45 Years of Practice

Recently I attended Kokikai Aikido Winter Camp. This is always an amazing experience, in which some 300 students of Maruyama Sensei convene to practice under his tutelage. This year was especially memorable as we celebrated the 45th anniversary of Sensei bringing his practice to Philadelphia. Several of the students who attended the gala celebration have been practicing with Sensei for 30, 40, even all 45 of those 45 years.

I was struck, before and after the event, how few people really stick with anything for 45 years. And even if they keep doing the same thing, how many people continue to have enthusiasm and dedication to growing and challenging themselves? In our jobs, in our hobbies, most of us move on to something else, or we "burn out," "tread water," 'til retirement time. That is not the case with Sensei, and it's not the case with his students.

Looking back at the endeavors I have tried and left behind, in each there has come a point where I become either bored or frustrated, had an interpersonal difficulty, or perhaps just timing and life events got in the way. I wondered, "What is different about Kokikai Aikido?" Here's what I came up with:

• Sensei trains to challenge himself, and he trains others to challenge themselves. We don't get bored, because Sensei is always doing something more, setting the bar higher.
• At the same time, he makes us feel that if he can do it, we can do it too. He is a person of small stature, with no "special talent," as he puts it (ha!), no special intelligence, no secrets. This is continually encouraging and helps keep us from becoming frustrated.
• Within the larger group of Kokikai students there is a great deal of interpersonal harmony. This is because of the principles of Kokikai practice. When encountering difficulty, we train to relax and be more calm. Of course not everyone gets along perfectly, but our training does lead to a lot more smooth relationships within the organization.
• As for timing and life events getting in the way, on my part perhaps it's luck, perhaps it's intent. However, when your practice is rewarding, you will go to some trouble to keep on doing it.

I have the benefit of an organization and a teacher who help inspire me. I give that much more tribute to the person who created the organization, who has continued in his quest to refine and improve what his does. This is one reason why, I think, Sensei is one of the world's greatest living martial artists.