Martial Arts - Aikido
I remember being really young, like 5 or 6
They asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up
“I want to fight the bad guys”, I said
I taped every Ninja Turtles, and Power Rangers episode with a VHS / VCR recorder
I would later pursue martial arts, after what happened here
Hapkido in New Jersey
Aikido in Irvine, California
Both really changed me
Hapkido comes from Korea
Aikido - Japan
Bowing before your training partner, bowing to the sensei (lead instructor) - for the honor of being able to train, to learn under others in the dojo (martial arts studio)
Steven Seagal (see above) would later embark on the movie, Hollywood path, similar to what I spoke about here
But before that, he was one of the first Americans to bring Japanese Aikido to America
I was learning martial arts, while I was learning how to dance - they sort of sync up a bit
Haruo Matsuoka - was one of the first Japanese Aikido-ists to come to America - along with Steven Seagal - 1970’s
When I met Matsuoka Sensei - he spoke very little English - so our interactions were mostly on the mat
We practiced with mock weapons - bokken (sword), jo (long stick), tanto (dagger)
Ancient weapons, before modern firearms
The original tools of man
There was a code of conduct on the mat
Bowing before your training partner
Honor
Death can come at any time, in a real world situation, especially when an opponent is coming to attack you, to kill you, the people you know, your entire village
The Last Samurai film is the best way to describe what I experienced taking Aikido classes - the film takes place in Japanese history - Aikido is from Japan
We’d practice certain kinds of stretching, and movements, before training - we’d practice what looked like a type of Tai Chi
However, these would also be the same movements used in the techniques we’d be learning during training - body position - hand position - foot position
The slightest change in position, would make all of the difference during hand-to-hand training
We learned how to fall - we learned how to roll
Randori is when multiple attackers are coming at you at the same time
You could get into perfect shape, you could build your muscles, but if this 90-year old man in front of you has impeccable Aikido technique, you are going to be face down on the floor at some point
Everything looks like it’s happening so fast
Women were in our classes - children took classes - angles, timing, technique, spatial awareness, sensing, letting go
In Aikido, it’s not about what happens - it’s the timing of your reaction, taking one step to the side, your understanding of the situation, what needs to happen, your training
There is an opposite, a weak point
You learn to sense your opponent’s weaknesses
I was initially drawn to Aikido, because it’s ultimately about peace - subduing an opponent, so no one gets hurt
It never ends - like the universe - infinite - like dance
In ancient times, if you stepped the wrong way, made a mistake, the sword of your opponent would cut you - possibly leading to death
The spirit of a warrior
No fear
What does that really mean?
Your relationship to the universe
It changes you a bit
It changes how you think about things
Unconventional enemies, unconventional attacks, from various angles
The final battle has begun
These people are very sophisticated
Share my articles with everyone you know
With martial arts, there’s always more to learn
We go up against the Luciferians
Prepare for battle
Sincerely,
Mike