Gods of Aikido-Waza

David Valadez wrote: ....try going through the "New Religions" rather than straight through "Omoto" - that has a lot of stuff in many languages published already. If I could help you find something in specific, let me know and I'll try my best.

Much obliged.

Mal Smith wrote: im a little confused, most people say aikido is not a religion, but praying to a god of aikido sounds pretty religious to me... could someone explain this contradiction to me?

I think Aikido, as a "way" of life; principle of nature; etc. can easily cross over into religious terms. Ki is described as the life essence, among other things, so this is easily taken in spiritual terms. Anything spiritual can be said to be religious, even if it's a religion of one individual that no one else exactly shares. Long story short: it is what you make of it to a large extent.

Jo Adell wrote: But Jeseu Didn't create Christianity. He was just a nice Jewish boy who had some good stuff to teach. It was his _students/disciples/uchi-deshi_ who created the religion. I prefer to think of aikido as a Spiritual Practice, rather than a religion. Religions have Rules, practices have "suggestions".

Just like Christianity, Aikido was codefied by just a few students/disciples/uchi-deshi. Perhaps in both we follow the paths as best we can walked by both founders and we end up better than we started. Jeshua often spoke in parable/story form and this was certainly subject to interpretation -which explains why there were more than 4 gospels actually written. O-Sensei also seemed to speak in ways that spawned/spawns many interpretations. Which explains why there are many "styles/schools of thought" in Aikido.

So perhaps one rather pat and easy answer to the original question: What Gods &/or Kami are connected to which WAZA?" is all of them. For myself it is in the dance up to the temple that expresses my thanks and perhaps offers illumination.