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Old 11-12-2006, 05:50 PM   #1
Neil Mick
Dojo: Aikido of Santa Cruz
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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A Personal Moment with O Sensei

In that moment, right after you have done the formal bow to the shomen and before you turn to bow to the class: do you ever feel a "connection" to O Sensei, while looking at his picture?

What is that connection like? Do you feel that it is "two-way?"

Is it the same every time, or does that "moment" change, and how?
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Old 11-13-2006, 12:32 AM   #2
Mike Hamer
 
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

I sometimes feel proud to be part of something that he created, and know how happy he would be if he knew how many lives Aikido in general has changed in a positive way somehow or another.

To speak ill of anything is against the nature of Aikido
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Old 11-13-2006, 01:19 AM   #3
xuzen
 
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

In my aikido dojo, we bow to the teacher and each other as sign of respect. There is no picture of O'sensei.

In Judo class, we bow to picture of Jigoro Kano, as a sign of respect.

Personally, I am impartial to this bowing business. If either O'Sensei or Jigoro Kano were descendant of Maoris and we are suppose to do the extremely Kewl Haka War Dance before each Randori session, I guess I would too.

P/S I think doing the Haka War Dance is kewl. Just look at the All Blacks (TM); they score high marks in my cool-o-meter reading.

Boon the All Blacks (TM) wannabee.

Last edited by xuzen : 11-13-2006 at 01:21 AM.

SHOMEN-ATE (TM), the solution to 90% of aikido and life's problems.
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Old 11-13-2006, 08:13 AM   #4
ian
 
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

I feel a connection with everyone in the dojo and a sense of respect, which maybe is the aim?

---understanding aikido is understanding the training method---
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Old 11-13-2006, 08:20 AM   #5
Ron Tisdale
Dojo: Doshinkan dojo in Roxborough, Pa
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

Quote:
do you ever feel a "connection" to O Sensei, while looking at his picture?
Not that I can really remember. I tend to focus on my teacher...as in...I've been allowed to 'borrow' his place at the shomen for an hour or two...and I REALLY don't want to screw it up.

Best,
Ron

Ron Tisdale
-----------------------
"The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."
St. Bonaventure (ca. 1221-1274)
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Old 11-16-2006, 09:20 PM   #6
Lan Powers
Dojo: Aikido of Midland, Midland TX
Location: Midland Tx
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

I really like Ron's view.
(not unusual after all is said and done )
Lan

Play nice, practice hard, but remember, this is a MARTIAL art!
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Old 11-16-2006, 11:28 PM   #7
Aristeia
Location: Auckland
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

Quote:
Xu Wenfung wrote:
. Just look at the All Blacks (TM); they score high marks in my cool-o-meter reading.
.
Rugby World Cup champions 2007.....

"When your only tool is a hammer every problem starts to look like a nail"
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Old 11-17-2006, 05:18 AM   #8
ian
 
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

Quote:
Xu Wenfung wrote:
In my aikido dojo, we bow to the teacher and each other as sign of respect. There is no picture of O'sensei
I often forget to bring the picture of O'sensei, so instead we end up bowing to a plug socket in the wall. Rather strange, I know.

---understanding aikido is understanding the training method---
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Old 11-17-2006, 06:17 AM   #9
PhilMyKi
Dojo: Seibukan, Milton Keynes
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

Quote:
Michael Fooks wrote:
Rugby World Cup champions 2007.....
When you wake up, you should say sorry.
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Old 11-17-2006, 04:49 PM   #10
Neil Mick
Dojo: Aikido of Santa Cruz
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

Quote:
Ian Dodkins wrote:
I often forget to bring the picture of O'sensei, so instead we end up bowing to a plug socket in the wall. Rather strange, I know.
Now, THAT's a funny mental picture...

"O plug socket! Teach us your great, energetic technique!"
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Old 11-17-2006, 05:45 PM   #11
Steve Mullen
Dojo: White Rose (Sunderland)
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

Quote:
Michael Fooks wrote:
Rugby World Cup champions 2007.....
You Aussies and your rugby....ooops i mean new zealanders, that annoys you guys rught? when people think you are from australia?

"No matter your pretence, you are what you are and nothing more." - Kenshiro Abbe Shihan
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Old 11-17-2006, 11:44 PM   #12
xuzen
 
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

Woo Hoo... Kiwi Rugby FTW!

Best self defense training... RUGBY & JUDO. Aikido as well for the off chance Thugs GRAB YOUR WRISTS (TM)

Boon.

