What Is It Like to Travel to Japan to Test for Fourth Degree Black Belt

By Jeff Albright Sensei of Castle Rock AIKIDO.

After our friend, Matsuzaki-san, treated us to his amazing tempura meal this past summer, he returned to Nagasaki and apparently informed my instructor, Iio Sensei, that Doushin Juku (a.k.a. Castle Rock AIKIDO) had grown considerably, purchased their own building, and that I was still san-dan (or 3rd degree black belt). Within a few days, I received a "request" to promptly return to Japan to test for yon-dan (4th degree black belt).

It had been nearly five years since last I had seen Iio Sensei and I was excited at the prospect of returning for a quick visit. Juggling two wellness clinics here in Colorado, there was just no way to take much time off of work and make a proper visit out of it. This time, Miho would not be able to join me. So, I chose to leave on a Wednesday and return the following Monday. That may not sound like too short of a trip, but that translates to about three days on the ground in Japan and almost three full days in the fuselage of a big metal bird.

Miho drove me to Denver International Airport at 3am. My head was in a bit of a whirlwind not only because of the early morning hour, but because a major typhoon was expected to hit southern Japan – right where I was to be! If delayed, I may not make the testing seminar on time. Nonetheless, I actually slept soundly on the plane – possibly for the first time ever in my life. When I wasn't sleeping or watching the in-flight movie (Kung Fu Panda, if you can believe that!), I spent a lot of time goal-setting for my clinics and the dojo. There's nothing wrong with getting an early jump on one's New Year resolutions.

Japan is made up of four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikkoku, and Kyushu (from northernmost to southernmost). There are also hundreds of smaller islands including the Ryukyu Islands (also known as Okinawa). Nagasaki is the most southern major metropolitan area on the southwestern tip of Kyushu Island. If the name Nagasaki sounds familiar to you younger readers, Nagasaki is one of two Japanese cities that was victim to the atomic bombs dropped in World War II – the other city, of course, being Hiroshima, which is Northeast of Nagasaki. Nagasaki is roughly eight hours by bullet train or 90 minutes by plane from the country's capital, Tokyo.

I flew from Denver to San Francisco and then took Japan Airlines (JAL) to the city of Nagoya on the island of Honshu. From there I took a third flight to Fukouka Prefecture where Miho's parents picked me up. We then returned to Kitakyushu City, which is roughly the same size as Denver, Colorado, but with twice the population (about 1 million people).

After spending two nights relaxing with my in-laws, Miho's parents and younger sister, Chie (all of whom many Castle Rock AIKIDO students got to know this past summer when they visited Castle Rock), were kind enough to drive me to Nagasaki early Saturday morning. I was quite used to the three hour drive between Nagasaki and Kitakyushu because I had made this trip so many times while I was courting Miho in the 1990s. Along the way we passed some popular sites such as the Ureshino Onsen ('onsen' means hotsprings) and Omura Bay. I used to travel to Omura on Friday afternoons to get a little extra Aikido training at a satellite dojo of Nagasaki Aikidokai.

Miho's family had never taken the time to visit Nagasaki's tourist sites, so I felt privileged and simultaneously a bit odd as I showed my Japanese in-laws around their own Nagasaki points of interest! My mind chuckled as this experience trigger the memory of a Japanese newspaper article that had been written about me in 1996 describing how a young foreigner (or 'gaijin' – pronounced 'guy'-'jean') was educating Japanese nationals about their own culture. A copy of that article is now hanging up in the lobby of our dojo in Castle Rock.

We visited the Suwa Shrine, a well-known Shinto shrine. Shinto is the predominant spiritual belief of Japan. I said spiritual belief because Shinto is more of a naturalistic philosophy than a theistic religion, like Christianity. In fact, it is not unlike the religions of Native Americans. Famous sumo wrestlers frequently visit this shrine. I then sent Miho's family to tour a beautiful island where Miho and I had spent our second date. They loved it as much as Miho and I did. Kanji, Miho's father, even took a dip in the 'onsen' or hot spring on this island, since we had past up the one in Ureshino earlier that morning.

I said good-bye to Miho's family and headed over to Iio Sensei's dojo to prepare for Aikido class. Iio Sensei's dojo just happens to be located directly behind the Suwa shrine. This would be the last regular class before tomorrow's testing seminar.

