Resources for Continuing Students
As you continue your practice in Aikido, you may have questions about more complex aspects of the practice. The resources here are available to help guide your inquiries. You are of course encouraged to speak with the Instructors at Aikido of Santa Cruz, and your sempai, about any area of practice that you like.
“O-Sensei explained to us that the heart of kami [spirit, nature] is shin zen bi: “Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.” Aikido is the method of training we undertake in order to express the heart of shin zen bi through our own bodies. The way I see it, we do the martial art training in order to realize the spirit of Aikido -- the spirit of truth, goodness, and beauty. Through budo training, we come to understand what Aikido is.
In the development of sincerity or truth, there are different levels. At first you might be sincere in your words. After training and polishing yourself more, there will be another level of truth. Even if you feel that you have already purified yourself, it is always possible to polish yourself further. A person who has polished himself or herself emits light. O-Sensei was truly wonderful in this regard. There was a consistent radiance in the way he conducted himself each day and in his words. I felt mysteriously drawn to the words I heard him say. And when I sat next to O-Sensei, I felt completely safe with him, despite his tremendous power. A wonderful light shone from him. It was an expansive radiance of harmony, of love, and of gratitude. O-Sensei often spoke of shin zen bi: the light of “Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.” We need to polish and purify ourselves in order to turn into light that will give joy to everyone. If you become light, all people and everything on the earth will rejoice. We practice Aikido in order to unify ourselves with Truth, Goodness, and Beauty: the heart of kami.
You could focus on the desire to become the kind of human being who brings joy to the entire world. To become radiant with light and, as O-Sensei said, “one with the universe.” Of course this is incredibly difficult to do. But if you take one step at a time, or even half a step, as people do in walking meditation, you will draw nearer to your goal. O-Sensei left a path for us to follow, which leads to real truth, real goodness, and real beauty -- to unity with the heart of kami. He called this path “Aikido.”
Truth, Goodness, and Beauty - words of Motomichi Anno Sensei
From Journey to the Heart of Aikido - Translated by Linda Holiday
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In addition to the purification practice of Shin Kokyu, O-Sensei would often chant the Norito—a Shinto Prayer—at the beginning of class. This is also a practice we continue at Aikido of Santa Cruz, and Linda Sensei will often chant the Norito during special occasions or for certain remembrances.
For more information about Norito chanting please read this excerpt from Journey to the Heart of Aikido: The Teachings of Motomichi Anno Sensei
Expansion Chant and Interpretation
Introduction to Chanting - Audio Course by Linda Holiday Sensei
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Aikido of Santa Cruz often hosts seminars with guest teachers, potlucks to celebrate black belt promotions, gatherings of music, poetry, and art, and annual events such as the New Year’s Purification, Winter Kangeiko, Osensei Memorial, and the Summer Retreat. Your participation in these events is, of course, welcome and enriches all our training.
If you are inclined, you are also welcome to help to set up these events. It is a great way to meet senior students and enjoy some time off the mat working with dojo folks. If this sounds like something you might enjoy, simply approach the event organizer or a senior instructor after the end of class circle.
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Aikido of Santa Cruz is part of a wider Aikido Community and as a student of ASC you are welcome to visit other Aikido dojos to train in classes and seminars. If you maintain a strong base of regular practice in your home dojo, then having some training experiences in other dojos can deepen your understanding of Aikido, and of the wider Aikido community of which we are a part. Please be aware that the way you training and conduct yourself in another dojo will represent ASC and its chief instructor. Be informed about the etiquette and protocols of dojo visits before you go.
Japan Deserves an Important Note! - It is especially important that you consult with your chief instructor before making any plans to go to Japan to train. Japan is the exception to the “travel freely” rule of our dojo. Japan has a formal, hierarchical culture and many unfamiliar forms of etiquette that must be respected in order to maintain good relations. As a student of ASC, you are already indirectly connected to Aikido in Japan, through the history and lineage of our dojo, senior instructor Linda Holiday Sensei, and our chief instructor. If you are interested in training in Japan, please be aware that you will need to ask Nico Sensei and Linda Sensei for guidance well before finalizing any travel plans.
