The Shudokan Aikido Association is chartered as a non-profit Corporation in the State of Texas for the purpose of supporting and promoting the art of Aikido as espoused by the Doshu of Aikido, Moriteru Ueshiba and the Aikikai Foundation.

Our Shihan is Hiroshi Kato, 8th dan of the Suginami Aikikai in Tokyo, Japan. As branch dojos of the Suginami Aikikai, our dojos are affliated with the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. All SAA dojos follow the standards of the Aikikai Foundation and Aikido World Headquaters.

Anyone desiring information on joining our Association should contact the President, Jorge Garcia or the Vice President, Dr. John Riggs for more information.

The Shudokan Aikido Association dojos are the following:

Houston Region - Jorge Garcia, Region leader

Shudokan School of Aikido
10655 Clay Road, Houston, TX 77084
Instructor: Jorge Garcia, 3rd dan
Ph: 281-630-0361
Email: JGarcia@ShudokanAikido.com
Website: http://www.shudokanaikido.com
Status: Full member of SAA
Class times
Thursday: 5pm-children, 6pm - adults & teens, 7pm Black belts
Saturday: 3:30pm-children,4:30pm adults and teens, 5:30pm BB

Shindokan Dojo
2217 Highway 6 South, Houston, TX 77077
Ph: 281-920-9300
Instructor: Jorge Garcia, 3rd dan
Email: JGarcia@ShudokanAikido.com
Website: http://www.samuraibudokan.com/aikido.htm
Status: Satellite Dojo (Shudokan School of Aikido)
Class times
Monday: 5pm-children, 7:00pm-adults, 8pm Black belts
Tuesday:12 noon-adults
Wednesday: 5pm-children, 7:00pm-adults, 8pm Black belts
Thursday: 12 noon-adults
Friday: 5pm Instructors training
Saturday:11am -adults & children
Sunday: 4pm Muso Shinden ryu Iaido, 5pm Aikido (adults), 6pm BB

Houston Aikido Club
Houston, Texas
Instructor: Alberto Pena, 1st Dan
Contact: Jorge Garcia
Ph:281-630-0361
Email: Sensei@ShudokanAikido.com
Status: SAA Club (Shudokan School of Aikido)
Times: Club meets every Thursday in west Houston.

Aikido in the Heights
3221 Houston Avenue, Houston, Texas 77009
Instructor: Jaideep Mukherjee, 2nd dan
Ph: 713-864-4260
Email: jd_hzc@yahoo.com
Websites: http://draiki.com/index.htm http://www.niamoves.com/id70.html
Status: Full member of SAA
Class times: Tuesdays 7:30pm,Thurs. 7:30pm, Sat. 9:30am

West Texas Region - Dr. John Riggs, Region leader

Aikido of Midland
2608 Loma Drive, Midland, TX 79705
Instructor: John Riggs, 4th dan
Ph: 432-770-3155
Email: aikidoc1@cox.net
Website: http://pages.suddenlink.net/aikidoc1/index.htm
Status: Full member of SAA
Class times
Monday-Friday: 7-9pm adults
Tuesday & Thursday:5:30pm-children
Saturday: 12:30pm-adults

Aikido of Carthage
Address: 4154 NW loop; Carthage, TX 75633
Instructor: Derren Hill, 1st dan
E-mail: derrenhill@yahoo.com
Status: Full member of SAA (Aikido of Midland)
Contact: 605 Rebecca Drive, Carthage Tx 75633
Phone: (903) 641-1940
Classtimes: M-W 7-8:30

American Aikido Academy
1124 Pulliam, San Angelo, TX 76903
Instructor: Randy Shupe, 1st dan
Email: Americanaikido@suddenlink.net
Website: http://www.americanaikidoacademyofselfdefense.4t.com
Status: Full member of SAA
Class times
Monday,Tuesday,Thursday:6pm-children, 7pm-adults

South Central Region - Joe Rangel - Region leader

Shugenkan Aikido
801 Weinberg, San Antonio,Tx 78214
Instructor: Joe Rangel, 3rd Dan
Ph:210-455-0868
Email: jrangel35@satx.rr.com
Website: http://www.shugenkanaikido.com
Status: Full member of SAA
Class times
Tuesday & Thursday: 8pm-adults
Saturday & Sunday: 12noon-youth, 1:30pm-adults

Aikido by the Bay
Sunrise Mall, Suite 97, Corpus Christi, TX 78411
Instructor: Joel Molina, 2nd Dan
Ph:361-813-4970
Email: jmo@prodigy.net
Website: http://www.academyofasianmartialarts.com/san_bao_008.htm
Stauts: Full member of SAA
Class times
Tuesday: 7:30pm-adults & teens
Thursday: 6:30pm-adults & teens

Ikuseikan Aikido Dojo
3208-C Sam Houston Drive; Victoria, TX 77901
Victoria, Texas 77901
Instructor: Rick Torres, 1st dan
Contact: Rick Torres
Ph:361-575-2467
Email: Jitsumania@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.kyushinryuaikijujitsu.net/id24.htm
Status: Satellite Dojo (Shudokan School of Aikido)
Class times
Saturday:9:30am- adults and teens

South Texas - Mexico Region - Joe Cavazos, Eliseo Munoz - Region leaders

Aikido Center of South Texas
319 W. Tom Landry Street, Mission, Texas 78572.
Instructor: Joe Cavazos
Ph: 956 369-6423
Websites: www.acst.zoomshare.com , www.valleyaikido.homestead.com , www.freewebs.com/acst
Email: cavazosj@hiline.net
Status: Full member of the SAA
Class times
Monday: 7:45pm - 9:00 pm Weapons at Edinburg location (2822 N. Closner)
Tuesday and Thursday: 7pm - 9pm
Saturdays: 10am - 12:30pm

Centro de Aikido - Nuevo Laredo
Esquina de Heroe de Nacatáz y Morelos, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
Instructor: Eliseo Munoz
Status: Full member of the SAA
Horarios de Clases
martes y jueves: 7pm - 9pm
sabados: 10am - 11am

Centro de Aikido - Nuevo Leon
Unidad Deportiva CEDECO
Ave. Arturo B. de la Garza 1600 Edificio Lic. Jorge Treviño
Colonia Villarreal C.P. 66427
San Nicolas de los Garza N.L.
Instructor: Carlos Reyes Sanchez, 1st dan
Email: http://groups.msn.com/AIKIDOCENTERN-L-/_whatsnew.msnw
Tel. 86 61 00 71.
Status: Full member of the SAA
Horarios de Clases
martes y jueves: 8pm - 9:30pm

Centro de Aikido Mexico sede Monterrey
CALLE GERANIO # 7242
RESIDENCIAL STA. MARIA
CD. GUADALUPE N.L
Instructor:José Angel Hinojosa Alonso, 1st dan
TEL.: 8393-3628
CEL. 00448184736336
Email: jhinojosa@vitro.com
Status: Full member the SAA
Horarios de Clases
sabados: 3pm - 5pm

Centro de Aikido - Cd. Valle Hermoso
Esta localizado por el centro de Cd. Valle Hermoso
Instructor: Luis Enrique Razo Garcia, 1st dan
Status: Full member of the SAA
Horarios de Cases
Lunes 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Miercoles 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Viernes 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Aikido of Laredo
3911 Loop 20, ste. 7
Laredo,Tx 78046
Instructor: Juan Ponce
Status: Affiliate dojo of the SAA
Contact: Juan Ponce
Ph: 956-337-5387/956-206-0447
Email: AikidoofLaredo@stx.rr.com
Class times:


Official Shudokan Aikido Association list of Aikikai Foundation, Dan grade holders:

Dr. John Riggs, 4th dan
Yasuhiro Sakahara, 4th dan
Joe Cavazos (Rank in process)
Eliseo Munoz (Rank in process)
Jorge Garcia, 3rd dan
Jim Riviera, 3rd dan
Symon Stanley, 3rd dan
Joe Rangel, 3rd dan
John S. Garcia, 2nd dan
Jaideep Mukherjee, 2nd dan
Joel Molina, 2nd dan
Mike Cervantes, 2nd dan
Eddie Martinez, 2nd dan
John Couch, 2nd dan
Weldon Mauney, 2nd dan
Karen Mukherjee, 2nd dan
Russell Thomas, 2nd dan
Lan Powers, 2nd dan
Alberto Pena, 2nd dan
Guillermo Almaguer, 2nd dan
Jose Angel Hinojosa Alonso, 1st dan
Carlos Reyes Sanchez, 1st dan
Brenda Lizeth Meneses Ronquillo, 1st dan
Randy Shupe, 1st dan
Janice Marsh, 1st dan
Luis Enrique Razo Garza, 1st dan
Tim Kikos, 1st dan
Jesus Quevedo Gonzalez,1st dan
Serafin Padron, 1st dan
Molly Mockler, 1st dan
Derren Hill, 1st dan
Rick Torres, 1st dan
Jaime Rodriguez (Rank in process)
Jack York (Rank in process)
Homero Vela (Rank in process)
Juan Ponce (Rank in process)
Jose Villagran (Rank in Process)

Shudokan Aikido Association Master Instructor - Hiroshi Kato, 8th Degree Black Belt

Born in Tokyo 1935, Kato-sensei began Aikido training in 1954 at Aikido World Headquarters under the instruction of the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba otherwise known as O’Sensei. Introduced to the Aikikai Hombu Dojo through his mother’s network of connections when he was 19, he trained there daily as well as spending long hours perfecting his personal practice. Working during the day as a printer, he attended classes at night. (For this reason he was unable to be an uchideshi, and does not appear in early photographs with them.) He has continued to train regularly for over 52 years at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo although in recent years, he primarily attends Doshu’s Friday class and other special events at Aikido World Headquarters.