As was frequently the case when I lived in Nagasaki, I was the first to arrive at the dojo for the Saturday class. Spending a few quiet moments by myself in the dojo brought back many of my fondest memories. These were not necessarily memories of specific events, but more like comforting visceral sensations that I deeply associate with my very sense of identity: the very familiar smell of the dojo, the intense silence, and the comforting afternoon sun that radiated through the many large ceiling height windows. This dojo was the source of some of my happiest moments in my twenties. "Where had the past 13 years gone?" suddenly came to mind. It literally feels like I was just here yesterday. These were strange sensations I was feeling – a perfect, simultaneous blend of immense sorrow and overwhelming joy. Sorrow because I missed this place so much and joy because it was so wonderful to be back again. Today, Nagasaki was 100 degrees Fahrenheit with 100% humidity. Much like old times, I began to sweat two seconds after changing into my dogi. To suggest that I was excited to train again with Iio Sensei was quite an understatement.

One by one, I was greeted by familiar smiles as well as many new faces. The dojo had grown considerably. Class started sharply at the top of the hour. Wakasugi-san, my friend and sometimes rival whom I have described in previous Sensei Corner articles, ran everybody through 'junan taiso' (warm ups) as Iio Sensei stretched out on his own in the rear of the dojo floor. Wakasugi-san then led us through a few 'suwari-waza' or kneeling techniques before turning the class over to Iio Sensei.

Since Wakasugi-san had to leave early to return to work, Iio Sensei selected me to take ukemi for him throughout class. He demonstrated basic techniques in his old, unique style that I knew so well. Falling back into the familiar role of taking ukemi for Iio Sensei was easy. It fit like your favorite martial arts uniform and was just as comfortable.

We were informed that those testing for yon-dan would take ukemi for each other tomorrow. So, Muto-san (another old friend of mine) trained together for the entire class to reacquaint ourselves with how we moved with each other. I have to admit that our high, Colorado altitude training was cardiovascularly advantageous for me, but the climate of Nagasaki is just a tad bit more humid than Denver.

Iio Sensei was kind enough to offer me a guest room in his home during my short visit, which is only a five minute walk from the dojo. I didn't feel like I would be intruding because Iio Sensei lives alone much of the time. He works in Nagasaki, but his wife of 25 years lives in Nishinomiya near Osaka. This arrangement is not unusual and, in fact, is common in Japan. Iio Sensei's home is quite typical – a modest, 600 square foot condominium referred to as a 2LDK, which stands for "two bedroom, living room, dining room and kitchen."

We were up late Saturday evening drinking, talking of old times, and sharing our respective plans for the future. I was surprised and somewhat honored to learn that when I lived here I seem to have been the only student that regularly hung out with Iio Sensei one-on-one. Iio Sensei and I used to frequent a little 'izakaya' (or pub) to eat, drink, and chat with each other. I guess no one felt comfortable asking if Sensei wanted to hang out outside the dojo. Back then, I guess I didn't know any better to not ask. Oh well, I guess ignorance and naiveté sometimes have favorable advantages.

Iio Sensei always talks about 'shizentai' or being natural both on and off the mat. He says that all a parent or a teacher can do is "ushiro sugata shika miserarenai," which would roughly translate as "lead not by words, but by example." It was great to see the shinzentai in his life; living totally in the moment, feeling no worries, completely accepting of whatever came or did not come. It was those simple times hanging out with him that meant the most to me. Iio Sensei did, in many respects, act in the capacity of a father figure to me. He was even Miho's and my 'houshonin' or formal witness to our marriage.

After a good night's sleep, I joined Iio Sensei for breakfast. All morning, we relaxed and continued our conversations from the night before. The dojo was "rented" for a few extra hours prior to the testing seminar scheduled to start at 3pm for those who wanted some last minute practice. I say "rented" because many martial arts dojo in Japan operate differently than those in the US. Students follow a teacher. They don't necessarily belong to a specific dojo-business. Like many martial arts instructors, Iio Sensei rents a local municipal dojo several times per week to hold class in. Real estate in Japan is so prohibitively expensive that owning a facility, like the one we do in Castle Rock, is most often out of the question. This relationship is not unlike our previous one with Omega Gymnastics except that in Japan a municipal dojo is exclusively for martial arts. That is, many different martial arts programs use the same space at different times for their particular art.

Sunday afternoon was again hot like the day before. It was probably "only" 85 degrees with, again, 100% humidity. However, today we were blessed with a soothing breeze that rolled from over the hill of the Suwa Shrine.

The gentleman in one of the pictures in the link below is Hanafusa-san. I met Hanafusa-san about 15 years ago at 'hanami.' Hanami is a tongue-and-cheek pastime in Japan loosely described as "watching the cherry blossom leaves fall" while drinking sake. However, it may be more honest and accurate to say that hanami is "sake drinking with the occasional viewing of a cherry blossom leaves falling." Hanafusa-san is also a good friend of Wakasugi-san.

