Interview with Sharon Dominguez

Source: Sharon's Private Pictures

1. You studied natural medicine (Inochemy, Life Medicine, Medicine of Ki, Taoist Tian Der healing). Could you tell us more about the principles you were studying? Are you practicing any still?

Wow, you do your homework. I have a practice in natural medicine called Kototama Life Medicine founded by Masahilo M Nakazono.  I see patients who come for all sorts of imbalances of the body, mind, and spirit.  My goal is to help people balance themselves. Good health is true happiness. I was initially trained as an acupuncturist, but these days, I almost never use needles, unless I deem necessary. I use my hands, rice grains, meditations, exercises, coach lifestyle changes, supplementation, diet, etc. The principles are based on the laws of nature as pertained to the Kototama, the sounds that make up the total existence of life. It is an esoteric, highly specialized form of Eastern Medicine which is one of the powerful, yet subtle methods I have ever come across.  I treat everything for structural, internal or behavioral, whatever the sickness, it can't hurt.

 2.  Please tell us about the principles Ki Element Therapy which you are a founder of.

Ki Element Therapy is the synthesis between the principles of Eastern Medicine and putting the body in physiological alignment through directing the flow of energy. By bringing the body into proper alignment, it optimizes the body's capabilities to create and thrive. In conjunction with Kototama Life Medicine, it allows the body to heal and enhance one's full expression of life.

Source: Sharon's Private Pictures

3. Do you have any remarkable story on your path of getting godan and how do you see the future of this path?

 I have too many remarkable stories to recount. I have experienced wondrous and other-worldly phenomena. I've been blessed. That would be a post onto itself.  Miracles aside, I feel as though one of the greatest stories of aikido in general is the friends and connections I made worldwide. There are people I love all around the world thanks to being a student at the NY Aikikai and traveling with the senseis. It is an international passport. Have hakama, will travel. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that probably the most remarkable story would be meeting my husband of 13 years through aikido. Knowing me, that is a minor miracle! I also met my best friend at the NY Aikikai over 26 years ago. 

4.    Ever considered quitting aikido?

 Never! It's been a long one-sided love affair, where I need the art, but aikido doesn't necessarily need me. I trained through two pregnancies, injuries, pain, and heartbreak. I've done foolish things in my youth, including training with my knee so swollen that my friends had to walk me to the mat and I let adrenalin take over. I once took an entire class with a dislocated toe, not even realizing until Donovan popped back in. I've had flus, colds, migraines, hangovers, you name it. Quitting Aikido would be like taking away oxygen. It is also my tool to counteract my a-holish tendencies. I guess you can say it neutralizes my demons and elevates my life-giving properties. I guess one day when I am ancient and they are wheeling me onto the mat, I will have to rethink my position. 

Source: Sharon's Private Pictures

5.    Do you practice any kind of meditation? If yes what type of meditation?

Since I was a kid who came across a flyer of Swami Muktananda in 3rd grade, I've been drawn to meditation. I have practiced so many types of meditation from different religions, styles and philosophies from Kototama sounds to Kabbalah to Sufism. I've embarked on a spiritual quest now for almost 40 years. In the end, I sit, nothing formal.  I still do Yi Chuan from time to time. I also consider my aikido study to be meditation in movement. I am mindful of the moment as often as my consciousness allows it. There is always room for improvement. Conscious contact is a goal.

6.    What other martial arts have you tried?

 I studied and taught Yi Chuan since 1996. It is a profound art based largely on meditative postures. My sifu, Jesse Quinones also encompassed tai chi, shaolin, qi gong, wing chun and bagua into his teaching methods. These days, I practice on my own, but not as regularly as I used to. Sifu doesn't teach anymore, but he coaches me from the sidelines aka phone conversations. I see him from time to time. 

7.     What does teaching aikido mean to you?

Teaching aikido Is important to me for a multitude of reasons. Firstly and selfishly, it is an opportunity for me to access and articulate ideas about energy, technique, even metaphors for life. I elevate my consciousness, get out of my comfort zone, take risks, be generous.  I have become keen watching other people's training; their awareness, their approach. If I could alter or enhance the process of just one person per class, I am ahead of the game.  It is also a way for me to give back all the knowledge I acquired through my years with the senseis and my collective training experience. It is a source for inspiration.  Developmentally, the synthesis between training and teaching has been the most valuable tool for my own process. I think I get more from the energy in the room than they get from me. 