After his first 10 years at Hombu Dojo, Kato-sensei occasionally had chances to personally serve the Founder. He is grateful for those opportunities to have had personal interaction with O'Sensei. Even now he continues to realize new and very real implications of what the Founder told him many years ago. He is still pursuing Aikido through the Founder’s image, as according to Kato-sensei, “To me, the Founder is not dead. He is still alive in my mind and in my heart.”

Kato sensei has been attending Doshu’s class for three generations: the Founder, the second Doshu, and the current third Doshu. He received his first 6 black belts from the Founder and his next 2 black belts from the second Doshu.

His self-training in Aikido has been ascetic. In his early years, he often used to practice weapons by himself through the night, greet sunrise the next morning, and then go to work again.

Kato sensei's Aikido has a measure of personal spirituality to it. Before every class, Kato Sensei has the practice of coming early to the dojo to meditate. Since he was young and to this day, he frequently visits mountain shrines and stays up all night practicing weapons and meditating.

Kato-sensei regards O’Sensei with utmost respect and considers him to be his only teacher. He states that the Founder didn’t teach him directly, rather that he learned from the Founder. Kato sensei believes that others cannot teach us Aikido, it is something we must learn ourselves from others. He sums this up by saying, "Aikido is not something to learn from others, but to learn by oneself. Ideally, the practice should be for oneself, and it should be rigorous and sternly self-disciplined, by one’s own choice."

In 1965, an informal practice group named Yagyu-kai was formed under his guidance and direction. Most of the members were black belt holders and he enjoyed teaching, hard training, and lively conversation after practice.

In 1987, he formally established Suginami Aikikai in Ogikubo, Suginamiku, as a branch dojo under Aikikai Hombu Dojo. The former Yagyu-kai was then incorporated into Suginami Aikikai.

Several years ago, he retired from his work as a printer and now teaches Aikido full time.

In 1994, he received 8th dan and in the same year, he began to teach Aikido in the US. Currently he travels to North America to teach Aikido at his branch dojos in California, Texas, and Mexico twice a year. He also offers seminars at other Aikikai affiliated dojos as a guest instructor such as his recent visits to Brazil and Venezuela in South America. Recently, Kato Sensei has also been petitioned by dojos in other nations and he has received dojos in Mexico and in Indonesia as his affiliates. Kato Sensei now has over 60 affiliate dojos throughout the world.

From 1999 through 2001, he received commendation for his contribution of promoting Aikido in Houston from the Mayor of Houston, Texas.

In 2001, “ Suginami Aikikai” received commendation from the Governor of Tokyo as an Excellent Organization. This year, he also began to teach Aikido at the OASIS Sports Center in Tokyo. That program continues, and is expanding.

Reflecting its depth and maturity as a dojo, there are now quite a few high level yudansha (such as 8th, 7th, 6th dans) in Suginami Aikikai, and new members are steadily joining. As in his early days, he enjoys intense training with everyone. Members both in Tokyo and abroad have been enjoying brisk international exchanges, as visitors from various dojos come to train with him in Tokyo.

Truly “every person’s" aikidoist, Kato-sensei exemplifies one who has persevered in his own practice, was recognized, and rose to high rank on his own merit. Like most of us “normal people,” he is a person who worked a regular job and trained in what spare time was available, persevering by training hard and never giving up.

Kato Sensei is a living resource as an authentic link to modern Aikido's
origins. That is attested by the fact that his Aikido World Headquarters card number is the number 6.

Succinctly, Kato sensei is a superb and creative guide for his students in establishing “Wa” (harmony), both in spirit, in daily life and in Aikido.

Kato Shihan visits the Shudokan Aikido Association dojos twice a year in Texas to teach and conduct Aikikai rank testing.


Shudokan Aikido Association Technical Advisor - Yasuhiro Sakahara, 4th Degree Black Belt

Yasuhiro Sakahara was born in 1979 in Kamogawa City in the Chiba prefecture in Japan. He graduated from Dokkyo University with a degree in German in the late 1990's. It was there that he first learned about Aikido and he joined the University Aikido Club led by Nobuyuki Watanabe Sensei, 8th dan. Sakahara Sensei later spent time in Germany to further his studies in the language and there met and trained under Shihan Katsuaki Asai. After returning to Japan, he continued his Aikido training at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo where he studied under Doshu and the other major teachers at Aikido World Headquarters. It was there that he met Hiroshi Kato Shihan and decided to train under Kato Sensei at the Suginami Aikikai in Ogikubo, Suginami-ku.

At Kato Shihan's direction, he has taken teaching duties serving as an instructor of Aikido at the Oasis Sports Center. Sakahara Sensei occasionally substitute teaches for Kato Shihan's classes when he is overseas doing seminars.

In the last three years, he has been privileged to accompany Kato Shihan on his visits to the U.S. having visited San Francisco, Palo Alto, and San Jose, California. In the last two years, he has begun to accompany Kato Shihan to the Texas seminars where he has visited Houston, Midland, and Corpus Christi serving as the principal uke to receive Kato Shihan's techniques. Recently, he also traveled to Mexico accompanying Kato Sensei to his Seminars there.

Sakahara Sensei is also a practitioner of Brazilian Jujitsu and he has trained in mixed martial arts as well. Under the guidance of Kato Shihan, Sakahara Sensei has sought to elevate his Aikido to the highest level by studying and comparing Aikido techniques and principles to those of other martial arts. By taking Aikido waza to reality based training formats, Sakahara sensei hopes to improve himself at every level in order deepen his understanding and penetrate the essence of Aikido waza.

In October 2006, Sakahara Sensei accepted the position of Technical Advisor for the Shudokan Aikido Association. He will be serving as a technical liaison between the Association and Kato Shihan in Japan and will keep us informed of the latest developments in Aikido from Japan.

In the first part of 2007, Sakahara Sensei received two great honors. The first was that Shihan Hiroshi Kato promoted him to 4th degree black belt. Sakahara Sensei has proven to be one of the bright lights among the young deshis at the Suginami Aikikai.
The second honor was that he placed first in the blue belt division of a tournament in Brazilian Jujitsu. This is one of many accomplishments of this kind he has had in the grappling arts. Soon afterwards, his instructor awarded him the purple belt in Brazilian Jujitsu thus making him an instructor in the art. Sakahara Sensei has worked very hard in order to reach this level in these difficult martial arts and we in Shudokan are very proud of his efforts and accomplishments.
In November of 2007, Sakahara-san placed 2nd in the grappling (no gi jiu-jitsu) East Japan tournament in an open weight class. We continue to be proud of his accomplishments in Brazilian jiujitsu and Aikido as he adds to his overall martial arts skills.

Sakahara Sensei visits Texas twice a year spending 30 days a year advising and updating SAA instructors and acting as a special guest instructor in the dojos of the Shudokan Aikido Association.

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Shudokan School of Aikido and Shindokan Aikido Dojo Chief Instructor - Jorge Garcia, 3rd Degree Black Belt

Jorge Garcia began his practice of Aikido in 1995 at the Corpus Christi Aikikai under Sensei Eddie Martinez in the Midwest Aikido Federation led by Akira Tohei Shihan, 8th Dan. Jorge was privileged to train in seminars under Tohei Sensei and was received his early kyu rankings directly from him. In 1998, the Garcia's moved to Houston,Texas where Jorge first attended a seminar taught by Hiroshi Kato Shihan. After experiencing Kato Sensei's powerful Aikido, Jorge decided to dedicate himself to Kato Shihan's teachings and he continued to train under Kato Shihan's supervision since.

In January of 2004, Jorge received permission from Kato Shihan to establish the Shudokan School of Aikido and Kato Shihan personally approved the name "Shudokan" for our dojo.