With the exception of Japan, you don’t need to consult in advance with your chief instructor in order to visit other dojos, but you do need to observe good training etiquette and spirit when you go! The following guidelines will help:
Always ask permission to train; don’t assume. Training in any dojo is a privilege, not a right, and each sensei determines who may attend classes. Politely let the sensei (or senior student) know that you would like to train, and wait for permission. Of course, it is generally granted!
Call or email the dojo in advance if possible (unless you have visited several times before and you are familiar with the other dojo). Verify the class schedule, the instructor, visitor training fees; ask permission to train; ask if there is anything else you should know as a visitor. They may advise you where to park, for instance.
Arrive early for class. Leave plenty of time to find the sensei or senior black belt, introduce yourself, ask permission to train (if you haven’t before), fill out paperwork, and pay your training fee. Don’t get into your gi until you receive permission to train.
Review the basics - Wear a clean gi, take off jewelry, trim your nails, etc. It’s a good time to re-read Aikido of Santa Cruz’ Basic Dojo Etiquette and refresh your memory!
If you wear a colored belt at Aikido of Santa Cruz, be aware that many dojos use only white and black belts. It is especially courteous to take a white belt with you, and ask the sensei or senior black belt which belt they would prefer that you wear. In some Aikido dojos, hakamas are worn by some kyu ranks (as well as dan ranks). If you are only visiting, you will not need to put on a hakama unless you have a black belt.
Warm-ups - Not all dojos routinely do warm-ups at the beginning of class. Students may be expected to warm-up on their own. Good to inquire. Another good reason to arrive early!
Be a keen observer of the etiquette that is followed in the dojo you are visiting, and follow along as best you can. Ask one of the local students or teachers if you are confused. Some forms of dojo etiquette are fairly standard, like bowing to your training partners and saying “Onegai shimasu”. But every dojo has its own customs too. For instance, in some dojos, students line up in order of rank. Or stay with the same partner during the whole class. Or remain seated in line at the end of class, until the sensei leaves the mat. Just follow along and blend in as best you can...as if you were in a foreign country, showing respect to the native culture (which in fact you may be!).
Do things their way. Try your best to do the techniques exactly as they are demonstrated in the other dojo. (This is the best etiquette and attitude in your home dojo, too!) This shows a sincere attitude, and it is the best way to learn. Do NOT try to teach people “the way we do things in OUR dojo!” Don’t correct anyone or resist anyone’s technique. Stay in open-minded learning mode. Remember, you are a guest, a temporary visitor, and you represent Aikido of Santa Cruz. If you end up in a class that seems very strange to you, try to hang in there. If it feels impossible or dangerous to continue, you can sit politely on the sidelines and watch class. At the very least, it will make an interesting story later, when you return home from your adventure!
Don’t worry about impressing people at other dojos with your techniques or ukemi. The best impression to leave is one of respect and friendliness. People will appreciate your sincerity. They may decide they would like to visit our dojo in return.
Please convey greetings from your chief instructor to the chief instructor of the dojo you are visiting. Consider yourself an ambassador of Aikido. All you need to say is this: “My teacher, Linda Holiday Sensei, sends her greetings.” This simple custom does a lot to strengthen respect and friendship among Aikido instructors.
Affiliations and “style” of Aikido – At Aikido of Santa Cruz, we try to keep a broad, inclusive view of Aikido. The tree of Aikido has many branches, but they are all united at the root. As you travel, you may encounter Aikidoists who are intensely concerned with organizational affiliation and ask you to indicate your “style”. Best to smile, answer simply, and refrain from engaging in discussions of organizational “politics”.
FYI: Aikido of Santa Cruz is connected to the Aikikai through the California Aikido Association. Our senior instructor, Linda Holiday, trained in Japan at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo and at the Kumano Juku Dojo in Shingu. She received her 7th degree black belt from the Aikikai, through her teacher, Anno Sensei, 8th dan (senior instructor, Kishu-Kumano-Aikikai-Funada-Dojo). Both Linda Holiday and Glen Kimoto (our other senior instructor) have trained since 1970. They have learned from many senseis and have developed friendly connections with many dojos, regardless of “style”.
Aikikai membership & dan rank registration - Aikido of Santa Cruz black belts are encouraged to apply for Aikikai membership and dan rank registration through the CAA. This provides worldwide recognition of black belts received at ASC, and makes traveling easier (Please contact Glen Kimoto Sensei for more information and applications).
