Aikido Notes from Hiroshi Tada
ShihanAikido as a discipline is a continuous learning
process. Besides the teaching of technique and proper ukemi,
it is also about understanding the correlation of what goes
on not only with the opponent but also the aikidoka’s
surroundings. Knowledge and understanding of these serve to
make the technique not only effective, but also purposeful.
Ninth dan Aikido Sensei Hiroshi Tada of Japan, started
off as a member of the karate club at Waseda University. In
the year 1948, he began training at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo
and became an instructor at the Aikikai in 1954. He was
promoted to 6th dan in 1957. Tada was sent to Rome, Italy in
1964 and subsequently established a dojo in 1966. He was
promoted to 8th dan in 1969 and was able to return to Japan
1973. Tada also developed a system of breathing and
meditative exercises to supplement aikido training called
Ki no Renma (Cultivation of Ki).
Below are excerpts of his interview during one Aikido
Conference referring to three vital things aikidokas should
keep in mind and make part of their training:
Pointers from Hiroshi Tada Shihan (9th dan)
- BUDO
An Aikidoka should be able to consistently CUT DOWN
an opponent in the first blow. This it the true BUDO
aspect of AIKIDO. It is precisely because we are
confident that we will always able to do this. This
CONFIDENCE gives us two things, our STRENGTH and the
ability to CHOOSE a less deadly outcome, both of which
we should have as a prerequisite to our keiko practice.
- SPHERE
When you look at your opponent, he becomes the center
of your Aikido, causing you to stop. When you practice,
observe where your eyes tend to look. You should be the
center of your movement, so when you move, you should
see all around you. Question is how far can you see
around you? half a meter? 1 meter? 3 meters? 5 meters?
As far as your eyes can see, that is the SPHERE of your
control. Once someone enters the sphere of your control,
he is drawn to you as the center of that sphere. When
O-sensei would hold a session, one would notice that it
was hard to see where he was looking, as if his eyesight
was looking outside of the dojo.
- COUNTING FINGERS
A sword blade is useless if it is not moving. Once a
blade starts moving, it should never stop moving or slow
down too much. If an opponent can count the fingers on your
hand (1,2,3,4,5) then it means you're moving too slow. In
the same way, once your tegatana starts moving, you
should move in such a way that your opponent will never be
able to count your fingers.