Source: Sharon's Private Pictures

8. You are a writer. What do you write about? Can you please mention the titles of some of your works?

I am half-way through a young adult adventure, fantasy romp. It has been so satisfying to create this way!  That and my wedding ceremonies is the most fun I've had in years. My previous writing was as a ghost writer for Nakazono's book on natural therapy for professionals. He had a way of making technical information trippy. I also wrote Yamada Sensei's articles for Black Belt magazine in both English and Spanish. Dry stuff, really. But, I always enjoyed Yamada Sensei's take on things. He doesn't like to reveal his metaphysical side, to say the least, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have one. I also write my wedding ceremonies from scratch and personalize it for each couple. Obviously, the same goes for funerals and eulogies.

9.    Do you blog also? If yes about what and where?

 I blog at NY Ceremonials. I muse about love and life, baseball. I tweet @shadoknows when I remember to. 

10. You mentioned you worked for a prominent jewelry line. What is its name and are you still working there?

The name of the business is David Webb. It is a high end manufacturing and retail operation. My mother was David Webb's partner and luckily I apprenticed there as a designer when I was 16-18. Got hired in my 20s. I became a stone specialist and the design and marketing director. The business was sold two years ago and I moved on and never looked back. 

Source: Sharon's Private Pictures

11. People in important positions have to work a lot of overtime. How did you manage to combine work life and aikido practice?

That's the age old question. Time management. I won't lie, sacrifices were made. There was a time when I was single that I traveled for Aikido almost constantly and when I wasn't, I was at the dojo training. I was in love with the art, the senseis, my friends. We had an active social community at NY Aikikai and I spent many a day and night partaking of it. I never slept. Ultimately, it was not sustainable and I had to make some difficult decisions about prioritizing my career and putting the fantasy of Aikido in its proper perspective especially since I was not about to become a professional as I once thought I might. Now, as a wife, mother, writer, minister, healthcare practitioner, aikido has a more balanced place in my life. No more dojo rat! I'm an elder statesman now. Lol. I train, I teach, I go home. 

12. What motivates you to keep training? Do you have any goals set?

 I get blue when I don't train regularly. As I said before, the daily practice neutralizes and tames my dark side. It's the analgesic that rids me of life's pain. Just ask my loved ones. It is the antidote to my reactive nature, learning to apply principles which would improve the quality of my daily life. Aikido is one of the only things I have stuck with and stayed loyal to. I haven't needed to motivate myself per se. Of course, I know that the fact that this is an ongoing study, mastery is a long, persistent path. I still have so much to learn. You can really stick your teeth into such a substantial study. Budo be it.  Sugano Sensei used to say that it is not quantity of practice, but quality.  As long as I want to transform and awaken myself, which I still do, Aikido is going to be my chosen tool. Oh, and I get to burn calories,see friends, rid myself of the desire to harm, harmonize. No goals, just practice whenever I can and strive to improve my understanding of the art and my conscious contact with all that is. Oh and kick some butt while you're at it. 

13. What would you advise to people who have just started aikido?

For newbies, give it three months before you can even see what is happening. Avoid the feeling of frustration. Aim high, but don't expect. It will only impede your progress. This is a looooong practice that time and sincerity of self-rewards you with freedom from self and ego. It gives you gifts of accomplishments and miracles to boot. It can change your life if you let it. Be patient and always self-correct.  Listen to teachers who take the time to show you, following those who have what you want. Be open. Learn from everyone. Know that a challenging practice is often the foothills of change. Try to keep the focus on yourself and strive not to change or judge others and their process unless they are harming you. Walk away from a nasty exchange, from danger. That is a form of neutralizing. Who needs it? Be humble. Let go of pride. Mostly, have fun, train with good spirit; respect those above and below you equally. In the beginning, focus on ukemi. It is the best vehicle for understanding the art. Don't be an asshole. Don't beat yourself up, or others. There will be hard days when you can't tell your right foot from your left. And remember, how often do you get to play in an adult playground, fly through the air, roll about? Oh, and when you get your second gi, you will know you are hooked. 

