[Aikido] One Month Message From Shishida Sensei

[Sean Flynn]

A Message to My Aikido Students Upon the One Month Anniversary of My 
Arrival at Vassar
by Fumiaki Shishida

October 5, 2003

Please let me talk about my current thoughts.

When I stood here for the first time, I was very impressed with the large 
number of members that the club had. More than 40 people were there and 
lots of newcomers have joined the club since that day. Unfortunately, the 
greater part of them have not continued to practice.

We might say that it could not be helped as they have their own priorities. 
But, it is pity for us so that we, Dr. Sean and I, have been taking 
measures to meet the situation.

Dr. Flynn's enthusiastic teaching has many strong points.  For instance, 
his warming-up exercises, on the whole, cannot help but give students a 
feeling of satisfaction. It is also good to practice for less than 3 hours, 
and to give students water breaks several times. I am sure of his strengths 
as an instructor whenever I see how students follow him and improve 
themselves.

On the other hand, however, it may be a fact that it is hard for delicate 
people to follow his rigorous training system. I think that it is necessary 
to appoint some senior members to take charge of part of the class on a 
three-shift basis. That is, we should divide the class into two groups, 
seniors and newcomers. The two groups would normally practice together. 
However, the newcomers could also practice separately, led by their tutors, 
as occasion demands. Fortunately, we have several members who have 
practiced eagerly with Dr. Flynn since his arriving at Vassar 
College.  They can serve as tutors and help to implement these improvements.

I would like to introduce my thoughts about the practice of aikido to you 
all. First, please attach greater importance to enjoying the practicing of 
techniques. A happy attitude is useful both to make sure of the 
effectiveness of our techniques and also to help us discuss them in an open 
manner. We should avoid practicing in an unhappy mood as such an attitude 
ruins our performance.  You should smile throughout practice, because 
practice is not work but pleasure.

It is sometimes said in Japan that the Japanese martial arts are a way to 
discipline our minds. Is this true? Yes, butI must say that if your goal is 
to discipline your mind, then I recommend that you should not hesitate to 
join a group that teaches meditation. Meditation systems such as Zen 
contain much of the great wisdom of mankind.

On the other hand, we have taken another path, a path to discipline our 
mind through practicing techniques, or physical exercises. But what is the 
correct sense of this path?

It is that we should think of the Japanese martial arts scientifically, 
because techniques are performed in the physical world. But both the 
rational mind and plenty of practice only give us marvelous ability. 
However, if another person also acquires marvelous ability, then our 
current superiority over him will soon disappear. Therefore, we dare to 
proceed to practice a randori-teaching system through a kata practice. W 
hat is our purpose? It is  to acquire both true skill and a strong mind so 
as  not to be unsettled by unusual people or strange events.

Life is not so long though we have lots of things to do in our lives. 
Students in particular have to study hard everyday. But, please do not 
forget that this is also the last time in your life that you can devote 
yourself to physical activity. I know well that it is difficult to be both 
a good warrior and a good scholar. But this constraint makes it even more 
worthwhile devoting yourself to aikido in your college days.