Since 1998, Jorge has been privileged to have studied in 27 seminars led by Kato Shihan ranging from 14 to 29 days at a time. In this time period, Jorge has been awarded both the first, second, and third degree black belts directly by Hiroshi Kato Shihan. In total, Jorge has attended over 47 Aikido training seminars, all with master level instructors. In order to improve himself and stay current with the latest developments in Aikido, Jorge attends at least 4 special training seminars per year and in the last decade, he has trained in seminars with most of the leading instructors of the art in this country.

In the spring of 2004, wanting to learn more about the roots of Aikido, Jorge also became a student of Daito ryu Aikijujutsu Roppokai. He was one of four founding members of an officially sanctioned Roppokai Aikijujutsu private study group in the city of Houston, Texas. The Houston Roppokai Study group is authorized by Soshi Seigo Okamoto from Tokyo, Japan and is supervised by the Regional leader of the Southern USA Regional Headquarters of the Roppokai, Jose Lopez (4th dan, Jun Dairi Kyoju) from Fort Worth, Tx.
In the Spring of 2007, due to the growing needs of the Shudokan Aikido Association, Jorge voluntarily withdrew from the Roppokai so as to concentrate fully on Aikido. Jorge is deeply grateful to Seigo Okamoto Shoshi and to Sempai Jose Lopez for allowing him to study Daito ryu Roppokai. Jorge respects this fine martial tradition wishes his former classmates the best.

In February of 2005, at the invitation of Dojo-cho Michael Wise, Jorge began teaching Aikido at the Shindokan dojo in west Houston. This dojo became a satellite dojo of the Shudokan School of Aikido and a member dojo of the Shudokan Aikido Association family of dojos and has experienced steady growth since then.

In the spring of 2005, Jorge began studying Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido in the Houston San Shin Kai with Craig Hocker Sensei. The Houston San Shin Kai is under the auspices of the North American San Shin Kai directed by Shihan Roger Wehrhahn and overseen by Grandmaster Takeshi Mitsuzuka of the San Shin Kai of Tokyo, Japan. In April of 2007, Jorge voluntarily withdrew from the Houston San Shin Kai. Jorge's participation in his many Aikido activities would not allow him the time for him to attend the various Iaido activites. Jorge still trains privately in Muso Shinden ryu Iaido.

In June of 2005, Jorge organized the second Aikido Friendship Seminar held by the Shudokan Aikido Association that was attended by over 100 people. It was at this seminar that Kato Shihan tested and promoted Jorge to 3rd degree black belt.

In the fall of 2005, at the invitation of Dojo Cho Rick Torres, Jorge founded a third dojo, Ikuseikan, in Victoria, Texas which became the second satellite dojo of the Shudokan School of Aikido. Jorge provided black belt instruction here here along with the help of Joel Molina Sensei from Corpus Christi, Joe Rangel Sensei from San Antonio and Jaideep Mukherjee Sensei from Houston until Rick Torres was able to test for Shodan.

In May of 2007, Jorge resigned his "day job" and became a full time Aikido Instructor.

Jorge is the founder of the Shudokan Aikido Association with dojos in Houston, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, Midland, San Angelo, Victoria, Mission, Laredo and four dojos in northern Mexico. Jorge is currently serving as the president of the Shudokan Aikido Association.

At the Shudokan School of Aikido (YMCA), Jorge teaches on Thursdays, and Saturdays. At the Samurai Budokan otherwise known as the Shindokan Aikido Dojo (Highway 6), Jorge teaches every day of the week. Jorge does his personal training in Aikido at the advanced classes.


Shudokan School of Aikido Assistant Instructor - Molly Mockler, 1st Degree Black Belt


Molly Mockler began her practice of Aikido in January of 2004 when the Shudokan School of Aikido was founded at the Clay Road YMCA. Being one of the founding members, Molly has attended every seminar that has been held with Shihan Hiroshi Kato in Houston since 2004. She has also trained with other high ranking instructors and has traveled to other cities to assist in presenting Shudokan Aikido to groups in both Texas and Mexico. Molly is an avid Aikidoist and is known for her powerful technique and ability to take beautiful ukemi. She is also a National Honor Society member, a musician, and an upcoming artist.

In April of 2007, Molly was recognized for her efforts in behalf of Aikido and was named the Shudokan 2007 Student of the Year and was given the position of Kenshusei as an extra dedicated student of Aikido.

On November the 11, 2007, Molly was promoted to 1st degree black belt by Shihan Hiroshi Kato, 8th dan. A special black belt dinner was held that night where Molly was honored with many gifts and she was presented her black belt personally by Kato Shihan.

Molly is the first student in the the Shudokan Aikido Association to become a yudansha, only having trained within Shudokan and in Houston, she was the first student of the Shudokan School of Aikido and the first yudansha to come from Jorge Garcia Sensei as her only instructor. Garcia Sensei has high regard for this young lady and has great hopes for her future in Aikido.

In the dojo, Molly assists with the instruction in the younger children's classes at 6pm and she asists the dojo-cho teaching the teens at 7pm and adult classes at 8pm on Saturdays and Thursdays as needed. Molly trains in Aikido 6 days a week attending both Houston SAA dojos .

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Shudokan Aikido Association At Large Assistant Instructor - John Stephen Garcia, 2nd Degree Black Belt

John Stephen Garcia began practicing Aikido in July of 1995 in the Midwest Aikido Federation led by Akira Tohei Shihan, 8th Dan. He trained diligently at the Corpus Christi Aikikai for four years and and as a teenager, he was given his first adult ranking directly by Tohei Shihan.

After moving to Houston in 1998, he continued his training under Sensei Tom Oreck at the Tumbleweed Aikikai and then under Sensei Nelson Andujar, 6th Dan of the Nations Aikikai where he not only trained in Aikido but also in Miyama Ryu Jujitsu for a short time. It was during this time period that he attended a seminar taught by Hiroshi Kato Shihan from Tokyo, Japan and he experienced the power of Kato Shihan's technique. For the next 5 years, he continued to train and practice the things he learned in that seminar and was able to train personally with Kato Shihan in many seminars in Houston, Corpus Christi, and San Francisco. In March of 2001, Kato Shihan promoted John Stephen to first degree black belt and he has continued to train and study Kato Shihan's Aikido.

In 2003, John Stephen moved to Corpus Christi,Texas to attend college and where he also trained in a dojo affiliated with Kato Sensei. Since 1995, John has traveled to many places to train under the foremost instructors of Aikido in the U.S. including such people as Jo Birdsong, Peter Bernath, Damon Apodoca, Pat Hendricks, Hiroshi Ikeda, Seiichi Sugano, T.K. Chiba and Yoshimitsu Yamada among others.

In October of 2004, Kato Sensei promoted John Stephen to second degree black belt.

In 2005, John Stephen returned to Houston and he is currently pursuing his studies at the College of Biblical Studies in Houston,Texas where he is working on a degree in Christian ministry.

In order to round out his martial arts abilities and to increase his knowlege of martial arts in general, John has also taken up the study of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Travis Tooke, an outstanding instructor in this art. He hopes to train in this art for many years to come.

John Stephen trains in Aikido as his schedule allows. He trains in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at least once or twice a week.

John Stephen currently does not have a permanent teachng assignment due to his College studies.

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Yuwakan Aikido dojo Chief Instructor - Jaideep Mukherjee, 2nd Degree Black Belt

Dr. Jaideep Mukherjee began his martial arts path in India in 1979 by training in Shotokan Karate for 3 years. In 1988, Jaideep came to the U.S.A. for his graduate studies and began doing Tai Chi in Newark, Delaware. It was there that he met Karen, his practice partner, friend and now, his wife of 9 years. In 1990, they moved to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for his Ph. D. studies while continuing to train in Tai Chi for another year. In February of 1992, Jaideep and Karen discovered Aikido and have been practicing it ever since. Their dojo was the Central Illinois Aikikai which was a part of the Midwest Aikido Federation (under the supervision of Shihan Akira Tohei, 8th dan). In Aikido, Jaideep and Karen found a good compromise between the "hard" Karate and "soft" Tai Chi. While part of the Midwest Aikido Federation, Jaideep was tested for all his Kyu levels by Shihan Akira Tohei and passed the First Kyu exam in 1996. After earning his doctorate, the Mukherjees moved to Houston in order to pursue their career paths.

Once arriving in Houston, Jaideep and Karen joined the Tumbleweed Aikikai which was a member dojo of the United States Aikido Federation's Eastern Region under Yoshimitsu Yamada, 8th dan. The Dojo cho there was Sensei Tom Oreck. The dojo eventually disbanded and was reconstituted as a dojo in the Aikido Association of America with Sensei Zeljko Jericevic. The AAA's Shihan was Fumio Toyoda, 6th dan. Toyoda Shihan passed away a few years later and Jaideep was privileged to have been at his last Instructors Seminar held in Chicago in April of 2001. It was at that seminar that he was awarded the title of "Jyoshu" ("Assistant") by Toyoda Shihan.