Source: Sharon's Private Pictures

14. What do you think about gender in aikido? Does it make any difference in technique and mindset?

Ah, the gender card! About 20-something years ago, I asked Jane Ozeki, the senior female student at the NY Aikikai how she approached gender issues. She said she never went there. She just trained. That approach resonates with me. I don't like the term "women seminars" when women are teaching. I worked to put fear in its place, challenging myself to take what's given to me, to protect myself by being proficient. Men might not understand that vulnerability and what we, as women have to deal with. Harmonizing with aggression is a tough one, a real lesson in challenging your comfort zone. When I came up, NY Aikikai was a tough place. I was taking a beating. We were young and I felt ferocious. Fear was a default setting and rising above it, the aim. It paid off.  Now that I am older, my ukemi no longer at its peak, I let go of that, looked for something more profound.  I just want to train, teach, do my best within the confines of my limitations because we all, men, women alike have to overcome something. That said, is there gender bias? Of course. But, it's systemic to the planet, not just aikido. Why engage? I might get angered but I don't act on it...unless I step it up a notch or two. However, the women teaching at the NY Aikikai are NOT tokens. They are formidable artists, better than most. They are sincere students with incredibly high standards. As for the female mindset, I suppose we are called upon to deepen our understanding of the principles in order to have any success. Perhaps it makes some women's practice more nuanced and substantial. Sugano Sensei used to joke that the little women were the best. We certainly can't power our way through, although I certainly tried. Now, I resort to trickery.

Women in Aikido: Sharon Dominguez

-by Sharon Dominguez

Source: Sharon's Private Pictures

I am a born and bred New Yorker, a rare breed indeed. I met Masahilo M Nakazono in August, 1984. He was a Kototama Sensei, a Doctor of Eastern Medicine and former Aikido Sensei, having studied under O'Sensei. He was teaching a seminar on the Kototama and the principles of natural medicine. I knew immediately that he was my teacher and this was the path I wanted to travel.  In 1985, I started to formally study natural medicine as a profession from Nakazono Sensei and his son, Jei. It was then that I was introduced to Aikido. We worked with boken and jo. We also routinely practiced the basics; ikkyo through yonkyo, kotegaeshi and iriminage. We also practiced rolling. In 1988, I joined the New York Aikikai. In early 1991, I became the official driver of Yamada Sensei, Sugano Sensei and Donovan Waite. I traveled with them extensively for 10 years. I continued to travel with Sugano Sensei up until a year before he died. I was also Yamada Sensei's personal secretary for 10 years. I am a member of the board of the NY Aikikai. I taught at NYU from 1996-2000. I am currently teaching at the New York Aikikai and Aikido of Park Slope. I hold the rank of Godan. The last seminar I taught at was in San Francisco with Christian Tissier, Bruce Bookman, Jimmy Friedman and Claire Keller. 

I have a practice in Kototama Life Medicine, I'm a writer, and I am also a non-denominational minister who performs weddings and other important rituals. I am married to Javier, a san-dan who I met in Aikido in 1998 when he was visiting from Peru.  We have two kids: Mateo, 12 and Mirei, 10. Mirei does Aikido, Mateo wants to be ballet dancer. I am also the former design director of a prominent precious jewelry line, having been in fashion since I was a teenager. I feel very fortunate to have had unprecedented access to the Senseis. I am forever grateful for all that they taught me and it is my hope that I can share their knowledge and understanding to as many people as possible.

Thank you so much Sharon for the biography that you shared with us. My lovely followers, please stay tuned for the interview with Sharon Dominguez!

Interview with Kristina Varjan

1.     You encountered aikido at the age of 27. In what way is it different from starting it as a kid. Does one still have the chance to do performance at aikido even if he/she starts it in his/her 20 or 30?

When I was 27 I found aikido and aikido found me. I believe that everything happens for a reason. At 27 I was ready, very ready, to bring aikido into my life. If I had started sooner it would have been very different.

I believe starting as a child has its benefits depending on the child. But unless you have the hunger and commitment it really doesn't matter when you bring aikido into your life.

2.     What does it take to become a good aikidoist?

It takes finding your teacher, commitment and the desire to change. You have to allow yourself to see inside whether you like what you see or not. You also have to open your heart, to give of yourself and train, train, and train some more.

4.     Tell us about the instructors under whom you studied, and how they gave you inspiration.

I have been very lucky to have such wonderful teachers and to have found them at a time when they were in their prime and willing to give to their students. My 1st teacher was Yamada sensei at New York Aikikai. He was able to give all his students the joy of aikido. His teaching was clear precise and always caring for the safety of students. After leaving New York I began studying with Chiba sensei. At this time I realized I wanted to become a teacher of aikido. In 1989 I moved to San Diego with my family to begin the kenshusei program with Chiba sensei. This program lasted for 4 years, training every day. There were weapons classes, meditation, sword classes, body arts as well as nutrition classes.

There have been many aikido Masters that have inspired me throughout my career. Yet, my 2 teachers, Yamada sensei and Chiba sensei have been the people that helped me follow the path, and find my path with aikido.

