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Old 03-09-2011, 05:31 AM   #129
Hellis
Dojo: Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido
Location: Bracknell
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 657
England
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Re: Sempai comments that stick with you...

Quote:
Attilio Anthony John Wagstaffe wrote: View Post
Henry,

After Reading P.A. Was it due to N Sensei being a little too hard on him personally? I read you kept your Dan grades. It is sad that he stopped going. It seems it knocked his confidence back somewhat. One of the lessons of aikido that many do not learn. As he was one of the best dan grades would that be a lesson in being overconfident and the dangers inherent in that?
Tony

I am pleased to see that you have read `Positive Aikido` . I trust you found it an interesting read ?

The guy in question was a second dan, only the second one at that time to be graded by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. I am afraid it had nothing to do with teaching any lessons. We were to discover later that it was Aikikai politics playing its hand...This was the very early days, they did not want westerners achieving high grades, they wanted the Japanese to be all prominent...The guy was as good as any Japanese of equal grade.

Henry Ellis

Positive Aikido
http://aikido-books.blogspot.com/
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