Prior to the testing seminar, the mood was jocular and some of the more senior guys, like Wakasugi-san, hazed the younger black belts by warning them about me being overly rough. They told them to be extremely careful because "you never know what Jeff is going to pull out during randori. He's irritable and very unpredictable." I, of course, didn't know about their gag until much later. I did, however, wonder why so many of the sho-dan seemed timid around me.
When I was training there in the 1990s, I guess I had built up a bit of a reputation for being extreme. They used to call me 'keiko oni' or training demon because I trained six days a week and ate, breathed, and slept Aikido. I pushed myself hard and I pushed the other students hard as well. However, it became apparently clear that those stories had been blown way out of proportion. Apparently, much like the childhood game of "telephone" goes, word got around fast that Iio Sensei's American student was a mean, over-aggressive bruiser that liked to hurt people. I got a big kick out of this later that night at a post-seminar celebration.

Like we do here in Castle Rock, kyu tests were conducted first, followed by a shodan and a nidan test. Then, Muto-san and I knee-walked (shikkou) to the middle of the testing area and bowed to Iio Sensei. As is his custom, Iio Sensei had something to say about what yon-dan means and what he expected to see from me and Muto-san. He wanted to see each candidate demonstrate expansion and complete ownership of the dojo. To paraphrase Iio Sensei, he said "Pretend that you are not a student being attacked by multiple people in a foreign place, but instead, that someone has dared to attack you in your own castle. Pretend like you have the home-field advantage and that others not dare enter your space. Move expansively as though you own the dojo and that your presence, the dojo, and all things within it are at your complete command and control. Embrace the entire environment as though it was your ally. Breathe the dojo." He used a Japanese word I did not know or recognize to describe this intention, but I was still able to deduce its meaning from his elaboration.

As my test began, fresh uke rotated with each new attack. Several minutes later I found myself with three attackers simultaneously. Then, in typical Nagasaki Kiwakai fashion, all fifteen of the yudansha (or black belts) attacked me in 'randori.' Iio Sensei always sees to it that you push beyond both your first and the second wave of exhaustion to see what you can pull up from deep down within yourself. I found that place within myself. It had been a long time since I had engaged so many attackers, but it was invigorating to say the least. I finished up the test practicing zagi kokyuho. My partner was none other than our good friend Matsuzaki-san. His big, warm smile was a very welcoming site after such an intense test.

Iio Sensei allowed me three minutes to catch my breath before I was to take ukemi for Muto-san as he began his test (which, of course, meant that I wasn't done with my test yet). One thing I have learned over the years is that being exhausted is very much an advantage when taking extensive ukemi. I just imagined myself as the softest sack of potatoes I could be.

After the test, everyone quickly changed and headed over to the party room above Matsuzaki-san's restaurant for 'uchiage' – a post-seminar celebration usually involving lots of drinking. Muto-san gave the initial toast to the group, then Wakasugi-san initiated the introductions of the newer dojo members to me. Wakasugi-san spoke of the spirit of our past training together. He also thanked me for helping to build the dojo and being an impetus for what it has become today. Since my departure thirteen years ago, the dojo has grown to about forty-five students and has seen at least three marriages and a handful of subsequent children all of whom were in attendance at the uchiage.

Next was my turn to address the group and reciprocate. I shared that had it not been for Wakasugi-san's dynamic personality and continued commitment to Nagasaki Kiwakai it may not have grown to what it is today. We ate great food (cooked by Matsuzaki-san, of course), had far too much sake than was necessary, and some of the children (ages 8 and 10) even put on a spontaneous skit. To be honest, I didn't follow it too well, but it seemed to involve someone getting stabbed with a knife. Go figure!

During the party I was let in on the gag that the older black belts were playing on the sho-dan. Indeed, the older black belts were quite shocked to see that my style has softened considerably over the years (I think that's a good thing). I think they were surprised that such a big guy (compared to them, Japanese tend to be much smaller than Americans) could move fluidly and not like an elephant.

Iio Sensei then announced that all had passed their respective tests and he followed up with some general advice to the group on movement. He expressed how important it is to execute bigger, grander movements in each technique, to expand, not contract and to remember that Aikido's power is found in the hips and pelvis, not in the arms. I couldn't have agreed more.

Then the real party began. Wakasugi-san said some very heart felt things about training, spirituality, growth, Iio Sensei and the dojo. Honestly, my throat swelled as I viscerally connected with what he said and was profoundly grateful for being a part of this Aikido family. I then became lost for a few moments in my own thoughts. I hate the fact that I can't live in two places simultaneously. I love Colorado, yet I missed Nagasaki terribly. Miho and I must simply make the time to visit more often. The party wound down around midnight and we began to say our goodbyes to those who had to leave.