5.     You are the third aikidoka I am interviewing who practiced dancing before aikido (the other two are AnneMarie Crisanto Ruschel and Karen de Paola). What is it that attracts dancers to starting aikido? Do you see any analogy?

I began dancing at the age of 8, and professionally at the age of 14. I started with ballet, and then went to modern dance. Dancing took me to many different countries, meeting many different people. Yet somehow performing to an audience began to feel superficial.

I'm not sure whether dancers are drawn to doing aikido in particular. Dancers are drawn to movement, to creativity and are very curious creatures. For me, I am drawn to movement, to creativity and am very curious in my aikido as well. I am now more curious about my students, how their learning and what is important to them.

6.     I was much more up in the stratosphere than down on the earth.— is a quote from an interview with you where you say you were eager to take any kind of ukemi. Is this a prerogative to doing good ukemi? How hard is to go beyond the well-established reflexes and just let yourself be thrown?

When I began aikido I was a professional dancer. So for me falling, and rolling and following seemed natural. I was much more willing to fly through the air than being grounded. This was a hard lesson for me to understand. But with much practice and understanding partners we can all experience the beautiful connectedness with another human being. Ukemi has many forms, and being open and sensitive is what is most important. Not how high you can roll, how many break falls you take, but how you experience the connection.

7.     Have you ever visited the Hombu dojo in Japan? Do you think it is a necessary step in the development of an aikidoka to practice in Japan or have Japanese instructors?

Yes I have been to Hombu dojo a few times. The 1st time was in 1982 when Yamada sensei took some students to Japan. The 2nd time was in 2006 with Chiba sensei, when he took his newly promoted shihan to receive their certificates from the Doshu. Both trips were amazing! Training with other Japanese masters, teachers and students could not have been better. As serious aikido students finding teachers that have studied with O’Sensei I believe to be very important. There are not many of these people still around. Yet many of their students here in this country, have transmitted the teachings of their teachers.

8.     I shared on tumblr. the following quote by you: It’s a human connection, a dialogue, the voice of which is movement. Aikido practice and teaching stimulates my curiosity about myself, others and life. Do you feel you were able to create deeper human connections and get to know yourself better with the help of aikido?

With any in-depth study, you become to know yourself better. If you are open and willing to put in the time there will be benefits along the way. This has been true for me with aikido,  Feldenkrais work and dance. Learning to trust yourself, your teacher and your partners all contribute to a deep self-knowledge and growth. Aikido has a way of allowing you to look deep inside, to expose yourself. It is a very intimate martial art, peeling away layer by layer and finding your true self.

9.     Do you think it is important in the development of an aikidoka to study the spiritual side of aikido also?

I believe it is important to study the spiritual side of aikido. During my time in San Diego with Chiba sensei Zazen was very important. We would do 3-day meditation retreats a few times a year. I have continued to keep meditation as part of my life. It is a very personal decision whether to study aikido with or without meditation practice. For me it has added a deeper dimension to who I am.

10.  O'Sensei's teachings tell us about the fire and water, male and female balance . How do you see this applied to gender in aikido?

Whether we are creating a balance of fire and water, hard and soft, male and female what is important is the ability to be flexible. Not only having a flexible body, but a flexible mind as well: being available to change, to learn and to connect to ourselves, to others and to the world.

Interview with Karen de Paola Sensei

1.  What was your first impression after the first class of aikido that you have taken?

I started aikido in a dance studio with other dance students trying out aikido classes.  This was in 1977 so it is difficult to recall my first impression.  I was 19 years old, in college, and aikido was something to do and try out while I was learning ballet and jazz.  However, I do remember the point that I decided to train in aikido whole-heartedly.  I attended testing at New York Aikikai and witnessed women doing aikido together.  The flow of the movement attracted me and in particular I found the ukemi to be very beautiful.  It was amazing to me how a person could fall and not get hurt.  I never really gave any thought to the self-defense aspect of aikido or the philosophy behind aikido until later in my training.  Probably because I was dancing at the time, I was more interested with how bodies were moving together.  The aesthetics of the art appealed to me (and still does).

2.  Did you practice any other martial art or sports before aikido? 

Growing up I was active but I did not participate in many group sports.  I started taking ballet and jazz classes prior to training in aikido and for a number of years I danced and did aikido.  As the years went by, if I wasn’t doing aikido then I usually went to dance classes.  I am now supplementing my aikido with taking yoga classes to help strengthen my body.  I find as I get older my legs, among other things, are getting weaker.  I found this out after a knee injury and now have recurring problems with my right hip and leg.  We need to keep working on our bodies (and minds) as we age and become even more aware of our every move.

