NORTHERN CALIFORNIA KI SOCIETY
Booker T. Anderson Community Center
Richmond, CA 94804
510-290-8640

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  City of Richmond
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  City of Richmond
• Adult Aikido
  Booker T. Anderson Community Center
  City of Richmond
• Intokuji - Summer Institute
• Jails Project

Ki Research Institute

Ki No Kenkyukai

There has been some discussion on the topic of Dojo hopping or more positively put experimenting/experiencing other Aikido views.

As you may know I have had more than a little "outside" experience in the realm of martial/spiritual training. I am also a child of the 60's which has instilled in me a rebellious leaning which at face value would have me support an eclectic approach to training. other dojo and paths indicates one of two things: either the student has not clearly decided on their path (their "major" as it were) and/or sensei, in effect "shopping around"; or the student/teacher feels that they have grasped the direction and basics of their chosen art and/or sensei and feel they need to augment their training. Sometimes this occurs when a senior student reaches an impasse in their training. Often an action is taken, usually without the sensei's advice. Of course we are all free to learn with whomever we choose, to come to class or not, etc. The pitfall is that our teachers and path (at least in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido) have a decisive, definite method and usually other dojo and paths use other methods and emphasis. While these methods could not be judged as wrong they are often (from my personal experience) somewhat counter-productive to the goal of coming close to Tohei Sensei's ideals. Even the most advanced practitioners of our art are corrected regularly by Tohei Sensei and have to constantly practice the basics to remain current. Other views and paths have great value. However, if one is learning French for example, it would be quite confusing to drop in on a Japanese class once in a while. Of course, if the need to speak French is not based on the need to communicate (just a passing fancy or recreation), then it seems fine to jump around. Have we exhausted our interest in the training methods already shown us? Have we no more to learn from the lessons already given to us? When we are building a relationship of any kind, what does experimenting with others really say? We who are members of Ki no Kenkyukai have in effect chosen Tohei Sensei as our teacher and Shin Shin Toitsu as our path.

August 2001