Kisaburo Ohsawa sensei

I couldn't help wondering whether the resurrection of the thread of "Kisaburo Ohsawa sensei" on the "Voices of Experience" section has something to do with maai in view of the passing of another aikido's great of his era.

While reading the posts of the past year, suddenly the Zen story of two monks meeting a young lady while on a journey came to mind. The story goes that two monks, one older and one younger, chanced upon a young lady who hesitated to cross a stream without wetting her clothes. Without a word, the older monk lifted the young lady on his shoulders and carried her across the stream and put her down on the other bank. Then, the monks carried on their journey without uttering a word among themselves. After a while the perturbed younger monk couldn't hold but questioned the elder monk about his action with the young lady. The elder monk's answer was, "I left her at the river bank long ago, why are you still carrying her?".

It could be that Niall brought the thread back up because it is exactly twenty years ago that Osawa Kisaburo Sensei passed away on May 26, 1991.

Thanks, Diana.

David if I write about Kisaburo Osawa Sensei I am writing about Kisaburo Osawa Sensei. It is not code for Koichi Tohei Sensei or anybody else. I saw your mother died recently and so I’ll put your comment down to grief. I’m sorry for your loss.

My first aikido teacher knew Tohei Sensei and I have met him and I respect him. If I want to write about him I will use his name and I will do it in a thread about him. If you want to write about him I suggest you do the same.

My apology, to Niall and anyone, for my indiscreet post.

David Y

Thanks for that generous apology David. No problem.

Niall.
Well here is one person who wasn't aware of him and am I glad you did.

I read a bit about him and then found some videos of him. Inside I just felt wow!

Something about him and I even felt like 'that's someone I would love to have met'

I shall introduce the vids of him to my students and we shall call him respectfully 'Mr Cool.'

Regards.G.

+2

Really nice technique. Glad to have had my attention drawn to him.