3.  In my daily life I naturally talk about aikido as one of my free time activities. A lot of people get interested in and come to train with me. Is it the same with you?

Aikido became a lifestyle for me. My friendships developed from the people I met through aikido.  Any travel I did was related to aikido.  I still have friendships with people I have known for over 30 years.  Eventually I met my husband at a dojo where I was training and our family life seems to revolve around aikido.

For the past 5 years my husband and I have had our own dojo (Skylands Aikikai in Randolph, NJ) where we offer classes in aikido and iaido.  Initially, I had been asked to come into a company to train the two owners and some of their employees.  Less than a year later, we were offered the opportunity to have our own school in a space adjacent to the company’s offices and warehouse.  So aikido is no longer just a “free time activity” for me but now encompasses my work life, family life as well as something I do in my free time.  I feel very fortunate that I have this opportunity and I am enjoying the process of developing our dojo. 

4.  After I train, I feel really relieved and almost as a new person. Aikido refreshes me in body and spirit. I have been giving it a thought but cannot tell exactly what it is that aikido does to people to give them this amount of positive energy. What is your opinion, what could be the explanation? Are we just ''good'' adrenaline junkies, or is it more?

I would say it is definitely more than just “good” adrenaline junkies.  I am glad you have been feeling relieved and refreshed but training can also be frustrating and draining at times for people but they persevere nonetheless for other reasons.  Aikido is a coming together of all different types of people with their own interpretations of what the practice of aikido should be.  Sometimes everyone enjoys working together and sometimes not.  My main teacher, Yamada Sensei, is known to say people come to the dojo for different reasons (not everyone wants to be like Steven Seagal).  Another very important teacher of mine, Sugano Sensei, was asked (I believe in an interview) something like what is the most important thing an aikidoist should know.  I remember his answer as being “know why you go to the dojo to train.”  

I like that you feel aikido refreshes you in body and spirit as it is in keeping with the basic philosophy of aikido, which is the training of the spirit.  As a "way" (“do”), aikido is said to help develop one’s physical, mental and spiritual potential.  “Do” is a Japanese cultural concept that as a Westerner I can only try to imagine and realize.  

As to your point about aikido training giving people positive energy, perhaps this is “ki” developing --- both on an individual and group/universal level.  Hopefully, with training, peoples’ frustrations with aikido and life will lessen and they can experience joy on the mat and in the rest of their daily lives.

5.  What is more important? How much you practice or with whom you practice? 

As an instructor I try to impress on the students to focus on quality and consistency rather than quantity.  Nowadays our lives are so busy and stressful with work and family.  Then you have the added stress of our commutes as we try to make our way from one place to the next.  With the limited time we have, I think it is important to be able to come to the dojo knowing it is NOT another place to be stressed out, but rather a place to breathe, move your body and learn a beautiful art.  It is not a place to be judgmental about yourself or others.  You have no control over who else will be in class to train with, so I think you need to make the best of it. Ideally, you should be able to train with everyone.  In reality, the newer you are at aikido, the harder it is to train with other beginners.  Our dojo is still relatively new, our members are less experienced but they keep training with each other and they get noticeably better.  Hopefully my theory of quality and consistency, no matter whom you are training with, pays off for our members.

6.  Do you think one needs talent to be a good aikidoka, or just motivation and willingness?

Good question.  Motivation and willingness, along with a positive attitude, are very important for training in aikido (as well as doing anything else in life).  The word “disciplined” comes to mind as well. My definition of disciplined in this case is doing something even when you don’t have the motivation or willpower to do so.  As I answered in one of your previous questions, quality and consistency are important.  That means going to the dojo to train some days even when you don’t feel like it.  Many of us know that we usually feel better after we train.  If aikido is to develop our minds, bodies and spirits, then we need to train even when we don’t feel like it.

As to “talent”, I think we all can become talented the more we train. Of course you have people who start out in aikido as “naturally talented” but it has been my experience that some of the more “naturally talented” people don’t always stick it out with aikido. Because some things in aikido come easily to them they don’t see a challenge and may get bored early on in their training.  But that is not the point of training in aikido.  You need to keep evolving through your practice. 

 7.  Is practice enough to be a good aikidoka, or should one do his/her research also (videos, books, articles, internet, etc.). If you think these are important, which ones would you suggest?

