Follow the Teaching, Not the Teacher

I have been studying Aikido full time for just over two years. I initially started my practice back in fall of 2005 but quit shortly thereafter due to disillusionment with the Aikido culture that I was experiencing at the time. Too many of the students I practiced with worshipped our sensei.

Because Aikido is a martial art based purely on self defense with the cultivation of peace at its core, many practitioners I have met come to the art with a pacifistic mind set. Many have no idea about combat in its various forms, verbal, physical, or otherwise, and have made avoidance of it their determined position. Additionally, I have found many are drawn to the art looking for a perverted form of self-validation of their "pacifistic" views, a validation that, in their mind, proves they are superior to those less culturally "refined". They believe that just practicing the art makes them stronger. Applying it in an environment where a loss would be devastating, psychologically or physically, and not to mention deadly, does not even cross their minds. And most telling, almost all have zero leadership experience. Thus, these "aikidoka", which I believe make up a substantial number of practitioners, particularly in America, are very susceptible to "guruism", meaning that they end up following the teacher instead of following the teaching. They are so impressed by their sensei's martial abilities and philosophical pontifications that they make this unfortunate and, martially speaking, fatal mistake.

Aikido is a very difficult martial art due to its revolutionary design. Its founder, Morihei Ueshiba, was a master martial artist. He studied numerous martial arts and became a master in most that he studied. Being Japanese and living in Japan after World War II and seeing first hand the massive destruction caused by this war, he had a realization. This realization, that budo (the way of the warrior) was grounded in the safe resolution of conflict for the benefit of the combatants and society overall, underpins Aikido training and philosophy. This martial philosophy was a radical departure from the generally accepted norms of martial art philosophy at the time and throughout history, that being the application of unmitigated combative force to annihilate your enemy. Additionally, all of his students were highly proficient martial artists, if not masters, in their respective disciplines. Therefore, his audience was highly educated, the modern equivalent of PhD's.

Today, Aikido is taught to beginning martial artists as well as to master martial artists. Everyone is welcomed onto the mat in an Aikido dojo. But this openness has a flaw. Many who do step on the mat to study Aikido, in particular the beginner students, are so enthralled and persuaded by the art and its philosophy as presented by their sensei that they mistake the "teacher" for the "teaching". What is worse, is that many sensei and yudansha class (black belt and instructor level senior practitioners) allow this to happen! They become so intoxicated with the reverence with which their junior students (or kohai) hold them, that they forget the primary purpose of the practice of Aikido: the marginalization of one's ego in order to foster the betterment of the self and the world. My guess is that this is a natural side-effect of Aikido being a Japanese martial art. The Japanese culture in general is very hierarchical. You would think that Americans, with their cultural foundation of radical individualism, would be averse to such hierarchical tendancies.

The Aikido practitioner must always remember that it is the teaching that must be followed and NOT the teacher. Respect for those senior to you and for your sensei is an essential element in the etiquette of the art. But etiquette should never trump the importance of the teaching. The more senior one becomes in the practice of Aikido, the more humble they should be. Arrogance and egotism have no place in Aikido philosophy or practice. As one progresses in the art, egotism must be replaced by a strong but kind confidence whose efforts are aimed at the betterment of one's self and of those around you, particularly those not as knowledgeable or experienced in Aikido.

Strict adherence to this principle is vital in order for all aikidoka to truly realize the essential nature of Aikido philosophy and thus the essential nature of budo itself.