In October 2001, Jaideep decided to take his Aikido studies in a new direction by coming under the supervision of Hiroshi Kato, 8th dan from Tokyo, Japan. A new dojo had started in Houston (originally called the Harris County Aikikai) featuring Kato Shihan as the Head Instructor. Jaideep transferred his membership there with a desire to learn the Aikido of Kato Shihan. In March of 2002, after a year and a half of training in this new style, Jaideep was awarded his first degree black belt by Kato Shihan. In the fall of 2004, Jaideep and his wife Karen decided to join the Shudokan School of Aikido in order to help Sensei Jorge Garcia establish Aikido in northwest Houston. In October of 2004, Jaideep took his Nidan exam and was awarded his 2nd degree black belt by Kato Shihan. Now members of the Shudokan Aikido Association along with Sensei Jorge Garcia, Jaideep and Karen have been reunited with their long time practice partner and respected friend and are looking forward to many years of learning this art together.

Jaideep and Karen both practice Daito ryu Aikijujutsu Roppokai several days a week and they participate in Daito ryu seminars throughout the year. Jaideep also has many years of practicing Muso Shinden ryu Iaido twice a week. This summer, Jaideep was promoted to Shodan in Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido.

Jaideep is now serving as the Dojo cho of Aikido in the Heights other wise called, Yuwakan. This is a new dojo in the Woodland Heights near the Houston downtown area. There, he and his wife Karen are teaching three days a week as an affilate dojo of the Shudokan School of Aikido and a member dojo of the Shudokan Aikido Association.

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Shindokan Aikido dojo Assistant Instructor - Russ Thomas, 2nd Degree Black Belt

Russ Thomas began studying Aikido at Koshinkan Dojo, in Morgantown, West Virginia as a student of Mark Allen. Allen Sensei was a student of Shihan Fumio Toyoda, 6th dan of the Aikido Association of America headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Russ studied with Allen Sensei for three years beginning in 1995. Subsequently, Russ moved to southern Virginia for two years where he commuted to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to train at Choshinkan Dojo with Ned Daneily Sensei (yondan).

When Russ accepted a new job in Raleigh, North Carolina, he began training with Hiroshi Tajiri Sensei (godan) at Seibukan Dojo. Russ trained in Raleigh between July 1999 and September 2002. At that time, Russ and his family relocated to Houston, Texas. Once in Houston, Russ began training with Zeljko Jericevic Sensei (sandan) at Tumbleweed Aikikai. It was under Jericevic Sensei's care that Russ earned his shodan in February 2004 through Andy Sato Sensei and the Aikido Association of America.

Russ first met Jorge Garcia Sensei while training at Tumbleweed Aikikai and was introduced to Shihan Hiroshi Kato's style of Aikido. In January of 2005, Jericevic Sensei gave permission for Russ to begin training with Garcia Sensei at Shudokan Dojo. Soon after, he became an official member of the Shudokan School of Aikido.

In October of 2006, Kato Shihan promoted Russell to Nidan in Aikido. Russell hopes to someday return to the East coast and start a dojo for the Shudokan Aikido Association. He hopes to continue training under Garcia Sensei and Kato Sensei for many years to come.

Russ currently serves as an assistant instructor of the Shindokan dojo on Highway 6 in Houston where he teaches as needed. Russell trains at the Shindokan dojo every week and is considered by Garcia Sensei to also be a personal student of his and a valued member of the Shudokan Aikido Association. He teaches twice a month on Monday nights.

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Houston Aikido Club Chief Instructor - Alberto Pena, 2nd Degree Black Belt

Alberto Pena began his practice of Aikido in 1989 in Maracaibo, Venezuela under Sensei Jose Abreu, 2nd dan. He also had the opportunity to practice aikido at the University of Zulia during that time period. Afterwards, he became a member of the United States Aikido Federation (Latin American Division) led by Yoshimitsu Yamada, 8th dan.

In 1997, Alberto and his family moved to the city of Houston where he practiced in several of the local Aikido dojos, sharpening his skills while staying related to the Aikikai.

In 2002, Alberto attended a local seminar in Houston under Shihan Hiroshi Kato, 8th dan and he has devoted himself to training under him ever since. Today, Alberto continues to train in this style of Aikido under the supervision of Jorge Garcia Sensei, 3rd dan of the Shudokan School of Aikido.

In June of 2005, Alberto tested for Shodan at Shudokan and after an excellent exam, Kato Shihan promoted Alberto to the rank of 1st degree black belt.

Alberto is now serving as the Chief Instructor of the Houston Aikido Club where he teaches every Thursday. Alberto also serves as an assistant instructor for the Shindokan dojo where he substitutes when needed. Alberto also trains at the Shindokan Aikido dojo several times a week.

In November of 2007, Alberto was promoted by Shihan Hiroshi Kato to 2nd degree black belt. During the exam, Kato Sensei noted that Alberto has really improved his Aikido in the last two years and we are all proud that Alberto is an instructor in the Shudokan Aikido Association's group of dojos.

The Traditional Psychological-Social Transformative Method of Aikido
by Jorge Garcia






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From Gozo Shioda, 9th san - Founder of Yoshinkan Aikido

Thinking that I would have given anything to make something of myself in this incredible martial art, I eagerly commuted back and forth to the dojo. But of course, I could never equal the uchideshi (live-in students) who were always serving at Sensei's side. So it was inevitable that I, too, had to be by Sensei's side to take in as much as possible. Thus, I became an uchideshi at the age of 19.

At that time I was going to Takushoku University but I was devoted to Aikido more than anything else and so I took a leave from school. I was allowed to take two years off. Once I hit the three year mark though, I would be removed from school altogether. I immersed myself whole heartedly in Aikido for two years with an absolute resolve to become a top uchideshi.

Once I became an uchideshi, I lived with Sensei and took care of all his daily needs, no matter what they were. All shugyo (spiritual purification through hard training) is like this, no matter what kind it is. It's the same as the apprenticeship programs of years gone by. You never complained to your master. You simply kept silent and did as you were told. Giving your opinion was absolutely out of the question. If you ever asked something like, "Isn't it better to do it this way?" you would catch holy hell immediately!

People today probably think that this is a bit unreasonable, but if you want to master a particular path or way, my feeling is that this kind of intensive training is necessary. For no matter how well you know the pre set forms and procedures of the techniques, this alone will not make something a martial art. This is especially true in the case of Aikido. In order to master Aiki techniques, simply drilling in sports-type training is not sufficient.

To achieve this mastery of a martial art, nothing is better than solid shugyo in which you share daily life with your teacher in absolute obedience. And yet, you won't gain anything by simply living with your teacher. The important thing is, in taking care of all his needs, to continually sense your teacher's feelings before they are made known to you. In the end, you are striving to be able to perceive his intentions.

If you are helping Sensei in the dojo, you should be able to determine what Sensei will want next and do it for him before he says anything. Watch Sensei's movements continuously; then understand the changes in his feelings.

But here's the difficult thing. If you see something and then think about it and then set to work on it, it's already too late. You can't think about it. You have to be able to discern instinctively what Sensei's feelings are right away, on the spot. This is the natural way. It's not about thinking, just sense it naturally. I always made it my goal to try to do things this way and as a result, I developed an ability to sense my opponent's intentions.

Before long, this kind of training carried over into demonstrations as well. When performing as Sensei's uke, although fundamentally it doesn't matter where you attack, the point initially is to show the audience. So, for example, Sensei might present his shoulder and say, "Grab here." The average person would then go in and grab his shoulder. My goal was to perceive his intent and go in and grab his shoulder before he could say a single word. It is an unspoken, heart to heart way of communicating. If you can't do this, then you can't move naturally. I studied this sort of thing. So now when it's time for me to do a technique I can apply what I studied and can tell where the opponent intends to attack.

It is through my life as an uchideshi that I acquired these sorts of abilities, but it's unreasonable for me to try to get today's young people to do the same thing. They probably wouldn't give absolute obedience to their master and I'm sure they couldn't even begin to think of caring for their teacher as part of Aikido training. (1)

From Morihiro Saito, 9th dan and keeper of the Iwama Dojo

Serving the Founder was extremely severe even though it was just for the study of a martial art. O Sensei only opened his heart to those students who helped him from dusk to dawn in the fields, those who got dirty and massaged his back, those who served him at the risk of their lives. As I was of some use to him, O Sensei willingly taught me everything." (2)


From Shoji Nishio, 9th dan

In the dojo community, there is a teacher, experienced disciples, and beginners. The teacher is called Sensei. The advanced pupils are called Yudansha (black belts), the beginners are called Mudansha (unranked and kyu ranks).You will not become a Yudansha only by improving your ability. It is also necessary to strengthen your mind and soul according to the way of the warrior. A Yudansha always gives more to the dojo than he takes. For him, the dojo is more than a sports center. It is a part of his life and the members are a part of his family.

