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Kenji Tomiki Shihan's teachings - art and spirit
In the summer of 1975, I came to Osaka and lived in Kobayashi Sensei's house for six years. Gradually, at about the time I started to understand the value and greatness of Tomiki Shihan, various inconsistencies arose inside of me and worried me day after day.
One of the reasons was the differences between the traditional kata practice of Ueshiba Sensei and the basics of breakfalls, posture, movement, etc. of Tomiki Sensei's original randori practice system and the problems this caused as I was an instructor. The more serious I became involved with both, the greater the inconsistencies.
Should I compromise and if so how much? Or is it better not to? If, for argument's sake, I do make a compromise then this will leave questions of safety in the development of randori in competition which means the risk of a big accident. Surely, isn't this just like building the latest skyscraper on the foundations of a traditional wooden house? As the old saying goes 'as a boy, so the man', bad habits are very difficult to correct so isn't it better to give bad habits a positive significance? Also, it is not essential to produce faultless people. On the times that Shihan came to Osaka I was excited talking about things like this and as always he nodded and listened quietly.
One day I received a letter dated 11th July. Part of it read, "From next year I want to establish Shodokan as the central dojo so that people from Tokyo and Fukuoka can meet and train periodically. I have asked Mr. Uchiyama in a separate letter. I have also asked Kobayashi Shihan to collaborate with us from now on.
Shihan's request was answered by Mr. Masaharu Uchiyama, the Japan Aikido Association vice-president. In the following year on 28th March 1976 a central dojo with 80 tatami was finished and was called Shodokan. On that day Shihan spoke about the naming of Shodokan in his opening speech as follows:
"On the occasion of naming this dojo Shodokan it goes without saying that it is named after the current Showa period. Through a combination of a golden opportunity, favourable location and harmony amongst those involved, this dojo represents an important first step."
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