Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been three years since we had the opportunity to practice and visit the Aikido Hombu Dojo and meet with Shihan SUGAWARA Shigeru (菅原 繁 師範) and Sensei HIKITA Yoshiro (疋田 善朗 老師). This year is very special as we are grateful to have 14 members and an additional four family members joining us. Among them, 10 members will be taking promotion exams at the Hombu Dojo, adding a tense atmosphere to this trip.
On the first day of our arrival in Japan, we went directly to the Shinjuku Hombu Dojo to participate in the second-morning class. Led by Shihan KATSURADA Eiji (桂田 英路 師範), most of the students who were visiting the Hombu Dojo for the first time felt a bit lost. However, this doesn't mean that the instructor's teaching content was unclear. On the contrary, from the training content at the main dojo on the third floor of the Hombu Dojo, it can be seen that the focus is on practising the mindset, and practitioners need to have a basic understanding of Aikido techniques.
After the first morning practice, we went together to a nearby small shop to have breakfast. However, I believe that those who were taking the exams were not fully focused on breakfast because the promotion exams were coming up in the afternoon. According to the arrangement by Sugawara Shihan, the exams were held in the main dojo on the third floor. The exams went smoothly, and everyone demonstrated discipline, caution, and precision. At the official dinner, Sugawara Shihan highly praised and commended the students who took the exams and the performance of our Honshin-kai.
On the same evening, we had the privilege of attending classes by Tsuruzo Miyamoto Shihan (8th dan) 宮本鶴蔵 師範（八段）and the Doshu Morihei UESHIBA (道主 植芝守央). Fortunately, even though Doshu UESHIBA is semi-retired, we still had the opportunity to attend his classes and witness his presence. Doshu Ueshiba is a very patient and attentive teacher, and his teaching methods are very clear and understandable. Under his guidance, we became more proficient in Aikido techniques and movements.
The next morning, we attended a class by instructor Sugawara Shihan (7th dan). This time, we were able to grasp the rhythm and requirements of the practice at the Hombu Dojo, and ultimately received praise from Kobayashi Sensei. After a short rest in the afternoon, we participated in two consecutive classes (two hours each) by Sugawara Shihan. These two classes were significant for us as we needed to follow and demonstrate Sugawara Sensei's teaching requirements, while also proving our ability to take on more challenges. Luckily, we received guidance, testing, and evaluation from Sugawara Sensei and ultimately earned his praise and recognition.
That evening, we celebrated dinner together with the practitioners from the Hombu Dojo. We gathered, exchanged experiences, and shared laughter. This moment was very rare, and we felt honoured to be able to spend this special evening with the students of the Hombu Dojo, expanding the world of Aikido to a broader international audience. What I enjoyed the most was our group of friends from Hong Kong, who gathered in the hotel lobby, drinking and reminiscing about the unfinished journey. Haha! This is the spirit of Aikido: "What's better than enjoying a drink of beer? Enjoying another beer!"
On the last day of the trip, we attended the annual seminar "港区合気会｜Minatoku-Aikikai" led by SUGAWARA Shigerus Shihan. This was a rare opportunity to participate in an authentic martial arts event outside sightseeing. The attendees were all genuine Japanese practitioners, and the venue was a government-provided activity room specifically for Japanese martial arts. Sugawara Shihan's techniques and teaching style were very unique. Under his guidance, we learned many new skills and concepts and deeply experienced the essence of Aikido. Several of us had the honour of being selected as demonstration partners at Sugawara Shihan during the seminar. It was a precious opportunity for us to showcase our own Aikido skills on this big stage.
There were many different instructors present at the seminar, including Tsutomu Ota Shihan (7th dan) and Jiro Iizuka Shihan (7th dan). They also attended the post-practice party and conversed with us at our table. The Chairman of the Tokyo Aikido Federation, Seijiro Fujishiro Shihan (7th dan), was also present. During the celebration, I had the privilege of sitting at the main table with Yoshirou HIKITA Sensei. This helped us introduce and promote Honshin-kai among important figures, allowing us to develop Honshin-kai in a broader Aikido world.
Throughout the trip, we hoped that everyone could not only learn Aikido techniques but also experience the essence of Japanese culture and martial arts tradition. Japanese culture emphasizes etiquette, respect for elders, and clear role distinctions. This does not mean that juniors serve seniors, but rather that different roles carry different responsibilities. Various activities were arranged according to seniority or status, such as work assignments and seating arrangements.
We were very fortunate to receive strong support from Sugawara Shihan and Hikita Sensei, which made our Honshin-kai an official organization. This was the result of everyone's dedication, time, sweat, and effort.
After the exams in Japan, everyone was promoted to a new level. I believe that everyone understands how to elevate their performance to the next stage, and I hope that through everyone's efforts, we can take our Honshin-kai to a higher level. We are filled with gratitude and memories from this trip. It not only allowed us to improve our technical skills but also deepened our understanding of the spirit and philosophy of Aikido. We will bring the fruits of this trip back to our local dojo and share them with other members, growing and improving together.
In the days to come, we will continue to strive and persist in practising Aikido and look forward to the next journey to the Aikido Hombu Dojo. We believe that through continuous learning and practice, we can constantly progress on the path of Aikido and become better Aikido practitioners.
Thank you all for your active participation and wholehearted efforts, which earned us the praise and recognition of Sugawara Shihan on this trip to Japan. I hope everyone enjoyed this journey and gained wonderful experiences from it.
Jerald TAI
Autumn 2023
