Aikido at UAB Location: Birmingham, Alabama Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 230 Offline	Re: Morihei's changing picture. Once again we have tag team attacks from Harden and Chris against myself that are insulting in their form and intent. Surely others will jump in soon. Jun, how long will this be allowed? If I addressed these people they way they address me, which I have done in frustration on occasion after tiring of turning the other cheak, I would be reprimanded for doing so. Harden is the primary source of conflicts on these forums and yet he is allowed to stay without correction. Will the community allow him to continue to make these insulting posts against me without end? Once again we have stating that I don't know what I'm talking about and stating that I'm somehow confused about Saotome Sensei's teachings. If I respond by quoting Saotome Sensei at length then they will attempt to silence me by accusing me of trying to speak for Saotome Sensei, of claiming to be a Shihan, or other devices. I have had long conversations with senior teachers in ASU including Ledyard Sensei whose association Harden continually uses in an effort to dismiss my views. While Ledyard Sensei and I don't agree on everything, I am certain he would express the view that I do know what I am talking about, given that we agree on at least 90% of the views that I express, and the other senior teachers have also assured me that I am presenting Aikido as they understand it and were taught by Saotome Sensei. Harden is in no position to judge my understanding of what Saotome Sensei teaches. And he is not qualified to claim that he knows what Saotome Sensei is doing or teaching. As far as I know Harden doesn't have a Dan rank in anything. I have repeatedly posted the interview with the Hikitsuchi Sensei, awarded 10th dan from O Sensei who was there before and after the war. He thought highly of Doshu. I know he is ignored in these posts because he completely undermines the claims that are being made. I have at least four sources for the statement that the movements of Aikido mimi the movements of weapons and nature: O Sensei, Doshu, Chiba, Hikitsuchi Sensei, and Saotome Sensei. I have posted the links and quoted from these sources repeatedly. I am backing my statements with source materials. It is not so important whether O Sensei had a certificate to teach weapons. He observed weapons systems. The flow from opening to defense or offense and back again in the sword is very much like the creative nature of Aikido, though somewhat more confined. Saotome did not merely make up the weapons movements that he teaches. He took the things he'd learned and organized them into new kata for teaching Aikido principles, but he got the movements from O Sensei and from some sword training which he had done. Harden isn't attempting to engage in a real discussion but rather simply to use me as the target of his aggression. So I probably shouldn't respond. When I'm accused of not understanding my teachers or not sourcing my statements then I feel compelled to do so. Anyone else might feel compelled to do so as well. For the record, I do not agree that Doshu is the villain being described here. I'm with Ledyard Sensei on this one. Last edited by Ken McGrew : 01-09-2012 at 05:27 PM.