Therefore, in the dojo, all the members are connected in a Sempai (Senior) and Kohei (junior) relationship. Everybody, even the teacher, is always a sempai and kohei at the same time. The sempai is the senior member despite his physical skills or the degree he might have. The kohei is the junior member. Even if he is more skilled and higher ranked than his senior, the kohei has to respect him as long as he lives. The senior takes care of his junior and always tries to be a guide to him on his way of budo. (3)
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It has been for some time now that as I have been thinking about what Aikido is and what it does for the individual, that a new thought has occurred to me. The thought is that in order for Aikido to make a psychological change in an individual, there has to be a certain kind of environment and a certain kind of relationship with the teacher.

I first began to look at this old idea in a new light when I would see so many people coming to our dojo seeking something for their children. The parents seemed to have this intuitive belief that martial arts would help the particular thing that they saw their child needed a change in or help in. As I strove to help their children, I quickly realized some things. 1) You can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped. 2) You can't help someone (particularly with Aikido) who isn't trying to do their best. 3) You can't help someone who resists discipline.
In the first case, you have the problem of motivation. If the person isn't seeking change, they won't change. What seems to change them without their knowing it is when they like the art or they respect the teacher. Then they want to do well so they find the motivation to give it their all. In the second case, some people are self starters and always do their best while others are lazy, demotivated and have poor concentration and diffusion of thought. These lack the intensity to pass through the fires of real change. Any experience that processes a real change in someone is an intense one. Lastly, in most endeavors, be it school, your job, the military or a martial arts dojo, the discipline is the key. Self disciplined people do the best but institutions like the military have a form of forced discipline and that processes change as well but that change can be for the better or the worse in the person due to the enforced nature of the process.

I realized that in a traditional martial arts dojo, everything is about the discipline. The rules of etiquette are not only about the social nature of the institution but about the parameters of behavior each person is required to adhere to. How strictly that is enforced and how the student receives it is the key. There is also the factor of abuse. In many situations in western culture authority soon becomes authoritarianism. This is abuse in the sense that it comes from the top down and may not take into account the feelings of those below. Authoritarianism lacks compassion for it's followers. This happens in many cases.

Recently, I was thinking about my master teacher from Japan. By training, he follows the rules of protocol of Aikido but I have noticed that he never demands it from anyone. Everyone gives him their obedience because they respect him but I have never seen him ask anyone to do any of the things the protocol asks for. He fully expects it to come from you. He once said that "Aikido is not something to learn from others, but to learn by oneself. Ideally, the practice should be for oneself, and it should be rigorous and sternly self-disciplined, by one's own choice." This voluntary giving of oneself to Aikido and it's processes is what changes an individual. It has to come from the person though. The heart must be soft, obedient and pliable in the hands of a good and honest instructor of Japanese budo in order to see the psycho social transformative change that so many are looking for. If you think of Aikido in this way, you will realize that almost the entire training of Aikido is discipline. From the time you walk through the door, in its etiquette and rules, there are rules for almost everything. On the mat, you are subject to the discipline and instruction of the Sensei or instructor. Almost every word and action is corrective in nature thus falling under the category of discipline.
Then there is the aspect mentioned in the quotes above. In the early days of Aikido, it was considered a budo which was a particular form of austere training by which you would undergo severe training taking you from the ego self to the egoless self thus finding your true (purified) humanity. This process was not automatic and many people resisted it naturally, but some submitted themselves to it and for these, the training went to higher and higher levels. If Aikido is a training of the mind, then the relationship with the teacher in terms of authority, submission to his instruction, directions and discipline were the keys to the psycohological and social changes in the practitioners.

I think that this is the point where many of my readers will take exception to my comments and part company with me. I think though that I need to direct you back to what my teacher says. He said that "Aikido is not something to learn from others, but to learn by oneself. Ideally, the practice should be for oneself, and it should be rigorous and sternly self-disciplined, by one's own choice." This is the key. It is not the instructor who forces the student to submit or follow. That always comes from the students and the students should always think for themselves and rule over their own mind and conscience. In a real budo relationship, the instructor is a guide and a mentor who leads by example and by setting the parameters of the protocol. The students set the level of their obedience. The instructor has the option to help and reward those who are following him and are obedient to his instructions (with regard to the training).

Gozo Shido Sensei understands that modern people would highly resist this kind of training lacking the background and mindsets of the past but still, he makes clear that the training of sensing your teacher's desires was one of intuition and sensitivity that would take your martial abilities to another level in terms of being able to sense your opponent's next move. Physical training alone can do that but sensing the needs of others is indeed a master level skill. To tune yourself to the teacher at that level is a relational skill that goes to the kind of human you are rather than the kind of warrior you are.

Nishio Sensei, in the third quote, goes on to describe the dojo as a place structured for the care and discipline of its members. He shows that the dojo or training hall is a place of heirarchy and order and that the purpose of that is for the care of each other.

The psycho-social transformative change that Aikido as a budo brings is a long process that works on an individual outwardly through the forms, disicpline and etiquette of the art. The inward, compassionate and relational aspects of the changes are personal in nature and come from a close and direct relationship with a mentor and guide that you truly respect and love. It is in these two poles of tension that we are stretched into change.

This kind of training is not for everyone and it may well be that its time has passed but if that is the case, then the era of Aikido as a budo will have passed and it may be then that the hopes and dreams of Morihei Ueshiba for Aikido will never be realized.

Within the limits of common sense, compassion, rationality and good judgement on the part of the teacher, I think that we still need the expressions of the budo of the past for people today. It has to be voluntary though and the teacher must never be abusive in his leadership but must always have the well being of his students in mind as a guide in transforming human character through budo.

(1) From the book, Aikido Shugyo, pp.149-152
(2) From the book, Takemusu Aikido, Vol.1, pp. 18-21
(3) From the book, Aikido Toho Iai, p. 16

Article #1
The Traditional Learning Method of Aikido

“Horikawa never showed us how to do his techniques. I had to steal his techniques.”
(Nishikido Sensei speaking of Daito ryu master, Kodo Horikawa.) (1)

It has been noted in many places that the old way the masters taught was to demonstrate the techniques rather than to explain them. It was the duty of the student to “learn” from the master. Hiroshi Kato Sensei has told us in the past, “I was not taught by the Founder (of Aikido), I learned from him”. Kato Sensei always understood that it was his job to study carefully what the Founder was doing and to imitate it and incorporate his own understanding of what he saw into his aikido. Speaking in general terms, in our western mindset, we believe that good students come from good teachers. The eastern mindset is that good students come from dedication and the careful observation of the teacher. The worthy student shows himself to be so by virtue of his dedication to learning the art. The responsibility is on the learner. That being the case then, in the old culture of budo, it was the dedication, intensity, focus and hunger that allowed some of the learners to become the best students. The current western idea that a student must be nurtured, prodded, taught and encouraged by various teaching devices, interesting lessons, and a warm and friendly atmosphere is more of an external approach to the doctrine of epistemology (the science of ‘how we know things’). It must be noted that it is in this atmosphere that we are facing a decaying modern educational system because of these external approaches. We are meeting increasing numbers of unmotivated students who show up with an entertainment mentality that says. “Teach me, educate me – if you can!”

In this kind of culture, when a parent learns that their student is failing a course, many immediately want to know what curriculum is being used, why there is so much homework and what is the teacher doing to help their child. These parents tend to be attracted to state of the art facilities, the latest technological devices, and schools that boast of the certifications of their educational associations. They rarely look at their child and say, “What kind of a student did I deliver to this school? How disciplined and dedicated is my child? How much has he or she sacrificed to achieve excellence? Have they made learning a priority? What other activities, games, trips and personal things are competing with their education?” Do the students believe that learning is their responsibility or are they looking for better methods, better institutions, special attention and shortcuts believing that these will make them what they should be?

In learning a martial art, who has the responsibility to see that the student learns? Must the teacher give long explanations, develop focused lesson plans, and work with each student individually? What is the lesson and method of teaching used by the old masters that protected the art from the unworthy and yet rewarded the diligent? Read the excerpts below and see what only a small part of the historical record shows. As both teachers and students, we must all reevaluate what it means to learn and how we can dedicate ourselves to what we want to learn. In doing so, we must take full responsibility for who we are and for what we want to become. We must come to realize that while others can attempt to teach us, the burden is on the student to learn. Our teachers can show us but it is the student who through focus, attention, and sacrifice, learns. In Japanese budo though, the learning is innate or internal. The student learns internally as he experiences the training and discipline of the art. Words, while helpful, are not the main component or catalyst of the learning process. Rather, it is the student, who deals with the issues of ego and attachment, that allows the learning to be internalized and true change to occur.


From Peter Goldsbury Sensei (President of the I.A.F.)

