Gaston Sensei has been teaching for the past two Thursdays, and I've been wondering what to write about it. There's a lot to say, most of which I'm still digesting. But here's something from last night.
Sensei stated last night that his Aikido is "not your 'kinder, gentler' Aikido." Anyone would agree, I'm sure -- certainly anyone who's taken ukeme for him. His style is less about elegance and grace, and more about efficiency and effectiveness.
This style is not necessarily my personal preference. But last night, Sensei put it in perspective for me in a way that sunk in. He said that Aikido is unique as a martial art in that you could use the same techniques to handle a drunken uncle at a party as you do to handle an attacker in an alley with a knife. He believes that if you train for the drunken uncle, you'll never be able to handle the knife-wielding attacker. So he trains for the knife, knowing that it's easier to "dial it back" for the drunken uncle. It's that whole "Shin Ken" (live blade) thing, I guess.
Sensei, Domo Arigato Gosaimasu
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