An outstanding Aikidoka and philosopher: Tsuda Itsuo Sensei 1914-1984

Itsuda Itsuo Sensei (津田 逸夫) Tsuda Itsuo, 3 May 1914–10 March 1984) was a Japanese philosopher and a practitioner and teacher of Aikido and Seitai.

Tsuda was born on the 3rd of May, 1914 in Japanese-ruled Korea. When he was 16 years old, he defied his father, who wished for his eldest son to remain home and manage his family's estate. He left his family home and began wandering, searching for new philosophies that would free his mind.

Having reconciled with his father, in 1934 he went to France, where he studied with Marcel Granet and Marcel Mauss until 1940. When he went back Japan, he studied Noh with Master Hosada, Seitai with Master Haruchika Noguchi and Aikido with Master Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei.

In 1970 Itsuo Tsuda came back to Europe to disseminate the regenerative movement (or katsugen undō 活元運動, かつげんうんどう, a basic Seitai practice) and his ideas on Ki. In 1973 he published his first book, "Le Non-Faire") while waiting to open his first dojo, in Paris, L'Ecole de la Respiration (also the title of his series of books).

Tsuda Sensei passed away in Paris in 1984, but his practical philosophy is left in his work and his books and taught in several European "School of Breathing" dojos.

For further reading, please visit his dedicated student's web site: http://www.ecole-itsuo-tsuda.org/en/itsuo-tsuda/

Please enoy a video clip from a newly discovered 8mm film:

Tsuda Itsuo Sensei

Filmed in 1968 by Mr. Pierre Holzacker in France and at Aikikai Hombu Dojo (Tokyo)

This film was discovered in Israel in 2014 by Ms. Carole Habib - 

daughter of Pierre Holzacker - French Air France pilot who practiced Aikido with his wife Esther in France in the 1960'. Pierre and Esther Holzacker were students of the Late Tsuda Itsuo Sensei.

© 2014 Masatake Dojo - Israel Aikikai

Three new films of O-Sensei - discovered in Israel in July 2014

few weeks ago, one of our dojo members came to the dojo with a CD containing a film. To my huge surprise, it was an un-seen-before film of founder of Aikido (Ueshiba Morihei O-Sensei).

Yedidya who has a pottery studio was approached by one of his student (Ms. Carole Habib). Her father was a French Aikidoka who was an Air-France pilot and he made frequent flights to Tokyo. In those days, pilots used to stay for about 2 weeks in Japan before returning to France. So, he could practice Aikido at the Hombu Dojo where sometimes O-Sensei used to teach.

Ms. Carole Habib told me, that her father - Pierre Holzacker - French Air France pilot used to practice Aikido with his wife Esther in France in the 1960' as students of the Late Tsuda Itsuo Sensei.

I would like to convey my deep thanks to Carole and Yedidya for allowing us all to enjoy this new treasure.

Please enjoy all three parts of this rare footage of Founder of Aikido Ueshiba Morihei O-Sensei. Filmed in 1968 by Mr. Pierre Holzacker at Aikikai Hombu Dojo (Tokyo):

Part One:

Part Two

Part Three:

More to come from the same film: A class conducted by Osawa Kissaburo Sensei (9th Dan) at Hobu Dojo, A class conducted in France by Tsuda Itsuo Sensei, and a short clip from a class with former doshu Ueshiba Kisshomaru (2nd doshu).

© 2014 Masatake Dojo - Israel Aikikai       www.aikikai.org.il

Torifune and Tamafuri

Please enjoy this very interesting instruction and meaning of Torifune and Furitama.

As we were taught in Aikido, these exercises prepare us before conducting Misogi (Shinto purification of body and mind). Founder of Aikido considered Aikido as a kind of Misogi, and therfore regularly performed Torifune and Furitama before every Aikido practice.

Thank you Tsubaki Shinto Shrine for this clear explanation:

AME-NO-TORIFUNE-NO-GYO

Sometimes called Fune-kogi-undo. Ame-no-torifune is one of the Misogi Jumbi Taiso or exercises to prepare the mind/ body/ spirit for the activity of Misogi Shuho. These exercises have been widely adopted as Aiki Jumbi Taiso.

Torifune (Bird Rowing)

1. Stand straight and put your left leg forward

2. Clench both fists with your thumbs inside

3. Lean forward and move your arms as though rowing a boat starting from your left knee and ending near your *armpits. As you "row," shout "Yie".

4. Perform this 20 times and then repeat Furitama

5. Changing to a right leg stance, repeat the Torifune shouting "Ei" and "Ho" alternately. Do this 20 times and then repeat Furitama

6. Return to the left foot forward stance and remake the clenched fists as before and bring the hands up to the chest to a shout of "Yie" and thrust them down and forward with hands opened and fingers extended to a shout of "Se" After this, once again repeat the Furitama

The Object of Torifune-no-gyo

The basic purpose is to introduce a dimension of physical calisthenics along with the spiritual. Since misogi is a psycho-physical experience, both types of  preperatory exercises are necessary. " Torifune-no-gyo (done properly) is very grounding and invigorating. The kiai organizes the hara… centripetality/contraction and centrifugality existing simultaneously while grounding relates very directly to the organization we want to manifest during Aiki waza.

