AikiWeb Aikido Forums - View Single Post - Did O'Sensei frame his Aikido teachings in religious terms to hide them.

jonreading · 03-22-2010, 11:10 AM

I think O'Sensei framed his "instruction" around a higher level of education (which is probably more appropriately "guidance") and choose to leave much of the simpler instruction to his senior students. Physics is garbbly goo for most of us...unless you're a physicist...

I think Ledyard sensei posted a comment about his teaching responsibilites which is analogous in the sense that senior instructors are responsible to unravel advanced issues while junior instructors provide elementary education.

So to me we have the following tarnishments on our origin instructions:
1. O'Sensei was unclear in his dissemination of advanced aikido to his senior students
2. The senior students who disseminated aikido incorrectly interpreted guidance from O'Sensei
3. Junior students who received instruction abridged their techniques
4. neo-generational students are consuming abridged aikido

It is definite that we do not teach the aikido that O'Sensei taught. It is probable that miscommunication is responsible for the majority of the difference. I don't think O'Sensei's religious background is any more or less at cause than several other factors, nor do I think he veiled guidance when he offered it.

03-22-2010, 11:10 AM	#19
jonreading Dojo: Aikido South Location: Johnson City, TN Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,209 Offline	Re: Did O'Sensei frame his Aikido teachings in religious terms to hide them. I think O'Sensei framed his "instruction" around a higher level of education (which is probably more appropriately "guidance") and choose to leave much of the simpler instruction to his senior students. Physics is garbbly goo for most of us...unless you're a physicist... I think Ledyard sensei posted a comment about his teaching responsibilites which is analogous in the sense that senior instructors are responsible to unravel advanced issues while junior instructors provide elementary education. So to me we have the following tarnishments on our origin instructions: 1. O'Sensei was unclear in his dissemination of advanced aikido to his senior students 2. The senior students who disseminated aikido incorrectly interpreted guidance from O'Sensei 3. Junior students who received instruction abridged their techniques 4. neo-generational students are consuming abridged aikido It is definite that we do not teach the aikido that O'Sensei taught. It is probable that miscommunication is responsible for the majority of the difference. I don't think O'Sensei's religious background is any more or less at cause than several other factors, nor do I think he veiled guidance when he offered it.