"The Founder of Aikido has been quoted as good-humouredly telling his deshi, "Don't expect me to teach you. You must steal the techniques for yourselves." A double transformation takes place. There is a gradual transformation in the learning process, as the deshi in fact learns how to learn by stealing (i.e. observing), and this is paralleled by the gradual transformation in the relationship between master and deshi. At the end of the process, the deshi has mastered the kata as the master has presented them, has understood the principles underlying the kata, but also gone beyond the master’s kata and created something of his own. In the case of Japanese traditional arts, the vehicle of this double transformation is regular training or practice." (2)

"Then, also, perception and awareness are also of great importance. Students nod in apparent understanding, but this understanding is not always evident from their practice of the technique. In my experience, an accomplished aikido teacher has a very clear perception of his students' situation, their strengths and weaknesses. So there is a lot more going on in a training session than simply showing techniques and having students do these techniques. The teacher is also involved in teaching the students how to learn. As I said before, progress in aikido is ultimately the student's own responsibility, not the teacher's. So the student really does have to learn how to 'steal.' " (i.e. the techniques) (3)


From Yoshio Sugino Sensei (Master Swordsman)

"Ueshiba Sensei, unlike the present Honbu instructors, taught techniques by quickly showing the movement just one time. He didn't teach by offering detailed explanations. Even when we asked him to show us the technique again he would say, "No. Next technique!" Although he showed us three or four different techniques we had the feeling we wanted to see the same technique many times. We ended up trying to "steal" his techniques (by observing carefully). Mr. Mochizuki had a very keen sense for budo. He would grasp Ueshiba Sensei's techniques by watching. Sensei never took his hand to show him a technique. However, he would imitate Sensei. In other words, imitating is the same as learning. You watch the techniques of your Sensei through your spirit and mind. This is what I mean by "stealing" techniques from your sensei. People today are very slow to learn even when teachers explain. They are too casual about this type of thing. People in the old days were really serious." (4)


From Morihiro Saito, 9th Dan (Senior Student of O'Sensei)

"The Founder's teaching method in Iwama were very different from his approach during the prewar years. In earlier years, it was his custom to merely show his techniques a few times with little or no explanations and then to have students attempt to imitate his movements.This was the traditional method of martial arts instruction and students had to do their best to "steal" their teacher's techniques. But now, Ueshiba had the luxury of being able to devote his full energies to his personal pursuit with just a few close students...In the last years, I was taught by Sensei almost privately...Serving the Founder was extremely severe even though it was just for the study of a martial art. O Sensei only opened his heart to those students who helped him from dusk to dawn in the fields, those who got dirty and massaged his back, those who served him at the risk of their lives. As I was of some use to him, O Sensei willingly taught me everything." (5)


From George Ledyard (Famous instructor from Aikido Eastside)

O-Sensei didn't teach technique, at least not after WW II. He modelled Aikido in thought, word, and deed. He put it out there for those that were interested to follow...
Chiba Sensei and Saotome Sensei don't even look like each other, despite the fact that they were in class together at the same time under the same instructors. And this is due, in my opinion, to the fact that O-Sensei, whom they considered to be their Teacher, did not teach technique but rather allowed each student to develop his own Aikido. But it is clear to me, from training and conversing with these two quite different teachers that each saw the primary inspiration for his own training to be the Aikido Founder.

I think that many people would accept the notion that Aikido isn't "taught" so much as it is learned by doing and the teacher provides the direction ones training takes. This is why very few of the Aikido "greats" look like each other. (6)

My own teacher, Saotome Sensei, is adamant that Aikido has no "style". He has taught us in much the same way he was taught. He has steadfastly refused to spell out technical details, has only generally called our attention to various principles at work. This has resulted in much the same situation you had with the Founder. No one has "mastered" anything close to what this man knows. Only a very few have any real idea what he is doing. None of us look like each other because its been left up to each of us to develop our own understanding. (14)


From Henry Kono (Former student of O Sensei)

If he (O Sensei) was in the back of the dojo he might come out every day. If he was away, you might not see him for three weeks. If he was there, he might come out for five or ten minutes then go back in. I saw him about 300 times in four years. He never explained what he did, he just did it! This is what I mean by magician. He did it and if you couldn't discern what he did, there was no way to figure it out. He never explained anything but he left hints which were very difficult to discern because of the way he stated his ideas in very short phrases that no one could understand.

I saw a tape of Shioda Sensei being interviewed in England. He was with O-Sensei for ten years from about 1930-40, he said O-Sensei never explained once in that 10 years as to what he was doing!

He wasn't a teacher in the sense that he was teaching. The Japanese may look at that as teaching, but in the western sense it isn't. You had to intuit what he was doing and saying, read between the lines, so to speak. (7)


From Shihan Hiroshi Kato (Dojo-cho of Suginami Aikikai, Tokyo, Japan)

Interviewer: Would you tell us some memories you have of the Founder?
Kato: He did not say anything in detail about waza (technique). Rather than listening to his words, I learned by watching him.
Kato: He said, "Budo (the martial way) cannot be learned from other people. It has to be exercised by oneself." Even now, when I practice, I visualize the founder in my mind. It is not something that can be taught, but must be developed with discipline. That is why I started to understand the things he said. Things I have learned by myself are not easily forgotten, but things that have been taught by other people, without inquiry within me, and taught in the language like "it should be done only in one way, and no other way," are all forgotten.

I tell everybody to try it anyway, even if you don't understand it. Results come as you practice. People do not understand when I explain it verbally. Words are a convenient tool, but to show them how is more important. When it comes to teaching, people generally say "This should be done like this." It is easier that way. However, in this way, the amount of verbal instruction tends to increase. Seeing is much better than hearing hundreds of times. It is my great privilege to have had the chance to see the founder doing it. I really feel that I learned Aikido from seeing it.

I do not like the concept of instructing others in what to do. I am very adamant about that. For me, rather than teaching, I think practice is the place to begin by oneself.

Interviewer: Do you have any last words of advice?
Kato: If you really establish your individual style, you should practice it alone. Practicing is like that fundamentally, isn't it? While practicing, you discover your own thoughts and world's view. You train yourself. If you train yourself, do it alone. That is my ideal in my practice and words to you. (8)


From Chogun Miyage (Founder of Go-ju Ryu Karate)

"The true essence of karate, the perfection or ideal for which we strive, cannot be expressed or passed on through the spoken or written word. It is intangible in nature. The only way to understand the true meaning of this essence is to internalize it into your being by training."(9)


From Darrell Craig Sensei (Author and a Budo master)

"The old masters of Japan intentionally designed the techniques so that their deadly aspects would not be easily discernable and thus fall into their enemies' hands. The techniques were probably also taught this way so that only the most dedicated students would learn their real secrets." (10)


From Kondo Katsuyuki, the current Headmaster of Daito ryu Aikijujutsu

"I heard many times from my teacher, Takeda Tokimune, that Takeda Sokaku sensei never taught the same technique twice. Tokimune sensei told me that at the time he was teaching as his father's Representative Instructor, Sokaku would scold him for being "foolishly soft-hearted" if he taught too kindly or showed his students something more than once. My teacher (Tokimune, Sokaku's son) often warned me, "If you teach the same technique twice, the second time your students will figure out how to defeat you with a counter-technique. Teach something different the second time....Sokaku... showed a technique and left it up to each student to "steal it as much as he was able to. Thus, Daito-ryu techniques vary according to individual interpretations of Sokaku's students.

When my teacher Tokimune was still active and in good health, many of his students from all over Japan came to Abashiri once a year to take part in the annual Headquarters meeting. Several times, when I came to participate in the headmaster direct transmission seminars (soke jikiden kai) that were always held on these occasions, the meeting was divided into two groups, one taught by Tokimune sensei himself, the other taught by me acting as his instructional representative. Naturally, the day before these my teacher would go over with me in detail about what he wanted me to teach on his behalf, and he always told me that I must not teach the true techniques that I had learned from him. Even in regard to the very first technique taught in Daito-ryu, ippondori, I was strictly prohibited from teaching the real version I had learned directly from Tokimune sensei, and was told to teach only the version of ippondori he always taught in his own Daitokan dojo.

My teacher explained his purpose in this by saying, "What will you do if you teach people the true techniques and the next day they leave the school? The oral and secret teachings of Daito-ryu will flow outside of the school." He also said, "Out of a thousand people, only one or two are genuine students. Find them out and teach them what is real; there is no need to teach such things to the rest." My teacher only taught real techniques to a person if he could ascertain, from his questions, technical and physical ability, apprehension, and diligence, that they carried a sincere and genuine attitude. He inherited this method of teaching from Sokaku sensei.

