· Home
· History
· Competition
· Articles
· Profiles
· Tournaments
· Network
Email |
Kenji Tomiki Shihan's teachings - art and spirit
On 21st March 1977, the first National Aikido Tournament was held in the dojo in the park of Osaka Castle. It was to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the establishment of Shodokan. Shihan was clearly delighted that the many people he wanted there had gathered from all over Japan. One in particular was a judo friend from long ago called Kujiraoka Sensei (9th dan). He seemed to have a very pleasant chat to Shihan, listened enthusiastically to Shihan's explanation from beginning to end and watched right up to the closing ceremony.
One thing that Tomiki Shihan said during his greeting was, "The message of this tournament is to develop and spread the traditional Japanese jujitsu techniques as practised in today's new training system. The techniques of the old styles of jujitsu are many and varied so judo alone is not enough to revive them. There are atemi waza (striking techniques) and kansetsu waza (joint techniques) that are used to throw or pin an opponent attacking from a range outside grappling distance. I recommend ample practice of these techniques in competitive aikido."
Arriving at the place we were staying after the tournament he said with heartfelt joy, "Kujiraoka Sensei praised me today". I didn't know Kujiraoka Sensei well but according to Tomiki Shihan he was a very well educated man and one of Jigoro Kano Sensei's favourite pupils. Apparently his judo was magnificent and very light. I think this must have been like being praised by Jigoro Kano himself. Seeing Shihan happy like this made all of the troubles and fatigue from before the tournament disappear like melting snow. |