SHOMEN-ATE (TM), the solution to 90% of aikido and life's problems.
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Old 11-19-2006, 02:01 PM   #13
Okami
Dojo: Aiki O'kami society
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

Hello Niel I must say that is a very good question, and I must say I've felt the connection as well. It's a rather odd feeling isn't it? But keep in mind O' Sensei's religion as in Shinto states that when a human being dies they becomes a god, they can become a good god or a bad god, they say typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanoes eruptions are caused by bad gods. And good harvest seasons, no war, etc. are a cause of good gods. So when O' Sensei died perhaps he did become a god in a sense, and when we bow to his picture maybe that feeling is him bowing back. I deeply believe in O'sensei's view of peace and harmony so I have much respect for him. I guess you could say the connection you feel is as I said, him bowing back. It's kinda different each time but hey I'm glad he's there, I just wish he would help me with my Kaiten Nage.

Last edited by Okami : 11-19-2006 at 02:03 PM.
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Old 11-20-2006, 05:33 AM   #14
Neil Mick
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

Quote:
Sean Vayda wrote:
Hello Niel I must say that is a very good question, and I must say I've felt the connection as well.
Thank you: this was the sort of response I was looking for.

Quote:
It's a rather odd feeling isn't it? But keep in mind O' Sensei's religion as in Shinto states that when a human being dies they becomes a god, they can become a good god or a bad god, they say typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanoes eruptions are caused by bad gods. And good harvest seasons, no war, etc. are a cause of good gods.
The aspect of "god" I find disturbing. Doesn't quite fit for me.

Quote:
So when O' Sensei died perhaps he did become a god in a sense, and when we bow to his picture maybe that feeling is him bowing back. I deeply believe in O'sensei's view of peace and harmony so I have much respect for him. I guess you could say the connection you feel is as I said, him bowing back. It's kinda different each time but hey I'm glad he's there.
Yeah, that's it, basically. I think a fair amount that, as Sensei, I present a "model" for my students (viz, the translation of Shihan..."model..." not, that I am a Shihan, but it's in line with the dynamic I have with my students, as I'm teaching).

Quote:
I just wish he would help me with my Kaiten Nage
I wish he could help me with...everything!

Thanks for responding! Good post!
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Old 11-20-2006, 11:29 AM   #15
James Davis
 
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

Quote:
Neil Mick wrote:
In that moment, right after you have done the formal bow to the shomen and before you turn to bow to the class: do you ever feel a "connection" to O Sensei, while looking at his picture?
I do feel a connection, in that my outlook toward violence has changed through the course of my life.

My dad's a real tough character. He was never concerned about other people hurting him. He never minced words, and didn't care about hurting someone's feelings when he felt that they were in the wrong. Looking up to him, I used to think that I had to be tough in order to get through life. My smart mouth got me into a bit of trouble, and I occasionally fought to get out of it.

Through training, I've come to find my own path. Sometimes I wish that I had met my sensei when I was younger...

Quote:
Neil Mick wrote:
What is that connection like? Do you feel that it is "two-way?"
I feel that he was brave in creating his own way, and that I should be brave in continuing to train. The art he created helped to change my life for the better, and I feel that I owe it to his memory to try and teach it properly.

Quote:
Neil Mick wrote:
Is it the same every time, or does that "moment" change, and how?
Teaching and training get difficult sometimes. My thought process in regard to O'sensei changes from time to time.

Sometimes I think about his legendary prowess.

Sometimes I think about his patience.

Sometimes I think about his insistence that aikido be for everyone.

"The only difference between Congress and drunken sailors is that drunken sailors spend their own money." -Tom Feeney, representative from Florida
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Old 11-27-2006, 09:02 PM   #16
xuzen
 
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

Quote:
Xu Wenfung wrote:
Woo Hoo... Kiwi Rugby FTW!

Best self defense training... RUGBY & JUDO. Aikido as well for the off chance Thugs GRAB YOUR WRISTS (TM)

Boon.
I am right with regards to Judo + Rugby = T3H AW3SOME (TM)

Boon.

SHOMEN-ATE (TM), the solution to 90% of aikido and life's problems.
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Old 11-28-2006, 10:46 AM   #17
Aristeia
Location: Auckland
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Re: A Personal Moment with O Sensei

Quote:
Steve Mullen wrote:
You Aussies and your rugby....ooops i mean new zealanders, that annoys you guys rught? when people think you are from australia?
Now them there be fighting words. Steve you should mention to Shane Riley sensei that T1 just called you out on the net. He'll get a kick out of it.

"When your only tool is a hammer every problem starts to look like a nail"
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