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Japan is the exception to the “travel freely” rule of our dojo. Japan has a formal, hierarchical culture and many unfamiliar forms of etiquette that must be respected in order to maintain good relations.
Ask your sensei for advice - If you are interested in going to Japan to train, please be aware that you need to consult with your chief instructor before finalizing travel plans. Japan is a formal, hierarchical society with many forms of respect and etiquette. It is easy to make etiquette mistakes, offend a Japanese person inadvertently, or cause serious problems for others without even knowing it. Good intentions are not enough. It is important to prepare yourself well for such a big trip and special training opportunity in the birthplace of Aikido. Follow your sensei’s advice.
Japanese Aikido students don’t travel much to train in other places. In very traditional dojos, students are required to ask permission from their sensei in order to train anywhere else, and that limits inter-dojo visitation. This policy reflects Japanese cultural norms, and is likely intended to encourage deep learning, strengthen the teacher-student relationship, and minimize the confusion of learning multiple ways of doing Aikido. That is the cultural context of most Japanese dojos.
A member of the Aikido clan - You are already indirectly connected to Aikido in Japan, through the history and lineage of Aikido of Santa Cruz and its senior and chief instructors. In Japan, you will be considered a member of a particular branch of the Aikido “clan”, not a casual tourist. In Japan’s formal, hierarchical culture (and to some extent, in Aikido dojo culture in any area), you are always perceived as someone's student. In this view, the teacher is responsible for the student's behavior, and the student represents the teacher, regardless of location. If problems occur, the Japanese way is to contact the teacher. It can take considerable time and energy to resolve things, and this impacts the reputation of ASC teachers and students. Everything you do, however well-intentioned, has consequences for others. So consult your sensei and “know before you go”.
Training at the Funada Dojo in Shingu - If you are interested in visiting Shingu to train, be aware that in accordance with Japanese etiquette (and dojo cho Nakamura Sensei’s policy) you will need an introduction from your sensei to train there. Please consult in advance with Nico Sensei and Linda Sensei about your hopes, objectives, and time frame. The Funada Dojo in Shingu is in a traditional area of Japan, far from Tokyo and other urban centers. Nico Sensei and Linda Sensei will advise you about what you would need to do to become ready to go to Shingu to train, including etiquette around omiyage, the custom of gift giving.
The Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo is large, urban, and receives visiting students from all over the world. You can walk in, pay your training fee, and train, but it is still important to prepare culturally and receive your sensei’s advice before going there. ASC black belts are encouraged, upon receiving shodan, to join the Aikikai organization and register their rank. This facilitates training at Hombu Dojo and in many other places.
Most other Japanese dojos are rather private groups in the context of a formal, hierarchical society and will expect a formal introduction of some sort. Don’t just “show up”--that is not the Japanese way. Again, consult your sensei if you want to go to Japan.
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Please enjoy these words of wisdom from the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei, and of several dedicated long time students of the art.
In addition to these brief excerpts, Aikido of Santa Cruz has an extensive library of Aikido literature available to members. Please ask a senior student about borrowing books from the library.
Linda Holiday Sensei’s book, Journey to the Heart of Aikido—based partially on conversations with her teacher, Motomichi Anno Sensei—is an excellent expression of the art as practiced at Aikido of Santa Cruz. The book is available both in the dojo and on our online store.
Let us practice together, and explore what Aikido training and its embodied philosophy can contribute to our personal journeys and collective evolution.
O-Sensei & Anno Sensei on Masakatsu - True Victory
O-Sensei on Michishirube - Signposts Along the Way
Words of O-Sensei - Excerpt from TakeMusuAiki
Anno Sensei - Beyond Ordinary Gratitude
Anno Sensei - The Ki of True Emptiness
Anno Sensei - Heiwa no Kokoro - The Heart of Peace
Anno Sensei - Keizoku wa Chikara Nari - Continuation is Power
“The training of Budo forges in our minds and bodies the power of divine love, which produces, protects, and nurtures all tings in the universe. The techniques of Budo are signposts, point the Way which leads to this.”
- Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei, Founder of Aikido
Still have questions?
Get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help.