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Kenji Tomiki Shihan's teachings - art and spirit
One day in the autumn of 1968 something happened that had, as with my first impression of Tomiki Shihan, a very strong effect on my mind. He said to me, "Nariyama, would you give me some help tomorrow?" I had not long been selected as captain of the aikido club and his sudden request surprised me a little and made me nervous. However, I was reassured because other students from Waseda and Seijo Universities had also been called so I went with the feeling that it was not important.
The day came and I accompanied him to a meeting hall a little way up from Kudansha underground station on the way to the Japan Budokan. We arrived and had a look around for a while but I felt uneasy because I was the only one there. the meeting surprised me because many of the most eminent people in the world of Japanese budo attended. It was a strange atmosphere.
A short time later Tomiki Shihan arrived changed and ready for practice. I was told to take breakfalls for him and stood in front of him not knowing what was going on as it was completely without rehearsal. After what seemed a short time the demonstration began and was a comparison of judo and aikido techniques. The techniques were severe and I was surprised at his tremendous vigour. In kote gaeshi and other techniques as he threw me he let go completely. Also, there were no tatami on the floor, it was just covered with a few layers of simple mats. I suffered terribly, hitting my head and falling on my shoulders many times. All my previous judo and aikido practice couldn't compare with the severity his techniques at that time.
Much later I learned that after this meeting Shihan worked as vice president on the committee that founded the Japan Budo Society.
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