I don't when this film was made. My father was from the first fellows who started New York Aikikai, before moving to Hawaii to practice with the great sensei in Hawaii. There was Ohara, Hagihara, an others. I was just a kid then. Yamada Sensei would always come to our house in Hawaii. They were very close. Thanks for posting.
At least these guys are honest. They are saying that they don't know what aikido is, but that it's enjoyable. Why did people follow o Sensei? What did they want or expect? What are you learning? It's not a martial art because you never fight or even spar. It's not a sport because there is no competition. There is only dance with partners who cooperate. You never try to win. What is the goal exactly? What did O Sensei say that he was teaching? A way to defend yourself and family? An exercise method? What is the goal? How did a man get so many students to learn something that teaches you to ??? To do aikido? Forget what it does for you or enables you to do or helps you with. Just do it, just like you breathe, and you will enjoy it and be healthier.
Of course you should keep doing it and practice if you can afford the monthly training fee, annual federation fee, and grading fee, plus seminar fee, and gashuku fee.....
@@notedite i dont know, monthly dojo fee 50 euro, annual federation 50, seminar fee 60 to 70 (depends on shihan) and for every yudansha grading you need at least 2 seminar attendance every year, and then summer gashuku fee about 100 to 120 for 3 days (not included transportation and accomodation). Grading fee for shodan 100, and then yondan 400 (not including annual aikikai fee) Yea, its pretty expensive.
@@notedite it is expensive, that is why i quit after 15 years of training. At first i thought that aikido would bring me to a higher spiritual awakening, or something. But then the training becomes more less interesting because aikido teachers cannot decide whether aikido is a performance art, fighting art, or some kind of spiritual art (like tai chi), but the costs keep getting higher. I dont mind that aikido is repetitive and uneffective for fighting, but i am tired of people competing on the mat while they are supposed to train together. And the cost just keep on getting higher.... so, i quit.
@@misterprogressive8730 Wow! 15 years is a lot of time! You did find something you were searching for during those years. Well, you are right! Aikido teachers are looking for different things but the big question is what are YOU searching for? One thing I like about Aikido is that there is a lot of variety and possibilities but you have to be hungry searching and keep the motivation high while you progress. I have a feeling you had that during those 15 years.