Leaving Matsuzaki-san's restaurant, Iio Sensei and I walked to our old favorite sushi hangout. When we arrive we were denied entry because a waterline had burst. So we selected a different izakaya to continue our celebration and talked more. Iio Sensei is quite practiced at this because socializing is a very important part of his business in Nagasaki. I, on the other hand, am not so practiced at the regular consumption of alcohol. We finally returned to Iio Sensei's condo just after 2am.

I woke up early, thanked Iio Sensei for his hospitality and for the opportunity to test for yon-dan, then headed to the bus station for Fukouka. It didn't really sink in until I had purchased my ticket and was waiting for the bus to depart, when I began feeling a tremendous sense of loss. Was it loss? Or was it just love and appreciation? Again, thoughts like, "Why in the world did I ever leave here?" ran through my mind. But perhaps, were it not for the distance between Japan and the US, I wouldn't truly appreciate my friends, mentors and experiences here as much. Perhaps I wouldn’t experience these overwhelming feelings of joy as I do now. They say, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." But then they also say, "Out of sight, out of mind." I think both may be true. Our feelings for something or someone may dissipate as those loved ones and loved places are out of sight and, therefore, out of mind. However, absence does make the heart grow fonder. It's just that we often don't recognize that accumulation of that fondness until we once again reunite with those loved people and places. These seemingly contradictory epigrams are, in fact, complementary to one another – the very definition of a paradox!

It is said that when the student is ready the teacher will appear. Iio Sensei appeared in my life at a very pivotal time. Spiritually, he provided me with everything I wanted to know and taught me everything I needed to know at that age. Indeed, I would miss him very much, once again. I rested my forehead against the cool glass of the bus, closed my eyes and just appreciated how fortunate a life I have had thus far. I may not be terribly close with my relatives, but I am so lucky to have such a large family spread out all over the world. I allowed tears of pride to come to my eyes as the hiss of the brakes let up and the bus started rolling. What a wonderful, albeit brief, visit with my Shisho.

The instant I saw Miho and her great big smile greeting me at the Denver International Airport terminal, I again felt those very same feelings of joy that I was having 36 hours earlier at the Nagasaki bus station. That is when I conclusively realized that my feelings on the bus were not of sadness, but of profound joy. They were not feelings of loss, but feelings of gain – feelings of tremendous personal wealth. I thought to myself that I have to try to remember that: "feelings of gain, not loss." My whirlwind trip was over and much like an Aikido irimi-tenkan, the typhoon's energy dissipated before ever reaching southern Japan, thus avoiding any adverse altercation with my second home back in Japan.

View pictures of this trip to Japan.
To read more stories about Japanese culture and Aikido as well special offers for aikido class, visit www.CRaikido.com

A Book of Five Rings: Earth Book Review

Student Observations on a Classic Japanese Text. The Classic Japanese Text on the Way of Strategy by Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645)
Part 2 of 6

by Aikido Student, Sean Hannon

In April, we published The Water Book, which is the second chapter of Musashi's Books of 5 Rings. However, we inadvertently published the Water Book prior to publishing Musashi's first chapter: The Earth Book. So in this issue of the AIKIDO Dojo News we will backtrack and publish chapter one: The Earth Book. Next month, we will continue with Musashi's third book: The Fire Book.

The first book is called the Earth Book because its purpose is to ground you in reality and to develop an acute and complete awareness of your life. In order to be victorious in battle and in life, you have to live life at ever-increasing levels of consciousness. Simply remaining the same is a form of regression. This perpetual process requires constant self-examination and it requires having an accurate perception of the world around you. It means not making stuff up, not exaggerating, and not believing in things that simply aren't true. It means thinking for yourself and formulating your own opinions - not relying on dogma simply because it is easier to do so. Take this principle off the mat and into your daily life. See your life as it truly is. Don't do what most people do. Don't lie to yourself. Don't be dishonest. Dishonesty inhibits your development, your growth, and your evolution.

"It is hard to understand the true Way just from use of the sword."

"If you know the Way widely, you will find the Way within everything. Each man must pursue his particular way."

I was pleased to read that Musashi does not see the sword as the only means to learning the Way. He obviously is a proponent of diversity of study. He seems to recommend knowing the world microscopically and macroscopically, and perhaps paradoxically, Musashi probably sees very little difference between the two even though he values the contributions of each. For example, in his later years, Musashi was quite an accomplished artist and is paintings to this day are still some of the most popular in Japan.

"When you are about to battle for your life, you must make full use of your weaponry. It is false not to do this, and to die with a sword undrawn."