These days, with my own students, I teach the same technique many times and I always hear my teacher scolding me from the heaven. There he is looking down on me and saying, 'What a fool you are!' "(11)


From Alec Corper, an Aikido Sensei

"This is typical of a number of factors of Japanese Budo that has roots in the following:
1. Pragmatic reality - The teachers of that era didn't give away technical secrets that would enable them to overcome ther enemies in battle (or conversely, empower them)
2. Financial reality - They didn't give away secrets that would jeopardize their (or their families') financial security.
3. Ego - They never let anyone else reach their level so they could keep their power.
4. Real teaching-If the students couldn't see what they were doing then it would be logical to assume follow that they wouldn't be capable of inheriting the art anyway, but their dues would provide a dojo for the "real" students, and the ordinary students would have received some benefits without knowing that they were missing anything." (12)


From Taitetsu Unno (Writer of the preface to "The Spirit of Aikido")

"The training and discipline common to all the Ways, martial or cultural, consist of three levels of mastery: physical, psychological and spiritual. On the physical level of mastery of form (kata) is the crux of training. The teacher provides a model form, the student observes carefully and repeats it countless times until he has completely internalized the form. Words are not spoken and explanations are not given; the burden of learning is on the student. In the ultimate mastery of form the student is released from adherence to form. (p.7) …the internal psychological changes (are) taking place from the very beginning. The tedious, repetitious and monotonous learning routine tests the student’s commitment and willpower, but it reduces stubbornness, curbs willfulness, and eliminates bad habits of body and mind. In the process…real strength, character and potential begin to emerge. (p.8)
In every martial and cultural art, free expression of self is blocked by one’s own ego. (Faced with an opponent) if an opening does occur, it is created by one’s ego. One becomes vulnerable when one stops to think about winning, losing, taking advantage, impressing, or disregarding the opponent. When the mind stops, even for a single instant, the body freezes, and fluid movement is lost… (p.8). The egoless self is open, flexible, supple, fluid, and dynamic in body, mind, and spirit. Being egoless, the self identifies with all things and all people, seeing them not from its self-centered perspective, but from their own respective centers… the ability to see all existence from a non-self-centered perspective… (is)… its highest expression (and) none other than compassion. Such a way of thinking is the essence of all the martial and cultural Ways in the Japanese tradition. Aikido is a modern formulation of this essence, perfected by the genius of Master Ueshiba Morihei. Aikido, being a form of traditional martial art, realizes this universal (principle) through rigorous training of the body. Ultimately, physical, psychological, and spiritual mastery are one and the same. (p.9) (This is why a dojo is a)…place of enlightenment…the place where the ego self undergoes transformation into the egoless self." (13)


By all that has been presented, I do not mean to imply that verbal communication is wrong as an instructional method in Aikido training. I am also not meaning to imply that we should completely return to previously used methodologies. I am suggesting though that we may need to reevaluate the basis of responsibility in human learning and what the conditions are that give the student the impetus for the learning process to occur. I propose that those conditions are found in the learner himself.

We have seen the decline of our modern educational system in our lifetimes. While the cry has been for standardized testing, improved facilities, the additional certification and training of teachers; test scores have dropped lower and lower, our knowledge quota has decreased and we are indeed facing a crises in our educational systems. Our approach as westerners is almost completely external.

The approach of Japanese budo is internal. The discipline of Japanese budo intends to bring the learner from the place of ego to the point of egolessness. Every learner finds himself somewhere between the two points of selfishness and selflessness. As the learner progresses from one point to another, humility of heart, openness of mind, and the steadfastness of the spirit become the launching ground for understanding, true knowledge and right practice.

Japanese budo is transmitted person to person by means of forms, strict discipline, and etiquette. The students selects the teacher and asks to be received as a student. Once accepted, he enters the dojo and begins to train following directions, learning the culture, etiquette, rules, and submitting to his Sensei and his seniors. The struggle for the student is an internal one. Day by day, the training acts as a forging and refining fire. It tests the resolve and perseverance of the student. The governing factor is in the training and the student is exhorted to continue to train daily. It is through this process that the student of a pure heart (makoto) begins to internalize the essence of the art and its benefits are applied to him. The learner then, has found the place of true knowledge and transformation within himself.

This article was written and the quotes were compiled by Jorge Garcia

Quotes slightly edited from the following sources
(1) http://www.budovideos.com/shop/customer/pages.php?pageid=29
(2) http://www.aikidojournal.com/article.php?articleID=556
(3) http://www.aikidojournal.com/article.php?articleID=473
(4) http://www.aikidojournal.com/article.php?articleID=368
(5) From the book, Takemusu Aikido, Vol.1, pp. 18-21, Aiki News Publication
(6) http://www.aikidojournal.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1826&start=30
(7) http://www.aikidojournal.com/article.php?articleID=435
(8) http://www.shudokanaikido.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=28
(9) http://www.samuraimartialsports.com/gojuryu.htm
(10) http://www.houstonbudo.com
(11) http://www.daito-ryu.org/history4_eng.html
(12) From a personal letter from Corper Sensei
(13) From the foreword of the book, The Spirit of Aikido, p.7-10, Kodansha publication
(14) From the Aikiweb forum. http://aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?p=196437#post196437

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Article #2 - Profile of a Master

Interview with Hiroshi Kato, Dojo-cho of Suginami Aikikai, 8th Dan


Martial arts cannot be taught

Interviewer: Sensei, please let us know why you decided to learn Aikido.

Kato: I did not have a particular interest in Aikido, but I wanted to learn martial arts. My mother knew someone who...also knew the founder of Aikido. So, without any specific intention, I started to practice around Showa 28 (1952).

Interviewer: How was the atmosphere of practice in those days?

Kato: I only remember I lost myself in practicing. There were many tough people and it was hard for me.

Interviewer: Would you tell us some memories you have of the founder?

Kato: He did not say anything in detail about Waza (technique). Rather than listening to his words, I learned by watching him. I haven’t accomplished what I saw—probably less than half of it. When he took my hand, I felt like I was being absorbed into him because of his God-like presence.

One time, Osensei gave me a chance to give him Shiatsu on his shoulder. As his muscle was bouncing back, I noticed his back muscle was extremely flexible. Whenever I had such personal time with him, Osensei used to tell me stories.

Interviewer: What kind of stories were they?

Kato: He said, "Budo (martial arts) was a gift of God, not the creation of the human mind," and "Budo cannot be learned from other people. It has to be exercised by oneself.”

Recently, at last, I am starting to understand what he said. I did not have any sense of it at all during that time. I just listened to his words and simply said, "yes" to him.

I remember one incident. During those days, at Hombu dojo, we had meetings with Osensei regularly. One day, an important guest was in the meeting and he seemed different from other days, uplifted and full of Ki energy. I was Uke and I was thrown to the degree that I saw my legs with the ceiling in the background. I could not do Ukemi at all. It was almost like Jinshin nage. I was really scared.

But such experiences became a huge part of my dedication to practicing Aikido. Even now, when I practice, I visualize the founder in my mind. It is not something that can be taught, but must be developed with discipline. That is why I started to understand the things he said. Things I have learned by myself are not easily forgotten, but things that have been taught by other people, without inquiry within me, and taught in the language like “it should be done only in one way, and no other way,” are all forgotten. Well, I was not obedient also. (smiles)

Each Aikido teacher has his own idea and way of practicing and teaching. I think it is because the founder did not really teach as if there were only one mold or pattern. Therefore, I think each individual style has developed out of his teachings.

"Extreme softness controls hardness", (a Japanese maxim) is not always true. "Extreme hardness controls hardness", he used to say. And extreme softness controls hardness. Extreme hardness controls softness and extreme softness controls softness. When I think about them, all of them are really true. Depending on the situation, each concept is important. Osensei did not really stick to only one concept, but embraced many.

Seeing is believing

Interviewer: What kinds of things do you pay attention to when you are instructing or explaining?

Kato: I tell everybody to try it anyway even if you don’t understand it. Results come as you practice. People do not understand when I explain it verbally. Words are a convenient tool, but to show them how is more important. When it comes to teaching, people generally say “This should be done like this.” It is easier that way. However, in this way, the amount of verbal instruction tends to increase.

For example, when I tell students how to take people down without using force, I demonstrate this to help people understand the sense of it. Then, I let people try it. Then, from that, learners take it from there, sensing what it feels like. After that, if they are willing to be stronger, I tell them to do it by themselves. There are no Aikido competitions, so instructors can’t force them to do it, can they?

Seeing is much better than hearing hundreds of times. It is my great privilege to have had the chance to see the founder doing it. I really feel that I learned Aikido from seeing it.

I think it is important for instructors to show how it is done and let viewers feel how great it is. When I visited Hombu dojo for the first time, I had the chance to see the founder perform Aikido. I thought, “This is something that will take my entire life to do.”

Interviewer: What did you think about Kotodama, the spiritual principle the founder talked about?

