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Old 04-16-2001, 06:01 PM   #21
Nick
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 563
United_States
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One more thought about practicing "O'sensei's aikido"... I am not O'sensei. No matter how hard I try, no matter how many hours of training, no matter how much misogi or Omoto-kyo training, I will never disappear and reappear as M. Ueshiba O-sensei. I actually think this to be a good thing. If I came out with all of O-sensei's skills, wisdom, etc, I would really feel cheated-- I would have all of the know-how but none of the understanding that comes from traversing the path-- O-sensei had his, and I have mine. While I do aspire to ideals such as O-sensei had, I would prefer not to follow in his footsteps, but rather seek what he sought (yes, that is a Basho paraphrase).

In conclusion, 'O-sensei's Aikido' may have been sacred, but it no longer exists. I would prefer to walk my own path, and simply give gratitude to O-sensei for showing me where it started and the first few branches of it.

Nick
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