When I first started training in aikido there were a few books to read but no Internet or videos.  If you wanted to learn about aikido, you had to go to the dojo to train and attend seminars to see how other teachers approached aikido.  I remember early on trying to read the book “Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere” by Westbrook and Ratti (which I do recommend) but because I was so new to aikido, it was difficult for me to comprehend the complexity of this book.

I also had (and still do) the book “Aikido” by Kisshomaru Ueshiba (O’Sensei’s son).  I highly recommend any and all books written by K. Ueshiba, especially “The Spirit of Aikido”.   I am so impressed that these books were written in a time when visual and physical access to aikido was extremely limited.  They are written with a real sophistication, not watered-down in the least.  For example, in the beginning of the book “Aikido”, there is a written description of kamae (as well as photos and diagrams).  K. Ueshiba describes hamni as an oblique posture and then says about the triangular form:  “Remember, an equilateral tetrahedron is the most stable form, and one which changes into a sphere when turned or spun.” Wow!  I still don’t really get this and it continues to blow my mind. He assumes the reader knows what an equilateral tetrahedron is and what it is capable of doing.

Now that we have so much at our disposal (especially with the internet), I highly recommend people take advantage of the many opportunities to learn more about aikido.  The beauty of it is you can do so at minimal cost.  Of course we need to be discerning and decide for ourselves what is of value in helping us try to understand more about aikido. 

8.  Did aikido help you with anything in your daily life?

This is an Interesting and difficult question. It requires me to somehow separate who I am every day from aikido.  On a purely physical level, it helps me in my daily life by increasing my awareness of how I move in space and what is going on around me.  This even includes driving where I need to be aware of what is in front, behind and next to me (I am an okay driver, not great). Also, there have been instances where I have fallen but did not get hurt.  I remember running to the train and slipping on ice where I tucked my leg and broke my fall with a slap on the ice (similar to sliding into first base in baseball).  I didn’t hit my head and the only thing that hurt was my hand.  Another time I was running in heels to meet a friend in an office building where I was working and one of my heels got stuck in the groove at the top of a long moving escalator.  As I felt my body being propelled forward I had the sense to drop my center and fall to my knees.  It was the better option rather than fly down the stairs headfirst.  I just had imprints of the escalator stairs on one of my shins and knees for a while along with some bruises. 

I think aikido has also helped me with different and difficult situations I have encountered – including law school and working as a lawyer, along with personal issues many of us are faced with in the course of a lifetime.  Perseverance and resiliency may or may not be a by-product of aikido but maybe it helps to strengthen such in an individual. 

9.  How is it received when you tell people that you practice aikido?

It varies from “Oh, I won’t mess with you then” to questions and genuine interest about aikido.  I keep discussions about aikido to a minimum with people unless they are really interested in knowing more about it.  I don’t feel the need to try to enlighten them about the virtues of aikido.

Women Aikidoka: Karen de Paola

- by Karen de Paola

I started aikido in 1977 when I was 19 years old because at that time my then boyfriend's brother-in-law, Rick Stickles, started classes in his wife's ballet studio where I was taking dance classes.  I had no idea what aikido was or looked like.  Back then there weren't even any video cameras, never mind "youtube".  It was the blind leading the blind as a bunch of dancers tried to imagine what it was we were suppose to do together.  Due to our proximity to NYC and Rick being Yamada Sensei's student, we were permitted to take classes at NY Aikikai.  When I saw women testing at NY Aikikai, I knew I wanted to do aikido whole-heartedly.  I loved the flowing movement.  I began daily training both at the ballet studio and NY Aikikai and structured my college classes so I could do so.  Back then things were a lot less expensive and people had a lot more time on their hands.  The late 70s into the 80s were an interesting time period for people to explore numerous esoteric exploits.

I include as my main early teachers Y. Yamada, R. Stickles and Bruce Bookman.  There were also numerous teachers teaching at NY Aikikai and I attended seminars and summer camps that included teachers such as Kanai Sensei from New England Aikikai, Chiba Sensei (even prior to him coming to the U.S. to teach on a permanent basis), Saito Sensei and many more.  Compared to today, there were less people training so many of the teachers were brought together more easily than it would be today.  Looking back I realize it was a magical time and how lucky I was to have the experience.  