Kato: I think vocalizing from Hara lets our Kimochi (feeling/emotion) be present out there. I won’t say that I haven’t studied it, but I am afraid studying it too much ends up in word play. And my face should have the expression of God and become enlightened to talk about it. Or else, I don’t feel my words come from a natural place. I feel awkward pretending to be a little God.

Martial artists ensure that their words and actions are congruent. When verbal experience leads, it binds you. If that happens, I tend not to be at all free.

The strength of Aikido is in embracing others

Interviewer: What do you think about strength in Aikido?

Kato: Strength is many things, isn’t it? Taking other people down is one strength. But persistence in practice, and becoming good at dealing with others, are also strengths. It is holistic, I think.

It may be easier to train the body to take people down. Showing strength in Wa (peace) and Musubi (connection) is very different from that. It is more difficult to attain and requires more strength. Unless strength is found in embracing others with a full-fledged humanitarian perspective, it is not pertaining to strength in Aikido.

It is important to ask oneself “What is Aikido?” and develop one’s own perspective. If you choose not to fight, then why don’t you do that? Searching for ultimate answers like that is a necessity in doing Aikido.

Aikido is not Kumiuchi, traditional martial techniques for fighting. If Aikido were like techniques for fighting, the way of practice itself would be totally different. But Aikido practice consists of ways to develop ourselves and each other. Of course, it is not saying that being weak is acceptable — through our experience of strength we are not tempted to fight. Aikido is not about competition. A person who has true strength does not fight.

Again, going back to the regular meetings with Osensei, on one particular day, some writers who were specializing in Japanese tales of Samurai and Shogun came to see the founder. The authors started to talk about the technique of Sen sen no sen (responding before an attack) and Ato no sen (countering an attack). And the founder started to say, there are no such things. In Aikido, people win even before their fight starts. He had a view of winning that encompassed everything, that makes it into oneness, and a value system that transcends the concept of winning and losing.

Master Kisshomaru, Osensei’s son, was like that also. He was really a tough teacher. Especially in terms of judging students, his perception and discernment of people’s integrity was very strong. Although I don’t mean he was a cold person. And above all, he acknowledged teachers who had a strong individual style. That is wonderful. It is hard to acknowledge someone who is doing a different Aikido from one’s own. In order to do that, it requires extreme generosity as a human being. That is also one of the strengths found in Aikido. It is very different from how skillfully you can perform your technique.

Train yourself alone

Interviewer: Do you have any last words of advice?

Kato: I was not a full-time disciple of Osensei and I had a job during that time. So, I could not spend much time with him. Therefore I had to train myself and practice it. There must be many ways to do it, for example using sword and jo (staff).

If you really establish your individual style, you should practice it alone. Practicing is like that fundamentally, isn’t it? If you are young, you should practice to your physical limits. While practicing, you discover your own thoughts and worldview. If you keep doing that, your experience will bring you something to tell others. You train yourself. If you train yourself, do it alone. That is my ideal in my practice and words to you.

Practicing Aikido is to keep believing in and searching for something. Aikido, in the end, is belief. It is not a religion. But while you practice it, you gain strength in that type of awareness. I believe in the founder and his words. Still now, he lives in me. If I keep practicing Aikido with that attitude, it naturally fosters spirituality in Aikido. If it weren’t there, it would end up only at the level of physical strength.

I feel it is important to practice it peacefully, without fighting each other. Also, I do not like the concept of instructing others in what to do. I am very adamant about that (smile). For me, rather than teaching, I think practice is the place to begin by oneself and with comradeship. Let us practice together.

The founder told me once, "I do not have any disciples at all. There are no disciples but many comrades to accompany me. I have companions to attain the truth of this philosophy."

I love (these) words. Let us practice together.


Interviewer: An editor from “Aikido Tankyu” magazine
Interviewee: Hiroshi Kato
(Chairman of Suginami Aikikai, Eighth Dan)

Translated by Takanari Tajiri

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Report on the statistics of the students of Jorge Garcia.
(Jaideep Mukherjee and Alberto Pena have separate SAA dojos.)
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Shindokan Aikido Dojo, 2217 Highway 6 South, Houston, Tx

Meeting at the Samurai Budokan across from Logan's Roadhouse near Westheimer and Highway 6

Friday May 9, 2008
5pm Kenshusei practice

Saturday practice May 10,2008
11am-1pm Adults and Kids (Regular Aikido)

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Shudokan School of Aikido
Clay Road family YMCA
10655 Clay Road YMCA

Saturday afternoon classes for May 10, 2008

3:30pm Children (Basic Aikido)
4:30pm Adults (Regular Aikido) and Teens (Basic Aikido)
5:30pm Kenshusei practice


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Current Shudokan & Shindokan Practice Log as of 5-9-2008

Name-Rank-Days practiced-(Minimum days/hours required for next exam)
Children are using hours instead of days.

Adults
1. Jorge Garcia, 3rd dan -787 days - (Minimum 4 years & 400 days)
2. Russ Thomas, 2nd dan - 79 days - (Minimum 3.5 years & 300 days)
3. Alberto Pena, 2nd dan - 101 days - (Minimum 3.5 years & 300 days)
4. Janice Marsh, 1st dan - 152 days - (Minimum 2.5 years & 200 days)
5. Molly Mockler, 1st dan - 142 days - (Minimum 2.5 years & 200 days)
6. Saldy Rasco, 2nd kyu - 6 days - ( Minimum 120 days)
7. Jonathan Morales, 2nd kyu - 123 days - (120 days)
8. Emily Boyle, 4th kyu - 112 days - (100 days) Test nd
9. Jon Hansen, 4th kyu - 84 days - (100 days)
10. Alex Pavlov, 4th kyu - 6 days - (100 days)
11. Lee Kaplan, 4th kyu - 30 days - (100 days)
12. Jeff Evans, 5th kyu - 83 days - (80 days)
13. Daniel Machado, 5th kyu - 15 days - (80 days)
14. Anthony Marsh - unranked - 34 days - (45 days)
15. Marina Pavlov - unranked - 39 days - (45 days)
16. Edwin Soto- unranked - 36 days - ( 45 days)
17. Randy Soto- unranked - 33 days - ( 45 days)
18. Andrew Holdaway - unranked -44 days - (45 days)
19. Joe Cavazos - rank in process
20. Mark Mathis - 8 days - ( rank?)
21. Samuel Biggs - 6 days - (unranked)

Youth and Children
22. Bianca Verar, 7th kyu/A - 20 hours - (45 hours) Promoted
23. Vlad Pavlov, 7th kyu/A - 7 hours - (45 hours) Tested
24. Darius Dixon, 8th kyu/C - 25 hours - (45 hours) Certificate?
25. George Pollos, 8th kyu/C - 14 hours - (45 hours) Need C&B
26. Costa Pollos, 8th kyu/C - 14 hours - (45 hours) Need C&B
27. Niko Kontilis, 8th kyu/C - 30 hours - (45 hours)
28. Hope Tang, 8th kyu/C - 21 hours - (40 hours)
29. Wesley Fung, 8th kyu/C - 8 hours - (45 hours)
30. Jonathan Marsh, 8th kyu/B - 28 hours - (40 hours)
31. Matthew Marsh, 8th kyu/B - 28 hours - (40 hours)
32. Kota Wagatsuma, 8th kyu/B - 5 hours - (40 hours) Tested
33. Lisa Wagatsuma, 8th kyu/B - 5 hours - (40 hours) Tested
34. Charlie Boyle, 8th kyu/B - 7 hours - (40 hours)
35. Nicholas Lopez, 8th kyu/A - 21 hours - (35 hours) Conditional
36. Brendan Pattyn, 8th kyu/A - 18 hours - (35 hours) Conditional
37. Sarah Boyle, 8th kyu/A - 24 hours - (35 hours)
38. Cheri Tang, 9th kyu/B - 8 hours- (35 hours) certificate?
39. Eugeny Pavlov, 8th kyu/A - 29 hours - (35 hours)
40. Matthew Daponte, 9th Kyu/B - 0 hours - (35 hours) Nds belt & cer
41. Briana Verar, 9th kyu/B - 14 hours - (35 hours) Certificate needed
42. Joseph Nguyen, 9th kyu/B - 25 hours - (30 hours)
43. Theresa Nguyen, 9th kyu/B -22 hours-(30 hours)
44. John Kang, 9th kyu/B - 30 hours - (30 hours) Need test
45. Sehtaj Singh, 9th kyu/A - 6 hours - (30 hours) belt & certificate
46. Urtaj Singh, 9th kyu/A - 6 hours - (30 hours) belt & certificate
47. Justin Pham, 10th kyu/B - 8 hours - (20 hours)
48. Diana Escalera, 10th kyu/B - 18 - (30 hours)
49. Simina Roberts, 10th kyu/B - 3 hours - (20 hours) Nd cert
50. Abraham Ota - 14 days - (20 days)
51. Madilyne - 13 days - (20 days)
52. Michael
53. Craig