  

TAMA FURI/ Furitama-no-Gyo

Tama(soul) Furi (shake) basic meaning is the self Chin-kon and relates directly to the furube-no-kamu-waza of Chinkon Saho.

Furitama ( Soul Shaking)

1. Stand with your legs apart about shoulder width .

2. Place your hands together with the right hand over the left. Leave space between them big enough for an imaginary ping pong ball.

3. Place your hands in that position in front of your stomach and 0shake them vigorously up and down.

4. While shaking them concentrate and repeat the words: Harae-do-no-Okami - an invocation to the kami of the place of harai.

The Object Furitama-no-gyo

The purpose of shaking the soul is to generate awareness of it within yourself. Kon, (the soul), in Shinto, is one of the four important elements along with Mei (life), Rei (spirit) and Ki (which means Spirit in its causal aspect - Ki is a kind of energy source). Kon is the most important of the four since human beings can also be described as Waketama (separated individual souls), which is another way of saying "children of the kami".

Chinkon kanji can also be read as Mitama Shizume..the basic meanings are:

1)     to reintegrate the elements of self/soul into the current moment

2)   to quiet or pacify the soul

3)    to invigorate the soul

4)   The kanji of Chin-kon can also be read Sho Kon and carry the nuance of pacifying and assisting the raising of vibration for the Mitama of a person who has left this life

Tama-furi aims at the reception of strong spiritual waves/higher spirit/ refined vibration.

  

Switch your pc off, Switch your life on

Switch internet OFF, Switch your life ON:


It has been over 2 weeks since I quit weekend and night time internet. 


Switching off my computer early in the evening, gave me 2 more sleep hours every day. Not touching the computer during the weekend, gives me splendid family time and attention to my family and myself. Suddenly I have more time to talk to my family, drive somewhere, read books, watch movies on tv with my son... 


I recommend this to everyone. Don't let internet rule your life. You will be happier, healthier, and will surprisingly discover, that everything in your mailboxes waits for you and doesn't go away when you turn your pc on in the morning.
Switch your life ON.
:-)

Jiun - Master Calligrapher (1718-1804) "Shinnyu - essential nature

Jiun 1718-1804, my favorite Japanese calligrapher always hits right into the center of my mind with his straight and powerful works. Please enjoy this shodo by Jiyun. The words are "Shinnyu" with the meaning - something, or someone's true nature as it is, nothing more and nothing less.

Found it on this web site: http://www.japanese-arts.net/calligraphy/jiun.htm

Musubi

Musubi: to tie, bind, connect... One of Aikido's teachings and a big challenge in our training. Creating a beautiful musubi, brings birth to a beautiful waza (technique). Creating a bautiful musubi in life, will bring birth to beautiful relationships at work, at home, with nature...
I wrote today this shodo (calligraphy) of the Japanese word "Musubi". I hope you enjoy it.

Musubi

Yoko Okamoto Sensei - Aikido - Kyoto Aikikai.

From my Kyoto Aikido diary:
We arrived on time - too early, as usual. We had about 30 minuets to kill and it was raining. The old shops on Senbon street were not open yet, so we just took an early morning slow walk good enough to wake up a bit.

The simple map took us easily through  a couple of narrow allies, and there was the dojo, righ in the heart of Nishijin district - a neighborhood, famous for its unique machiya houses belong to families that for generations over generations, produced silk products and especially the beautiful Kyoto kimono and obi.

The Nishijin Aikodo dojo is one of the most beautiful dojos I ever saw. Okamoto Sensei (6th Dan Aikikai) expected our visit, as we were introduce to her by email, thanks to Lee sensei from North Valley Aikikai. After a short conversations, we changed into keikogi and hakama. Before class began, Okamoto sensei was already on the tatami mats, busy with her own warming up. Facing the dojo's shomen, she stretched, while the students gathered behind her, and slowly lined up in seiza. A minute or two before class began, the dojo was silent.  One deep bow, and another one, and then a series of thorough warming up exercises with clear and meticulous explanations.

Warming-up naturally developed into training on some basic movements, concentrating on correct ukemi (response to our partner's actions). Those movements developed naturally into various basic techniques.
Sensei practiced personally with everyone. With the Japanese she spoke Japanese. With us she spoke English. With the French she spoke fluent French...

Among many things, there is one meaningful thing I especialy remember. Okamoto Sensei was very clear and precice about what she asked every one of us to do. When she came to you, you know exactly what she wants from you, and she made sure you do it. You may think this might be an obvious thing for a teacher, but for most of us, it is not easy at all to expect the student to do something he actually is able to fulfill now. When you teach, there are priorities - what to understand first, and what to learn next. Our ability is created step by step, and Okamoto sensei is gifted with the talent to recognize the exact ability and potential, each student currently has - even with first time visitors from other dojos.

Okamoto sensei's teaching and aikido, are clear, precise and impressive. I feel that although I attended just one class of her, I took with me something meaningful and precious which still echoes in my mind and is still influencing my approach to teaching aikido. I would like to express here my sincere gratitude to Okamoto Sensei.

Please do not miss an opportunity to train at Nishijin Dojo Aikido - Kyoto Aikikai, and to learn from Yoko Okamoto sensei.
Dojo web site: http://www.aikidokyoto.com/English/Eindex.html