Over the years I would call different dojos home but always consider NY Aikikai my home base.  For 13 years I trained and taught classes at Aikido Centers of New Jersey under Greg O'Connor.  Greg and I had trained with R. Stickles and stayed friends when eventually he established his own schools.  He always encouraged me to teach and would refer students wanting private lessons to me.  Eventually, in November of 2006 (5 years ago) one of these students, Tom Carlucci, brought me into his company where I taught the owners and some of the employees aikido.  I consider Tom and his partner, Dave De Ring, my benefactors in making it possible for my husband, Alex Vieira, and me to open up our own school.  It was not my intent to have our own school but the opportunity presented itself and it has taken my aikido in a direction that makes complete sense to me now.  It is time for me to use my best efforts in passing aikido along to anyone who wants to train at our school.  

I must tell you it was not all smooth going over the decades and based on some of the things that happened over the years, it was not always easy to keep my training going.  In fact there was a period of time when I thought I was finished with aikido.  Relationships with people in aikido changed (as they do with anything) and life and career took me elsewhere.  At 30 I went to law school so the study and practice of law took a great deal of my time.  I did go back to dance for a period of time and then back to aikido.  Now at age 53, I have the dojo with my husband and my 11 year old daughter Isabella trains in aikido.  I teach adults and children and have a few private students.  From time-to-time, I am asked to do a seminar at another school.

I have been lucky to have aikido be my "work" and major part of my family life.  (I met my husband while training at Aikido Centers of NJ.)  My daughter has been to numerous dojos and summer camps (which she looks forward to every year).  Periodically she will ask me when we are going to go on a vacation that does not include aikido. :-)

On the top I have put together a playlist of videos with Karen Sensei. I hope you found this biography useful and inspiring. It is an introduction to the interview with her that I will soon be publishing  on this blog. Stay tuned for it!

Interview with Anne Marie Crisanto Ruschel

When did you start aikido and why? What is your rank?

I started Aikido in 1999 when I was a dancer in NYC. I had the chance to meet some other dancers/friends that practiced so watching them practice Aikido and see their movements made me curious to go after it. I was lucky enough to land at the United States Aikido Federation Headquarters in New York under the direction of Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan. It has been 12 years since I have been training and I am a 1st kyu.

Tell us a  bit about the dojo where you are practicing.

At this moment I am training at Aikido de la Montagne which is under the USAF ran by Yoshimitsu Yamada, direct student and former uchi deshi ( live in student ) of O-Sensei. Claude Berthiaume Sensei is the owner of the dojo here in Montreal who also followed a fellow friend of Yamada Sensei, who was Kanai Sensei of New England Aikikai. Claude Berthiaume's style is very unique and was greatly influenced by Kanai Sensei who incorporated his Judo and Iaido influences creating a blended style of Aikido. They perform very high energy throws, focusing on aerial ukemi and big stances which is part of their style.

Which is your favorite technique (if you have one)?

My favorite technique would be iriminage in its different variations...its challenging and can take you more than a lifetime to perform correctly! I also enjoy the kokyu techniques which are the breathing techniques that are also very difficult to master. The study of Aikido requires a lot of body awareness and understanding of the concepts behind each technique; in this way they do not become mechanical and they remain fresh to study over and over each and every day.

Do you have role models. If yes who are they?

I would say more than role models there are many people I love and admire for their honest and beautiful understanding of Aikido: Gina Zarrilli, Donovan Waite, Steve Pimsler among many others, these are people who live and understand the principles of Aikido in such a enlighting way that practicing with them is just a treat and honour. I am also very lucky to be a direct student of Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan who in my short Aikido career has given me first class direction in my Aikido training.

Do you read books about aikido? If yes which ones would you recommend?

I havent read many so unfortunately I cannot help you with that! Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere is one of the few that I found interesting by Westbrook & Otti. It is one of the first Aikido books that is a great starter guide. Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere is a comprehensive technical introduction to 1960's-era Aikikai Aikido as taught in the United States. 

Do you know any good aikido movies?

That is a hard one...not really; I have seen only a few Hollywood flicks in which Steven Segall appears and applies some of his Aikido techniques; but I do enjoy great classic samurai movies like Harakiri by Masaki Kobayashi or this years samurai movie 13 Assasins by Takashi Miike. The build up, battle sequences and tension of these movies keep you glued, and they portray the Japanese samurai's honour in an epic way.

Do you think there is a difference among how male and female aikidoka train and practice?

I think it all depends in each individual persons' frame of mind and what they are working towards in Aikido. I get a feeling that women must be technically skilled to move their male partners and men use their strength to achieve their goals. I do think men and women train differently. We for sure are different.

Do you feel like having an advantage or a disadvantage in aikido because of being a woman?

