http://www004.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tajima/aisatu.html

I want to share some memories from my stay in Japan. There I practiced ki-aikido at Ki no Kenkyukai H.Q. between 1991-3. I met several remarcable persons there. One was my dear friend Iwasaki Tsuneyoshi, who took care for me the first critical months there the same way a brother does. He is an example of blending efficiency as a businessman and humbleness as a person.

Another among them is dear friend Tajima Kasuki. During those years I hade the privilege to be in his presence and attend his ki-aikido classes. I actually took several video tapes in order to try to understand his techniques. He was just amazing.

We also used to go to several bars and restaurants. We had very good laughs together. I remember once we were in a bar after aikido practice. He explained the name of a waterfall in Japan, a very beautiful place. The place was crowded and noisy so I couldn´t really hear other´s words clearly.

He said something about the waterfall name. I just repeated to him what I thought I´ve heard. I said in a loud voice something like: “SHASSEI!”

Then everybody around us turned around, and several people started laughing. I dind´t understand what happened. Tajima Sensei was also laughing and telling me  not to shout like that. To my embarassment, he told me that I have said in japanese, not the waterfall name, but: “I´m coming!”(sexual connotation).

That´s a good memory.

Sometimes he did some astonisning feats of speed, coordination, timing and ki.

Once I was authorized to get him on tape. I used high-speed settings so as catch the moment he did the trick. It actually was to dodge shinai shomen-uchi. (Downward blow to the head with split-bamboo staff used in kendo). We hit him as hard and fast as we could. I mean, theré was no holding back, really going for it. You was quite confident he was going to be hit in the head. But he always manage to avoid our blows. I have the the tape if you want to see it!

Also he was always gentle and very funny. Only problem that he was better showing his tehcniques than explaining them. Well, if that´s not a good teacher I don´t know what one is.

El Abad Hai Deng Fa Shi

http://usuarios.lycos.es/jmmsa/maehaideng.htm ( in spanish)

Sobre Zen y Artes Marciales

Taisen Deshimaru Roshi

http://cronopias.wordpress.com/2007/05/12/zen-y-artes-marciales-taisen-deshimaru

I remember once being taught personally by Tohei Sensei. It was a Kiatsu lesson. Kiatsu is a way of treatment where Ki is applied by touching in order to help body condition to improve and recover health & well-beingness. It derives from Te a te concept (put a hand on).

Tohei Sensei was teaching a few of kiatsu students in his private quarters. He is a very creative, resourceful man and teacher. He used whatever means he considered ok to help us understand. So he made us do kiatsu upon his own body so he could give us instant feedback on our technique. I was applying kiatsu to him and then I noticed he was asleep. Snoring. So I just stared in the eye of one of my colleages. I didn´t say a single word, but I remember thinking then “the old man is tired” or something like that. After all, it was a kiatsu lesson! How could he sleep during it?

At that very moment I felt a soft yet strong hand correcting my technique, while Tohei´s voice said “don´t push, just touch… regain your focus”. He was wide awake, corecting precisely my rather poor treatment. Then he say “ok, that´s correct”. In no time he was sound asleep again. I was to shocked and perplexed as to dare to even think, so I remained in no-mind not because of personal realization, but of fear to somehow awaking Sensei again through my brain wave activity or something like that.

 Time went by. Precisely at four o´clock, Tohei Sensei awakened saying “owarimasu!” (time´s up!) and he dsimissed us.

How could he know when to awake? The class finished at four, and at that time he awakened. He used to be like that.

I know because I was there

by Adrian Kertesz

Adrian Kertesz

adrian_kertesz@yahoo.com.ar