Articles

Thoughts on the 2007 Aikido Bridge Seminar

by Wilko Vriesman, Dutch Aikikai

From January 13-19, 2007 it was a privilege to train and teach at the Aikido Bridge Seminar in San Diego initiated by Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan.

The event, with the purpose to ‘bridge’ between different styles and personalities in Aikido, formed a platform of exchange and understanding in order to preserve and maintain the inner essence and quality level of Aikido for the future.

The platform was constructed mainly around an inner circle of well known Shihan who each displayed on the tatami the beauty and, by moments absolute, nature of aikido: Doran shihan with his dignified presence, Ikeda Shihan with his ability to touch the center of his partner right away, Murashige Shihan with his relaxed but powerful arms, and my teacher Tissier Shihan with his exactness of movement and pureness of his gestures during the execution of a technique.

Ever presents during the training was the sitting statue of Takahashi Shihan, smiling and contentedly observing all the events. To assists the shihans in their task a wide range of Sensei and Senior Instructors also conducted classes during the event. All of this created an atmosphere of friendship and trusts that truly “bridged” differences .

Having seen the destructive results of the process of splitting and isolation in the aikido community, this “bridging" event inspired me as a new generation of Sensei from the other side of the ocean continue the constructive work of unification and deepening the belief in the global potential and different manifestations of Aikido - in the shared vision of O’ Sensei to benefit mankind.