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Re: YouTube: Mitsuteru Ueshiba at 53rd All-Japan Aikido Demonstrations
What I have always appreciated is the Doshu/Waka Sensei's do not go for the flash in their demonstrations but rather clean techniques that demonstrate the kihon principles of Hombu Dojo. (I also know that even at Hombu there are many varied styles of our art.) The Ueshiba demos ( as well as other Shihans) are very useful for teaching purposes and eliminate some of the of the "personal/association styles" that in some cases can lead new practitioners to become confused about the "proper" way to do a technique.
To follow this up I also learn from all the demonstrations/seminars where Shihans/Sensies show how they have personally developing their understanding of the art. Can we really judge Endo vs Tessier vs Osawa vs Shirakawa et al; but rather compare,observe and study what they do, and then try to understand the efficacy of their movements.
I have been to a number of seminars over the past couple of decades and have tried to "steal" some ideas that I have observed but it pains me to see people on the mats on these occasions that simply return to their dojos "techniques' once the instructors asks them to "try" what they have demonstrated.
I remember when Asai Shihan came from Germany in 2001 to do a seminar in our dojo and how he said, and I paraphrase, " In this semnar I would like you to do the technique the way I teach it but when you return to your dojo do what your Sensie says."
Aikido is IMHO open to too much discussion and arguments on what Aikido should be and what is the "proper"way to do a technique.
At 64 years of age I'm looking forward to the next couple of decades ... I hope ... as a practitioner ,observer and contemplator of the "Art of Aikido".