Welcome to AikiWeb Aikido Information
AikiWeb: The Source for Aikido Information
AikiWeb's principal purpose is to serve the Internet community as a repository and dissemination point for aikido information.

Sections
home
aikido articles
columns

Discussions
forums
aikiblogs

Databases
dojo search
seminars
image gallery
supplies
links directory

Reviews
book reviews
video reviews
dvd reviews
equip. reviews

News
submit
archive

Miscellaneous
newsletter
rss feeds
polls
about

Follow us on



Home > AikiWeb Aikido Forums
Go Back   AikiWeb Aikido Forums > General

Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history, humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced features available, you will need to register first. Registration is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 11-28-2002, 11:25 PM   #1
Edward
Location: Bangkok
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 803
Thailand
Offline
Did Osensei smoke?

Hi all,

I was reading the last issue of the french magazine Aikido & Aikibudo, and there was this article about Michio Hikitsuchi Sensei. In this article, there is a picture of Osensei and Hikitsuchi Sensei sitting at a Japanese style dining table with a few cups of tea. And Osensei is holding a cigarette in his fingers. The picture is not very clear so I cannot confirm 100% that it's not my imagination playing tricks on me.

I find it interesting to know that Osensei used to smoke. Of course at that time, no one ever heard about nocive effects of smoking, and knowing the love of the Japanese (and the aikido Shihans in particular ) for alcohol and cigarettes, I would be surprised if Osensei didn't smoke. Still this was the first time I see a picture of him with a cigarette in his fingers.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2002, 09:55 AM   #2
ian
 
ian's Avatar
Dojo: University of Ulster, Coleriane
Location: Northern Ireland
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,654
Offline
I'm aware that Ueshiba was pretty much vegetarian and did not drink any alcohol, so I'd be suprised if he smoked; but maybe he did not feel this was injurous to his health?

Ian

---understanding aikido is understanding the training method---
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2002, 10:28 AM   #3
Bruce Baker
Dojo: LBI Aikikai/LBI ,NJ
Location: Barnegaat, NJ
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 893
Offline
I wouldn't be surprised if O'Sensei did smoke socially, even if he did not carry on this habit into his everyday life.

I smoked cigars, and other tobacco products at work, but never at home. I stopped daily consumption in 1988, but still will have a cigar for wedding, funeral, birth of a baby, or social occasions for five or six events a year.

Not everyone is a tobacco addict carrying over the smoking of tobacco in daily life.

This might be another lesson of how human we are, and how contrary the lives of our heroes are when viewed in retrospect. I say, this is a trivial question that reflects your own journey overshadowing the lives of your heroes. You need to find your own way in life that works for you. There will never be an absolute perfect person to base you life upon, but you can take some of the good qualities of others, and make them your own.

I would be surprised if O'Sensei did not own a pipe and occasionally smoke it when talking about farming.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-29-2002, 10:47 AM   #4
erikmenzel
  AikiWeb Forums Contributing Member
 
erikmenzel's Avatar
Dojo: Koshinkai Leeuwarden
Location: Leeuwarden
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 594
Netherlands
Offline
Well, O sensei was human.

I have seen pictures of O sensei smoking so I guess he did smoke. Funny how these pictures dont show up in the books. I always liked the pictures that show O sensei from a normal human side best. They gave me the reasurance that what he did is within the reach of normal humans.

Erik Jurrien Menzel
kokoro o makuru taisanmen ni hirake
Personal:www.kuipers-menzel.com
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2002, 09:06 AM   #5
sceptoor
Dojo: http://ctr.usf.edu/aikido/
Location: Tampa, Fl
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 100
Offline
One day I attended a seminar in Orlando held by Saotome and as I walked toward the dojo I was surprised to see him SMOKING. It didn't taint my opinion of him or anything, as I smoked for 18 years until quitting some six months before this takes place. I guess at the time it seemed oddd that an 8th Dan Aikido Shihan would be smoking, especially since I see those guys as being so formal and all. Perception I guess. Then someone explained to me that it is quite common among the Japanese.

C. Martin

  Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2002, 09:31 AM   #6
Bud
Dojo: Aikido Philippines
Location: Manila
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 70
Philippines
Offline
Quote:
Chris Martin (sceptoor) wrote:
One day I attended a seminar in Orlando held by Saotome and as I walked toward the dojo I was surprised to see him SMOKING. It didn't taint my opinion of him or anything, as I smoked for 18 years until quitting some six months before this takes place. I guess at the time it seemed oddd that an 8th Dan Aikido Shihan would be smoking, especially since I see those guys as being so formal and all. Perception I guess. Then someone explained to me that it is quite common among the Japanese.
Yeah, I've seen some visiting shihan smoke after training. I've never been to Japan but friends who've gone to Hombu say smoking is pretty common.
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2002, 09:56 AM   #7
diesel
Dojo: Tenshin
Location: Higashihiroshima
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 106
Japan
Offline
Confused

Quote:
Buddy Acenas (Bud) wrote:
Yeah, I've seen some visiting shihan smoke after training. I've never been to Japan but friends who've gone to Hombu say smoking is pretty common.
They are only human.. I am sure there are some that drink also!
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2002, 08:33 AM   #8
aikigreg
Dojo: Mizu Aikido
Location: Ft. Worth Texas
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 94
Offline
Having drunk plenty of beer with Saotome sensei one night I can tell you he hold his liquor, too!
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2002, 03:41 PM   #9
Jim23
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 482
Offline
I know that Shioda smoked a lot and drank the hard stuff.

I was at a seminar/demonstration and was shocked to see the senior instructor (won't mention any names) puffing away outside the building every chance he got. I think it was seeing a cigarette, a dogi and hakama together that looked strange.

During his demonstration he coughed a lot and he kept telling the audience that he was fighting the flu. When I was leaving the parking lot I saw him sneaking out a side door, lighting one up.

I have a question: was Ueshiba's smoking responsible for his visions?

Jim23

Remember, all generalizations are false
  Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2002, 10:37 PM   #10
Dean H.
Location: Birmingham, AL
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 45
Offline
smoke?

Here is a quote from Rinjiro Shirata, 9th Dan, from Aikido Masters: "[O'Sensei] occasionally would drink a little, but his face would turn red. Once in awhile he would puff on a cigarette for fun but he didn't inhale. He had a playful streak in him. When he became excited, he would sometimes puff cigarettes."

So...smoked, but didn't inhale?

My sensei forbids his black belts to smoke because of the obvious health hazards and, I believe, because he observed so many Japanese Aikidoka and others have had their lives cut short by this terrible habit.

-Dean
  Reply With Quote

Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Omoto-kyo Theology senshincenter Spiritual 80 06-10-2022 08:32 AM
Article: Did Morihei Ueshiba Invent Aikido? by Peter Boylan AikiWeb System AikiWeb System 39 03-06-2008 08:27 AM
Quoting O'Sensei bratzo_barrena General 10 12-13-2005 06:44 AM
To those concerned with Osensei Rosen Michael Rosen Introductions 6 05-20-2005 12:23 PM
"I am the Universe." senshincenter General 13 01-15-2005 07:13 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:47 AM.



vBulletin Copyright © 2000-2024 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited
----------
Copyright 1997-2024 AikiWeb and its Authors, All Rights Reserved.
----------
For questions and comments about this website:
Send E-mail
plainlaid-picaresque outchasing-protistan explicantia-altarage seaford-stellionate