I think both. Our disadvantage is that there is a difference in physionomy compared to men which makes it challenging for us women to be good Aikidoka, and also because men generally like to train with men to test out or prove their strength. On the other hand our advantage is that it makes us work much harder and more consciensously at getting the technique down to a science rather than having to wrestle with the big guys. It takes good and efficient technique to move the boys!

As you are working for Aikitrend, your work is related to your favorite martial art, but I suppose it was not always like that. How would you motivate people who start aikido and then give up calming that they have so many other things to do? What can keep them motivated?

What keeps me motivated is the fact that the more I study the more I realize the dimension Aikido has and the bigger realm it encompasses. It shows me how much harder I have to train to reach it. Sometimes of course it demotivates me as well; but going to seminars, seeing and sharing Aikido with my good Aikido friends and the community always feeds me to want more and to continue in this path. I would say that experiencing a few different teachers can motivate one to train more, but having a real Aikido master that can lead and guide your training is always a means for motivation. It is hard to be motivated at all times as I said before, but remembering the the few "aha" moments I have in Aikido is still nourishment for my soul. Having Aikido as part of my lifestyle naturally keeps me going.

Tell us more about the Aikitrend shop. I think it is a really unique and interesting initiative as it offers special jewelry to martial artists. Whose idea was it and who did all the branding? 

I find it is a unique initiative and there is a gap in the martial arts I can fill with our hand made products that are created in limited editions. What I have seen out there is very artisanal and the quality of our metals/stones speaks for itself. With time I would love to expand to other Japanese arts like Judo or Kendo, but we also currently have a few pieces created for the Iaido practitioners as well. 

I would love Aiki Trend to have a personalized feel, a unique look, based on interchangeable pieces that can be combined in different ways creating a one of a kind look. At the moment we are working hard on giving Aiki Trend a new makeover and are working on the branding and our online store once again. We want to give it an upgraded feel and maybe add a few other type of products we can offer to our clients who have been faithful to us until now. I am excited with the great response we have had internationally. I do hope that in the next 2 years we can continue to grow and will be able to expand our store to other countries and languages. 

Aiki Trend is getting ready for a South American tour to Chile, Argentina and Brazil this year; we will be there following our great Shihan, at the same time promoting our brand to other Aikido lovers out there. I have been lucky enough to be in touch with top Aikido people which have influenced my love for this art; I have been very fortunate to be able to express this passion on and off of the mat.

I would like to thank Beauty and Aikido for supporting Aiki Trend this year, your initiative is awesome too! I hope to keep in touch with you all.

Anne Marie Crisanto-Ruschel

www.aikitrend.com

Thoughts from French Female Aikidoka: Sylvia Aikidoka

I have found some interviews with French female Aikidoka on  the Youtube channel of AikidoFFAAA: Sylvia, Sandra, Florence and Jacqueline. These fit really well into my series revealing thoughts from female aikidoka. In this post I am sharing the interview with my namesake, Sylvia. She is a French aikidoka, so I am trying my best to translate her thoughts from the interview into English hereunder:

I was a 18 years old student when I heard about aikido. I went to see it in the university's club. The first course was a revelation for me; I was seduced by what I could see there. Regarding an attack, how to resolve this issue, this conflict so that we preserve our integrity and that we at the same time become one with the situation. This is life: being regularly confronted with situations of which one has to be able to make a diagnostic. The movements require a certain energy and a physical effort; the projections require certain dynamism, all in all the muscles are really solicited. It is not that customary for a woman to touch a person of the opposite sex, that is why it is important to put those movements at their proper place with the help of the dojo etiquette. At the beginning, the Japanese martial arts were reserved to men only, only men participated at wars. It is the progress of the humanity itself that aikido is for women also, as there are no more reasons for women not to have access to this discipline, and I also think that it is a positive change in the life of the dojo also. From the moment a woman is in a certain environment, it is also a profit for that environment, for that system. So from this point of view it is also positive. I think we discover at this point other facets of the practice and this will bring a lot to men also. The movements, the gestures can be understood differently by a woman. The muscular mass of a woman is not the same, the tonicity is not the same the intensity will not necessary be the same either, but we can compensate with other aspects: a better placement, a better vision, a better response adapted to the attack. The martial arts are distinguished from sports, the letter being only based on performance. The aikido and the high martial arts go beyond that. (The interview is part of a press research entitled Women and Aikido)

In the hope that this inspired both my male and female readers out there I invite you to check out my Interview with Lia Suzuki Sensei also.