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We teach the Japanese martial art of aikido
which we often refer to it as "Shinzui Aikido", essentially meaning
"Quintessential Aikido" or "True Essence Aikido". We felt is was
appropriate to give our art a name beyond the more generalized term
"aikido" since there are so many diverse perspectives about aikido, and
what aikido is, in the world today. The aikido one might see in a
certain school may look and feel entirely different from the aikido taught in
another.
Essentially, we view aikido as a traditional
Japanese budo, or martial way, and as an independent dojo affiliated with
the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, our training philosophy aligns with the mission
of the DNBK which includes "...the preservation of classical traditions,
legacies, knowledge, and values associated with the Japanese classical
martial arts."
The roots of our style or method of training (ryu
ha) are second generational - the techniques have been passed down from the
Founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, to Roy Suenaka to Aikido of
Jacksonville's Chief Instructor, Perry Lambert. Prior to 2004, our
method was referred to as Suenaka-Ha Tetsugaku-Ho Aikido (Suenaka Style
Philosophical Way); however, Lambert decided to discontinue using the name
of Suenaka's style upon Lambert's establishment of an independent dojo.
Concerning our training methodology, the art
we now practice is the result of the direct influences of the following
teachers -
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Dr. Hiroyuki Hamada, Hanshi - International
Chairperson of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai and Head of the Old Dominion
University Martial Arts Program.
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Steven Steele, Shihan - Retired Dojo Cho of
Aikido of Richmond Dojo, and longtime former student of Roy Y. Suenaka, Sensei
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Roy Y. Suenaka, Sensei - Kaiso of AIKDPS/Wadokai
(American International Ki Development and Philosophical Society).
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All of the yudansha and students with whom
Lambert has had the privilege of training with and learning from over the
years.
Therefore, our viewpoints about the art of aikido are
that aikido was and is a traditional Japanese martial art which should be
practiced in such a way that yields a practical and effective means of
self-defense in addition to focusing on the development of the entire self
- mind, body, and spirit, and honoring the aikido philosophy of harmony
and non-resistance.
Students will learn Japanese history and
philosophy as it pertains to aikido and Japanese budo. Emphasis is
placed on the
development of practical skills which begins with proper reigi (etiquette),
stretching and warm-ups, breathing exercises, aiki-taiso (aikido body
movements), ukemi (falling skills), and waza (techniques). Waza
includes various heiho (strategies) such as, for example, proper timing, proper distancing,
control, and focus. Emphasis is placed on defensive responses to
various attacks ranging from grabs, strikes, kicks, multiple attacks, and
knife attacks.
Rank can be earned over time with diligent
training and proper attitude, but it is said that Shodan or First Degree
Black Belt is actually just the first level. This is where the student
has gained enough skills in order to begin their journey of understanding.
Ultimately, what is important is the training and what you learn from the
training - not rank. It is said that we are all on the path together with an "empty
cup", so if your cup is also empty, you are invited to train with us.
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AIKIDO
from
The Spirit of Aikido, Kisshomaru Uyeshiba, pp 14-15.
Aikido is essentially a modern manifestation
of the Japanese martial arts (budo). It is orthodox in that it inherits
the spiritual and martial tradition of ancient Japan, first recorded in
the eighth-century literary and historical works, Kojiki (Record of
Ancient Matters) and Nihongi (Chronicle of Japan). This does not mean
that aikido blindly carries on the tradition of the ancient martial arts,
merely preserving and maintain its original form in the modern world.
The ancient fighting arts are a historical
and cultural legacy, originating on the battlefield in periods of civil
strife and later formalized as budo, the Way of martial arts, in the
Tokugawa period (1603-1868). They need to be properly assessed and
appreciated. In their original form they are unacceptable to people today
and are out of place in the modern world, which in the case of Japan
begins with the Meiji Restoration (1868).
The founder of Aikido, Master Uyeshiba
Morihei, was born on December 14, 1883. Living in the turbulent time of
Japan's modernization, he dedicated himself to establishing a martial art
that would meet the needs of contemporary people but would not be an
anachronism. The following factors were at the core of Master Uyeshiba's
primary concerns: an abiding love for traditional martial arts, the care
that it not be misunderstood and a deep wish to revive the spiritual
quality of budo. He sought to achieve his goal through a relentless
quest, given substance by constant training in the martial arts, for the
truth of budo throughout the vicissitudes of modern Japanese history.
Ultimately, Master Uyeshiba concluded that
the true spirit of budo is not to be found in a competitive and combative
atmosphere where brute strength dominates and victory at any cost is the
paramount objective. He concluded that it is to be realized in the quest
for perfection as a human being, both in the mind and body, through
cumulative training and practice with kindred spirits in the martial
arts. For him only such a true manifestation of budo can have a raison
d'etre in modern world, and when that quality exists, it lies beyond any
particular culture or age. His goal deeply religious in nature, is
summarized in a single statement: the unification of the fundamental
creative principle, ki, permeating the universe, and the individual Ki,
inseparable from breath power, of each person. Through constant training
of mind and body, the individual ki harmonizes with universal ki, and this
unity appears in the dynamic, flowing movement of ki-power which is free
and fluid, indestructible and invincible. This is the essence of Japanese
martial arts as embodied in Aikido.
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