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Old 12-24-2009, 09:26 AM   #17
Ethan Weisgard
Dojo: Copenhagen Aiki Shuren Dojo
Location: Copenhagen
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 178
Denmark
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Re: Bara Bara training thoughts?

Hi Walter,

Saito Sensei used to say that one's goal as a teacher was to try to make your students better than you. And if you succeed, then you have failed - an interesting conundrum!
He meant that you needed to constantly try to develop yourself -.and teaching your students was one way of developing. He wasn't of the school of martial arts teachers that believed in the tradition of keeping some of the teachings secret. He believed that by giving your students everything you were showing a spirit of kindness and nurturing. He said that you should take care of your deshi, and try to help them progress in aikido as much as possible. But you should not forget to work on your own progress at the same time.

In aiki,

Ethan
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