Translation: Go for it! Don’t hold back in life. This is your one shot to be great, to be everything you every dreamed of being. There is nothing you can't do or achieve in this life if you "draw both swords" and utilize all of your inner resources and passion.

Some Aikido students may wonder why then do we train with only one sword in weapons class? Musashi goes on to say that, "when you have difficulty striking down your opponent with one hand, you then should use both of your hands." He recognizes that when we are beginners, we must learn to crawl before we walk or run. So, too, with the sword.

"…you can be victorious with either a long weapon or a short weapon…
The way of the ichi school is the sprit of victory, whichever weapon is used, whatever its size might be."

This statement echoes what was said in the introduction portion of the Book of Five Rings. Simply put, spirit trumps weaponry, skill, or training. It reminds me of a great quote in the 2005 movie, Batman Begins, where one of the main characters instructs a young Bruce Wayne,
"The training is nothing. The will is everything!" The next two quotes, in my opinion, reflect a similar sentiment.

"When you have acquired the Way of Strategy,
there will not be a thing that you can’t understand."

"…to master the long sword means mastering of yourself, and of the whole world,
so the long sword becomes the basis of strategy."

Musashi sees himself as one with nature, in a way that is almost identical to that of Aikido’s Founder, Morihei Ueshiba. Not surprisingly, both Musashi and Ueshiba are often considered two of the most revered martial artists of Japan, if not the world. Musashi is truly a holistic person, who recognizes the patterns, the geometry, and the predictable rhythms of nature. Furthermore, he acknowledges his existence and place within those patterns and rhythms. At the same time, he refuses to acknowledge himself as anything separate from nature. Perhaps it is because of this groundedness and complete awareness that he was undefeated at the sword his whole life. Perhaps we can benefit from this acknowledgement as well.

Musashi refers to masters of the long sword (katana) as "strategists." He contrasts this with the name of masters of other weapons such as archers, spearmen, marksmen, and scythe carriers. Despite being masters of their respective weapons, he does not seem to hold the same level of value for these masters as he does strategists. He specifically points out that masters of the long sword are not "longswordsmen," but "strategists." Musashi appears to hold the sword in higher regard than these other weapons. It may have to do with the sword being a powerful symbol in historical, Japanese culture. The sword, in his mind, may be a metaphor for life itself and that is why he uses the term "strategist." Bows, guns, spears, and scythes, to Musashi, are the supplemental equipment of his strategy.

"There is a time and place for the use of every weapon."

You can't approach every situation in life the same way and expect satisfactory results. Each situation is unique and may require a fresh approach or perspective.

"When you use the indoor techniques, you will tend to narrow thinking,
and you will forget the true Way."

Don't get too comfortable with that which is comfortable. You will atrophy your spirit and lose sight of what is important in life. Constantly reach, challenge your comfort-zone. It is in this section that Musashi recognizes the value of firearms. I was initially surprised to discover Musashi's appreciation for firearms. My own stereotypes about samurai made me assume that a samurai wouldn't find value in firearms, but Musashi was an unusual warrior.

"By practicing, you will be able to attain full mastery over your body
and to influence men with your body."

"Just as a horse needs to be fit and strong and have no defect,
so must the weapon."

Life is too short to go through it being unfit. Getting grounded in the Earth Book is about assuming control of your life. Assuming control of your life means assuming control over your body. Stop making excuses and go handle that part of your life. Remember: If you don't take care of your body, where are you going to live? POWER IS A PRODUCT OF CONTROL. IF WE LACK CONTROL OVER OURSELVES, WE CAN HAVE NO CONTROL IN OUR LIVES.

"Timing exists in all aspects of the life of the warrior, in his successes and in his failures, when he is in harmony and when he drifts from his path."

The right thing, the right way, at the right time. For example, you may buy the right stock at the right time and make a fortune. Similarly, you may buy the right stock at the wrong time and lose a fortune. We all must learn patience. Successful people may make decisions quickly, but often that decision may be to NOT to participate in something because it may be the wrong time.

Musashi summarizes his Way of Strategy in 9 steps. The capitalized words are my own interjections.

1. Do not think dishonestly and to adhere to the Way (PERCEPTION)
2. The Way is to train (ACT)
3. Have knowledge of every art (HOLISM)
4. Know the Way of all professions (COMPREHENSIVE COMPREHENSION)
5. Know the difference between profit and loss in worldly matters (ENTROPY)
6. Develop intuition and an understanding of all things (RECOGNIZE NATURE'S RHYTHM)
7. See that which cannot be seen (PERCEPTION)
8. Attend even to the seemingly insignificant (SCALE)
9. Do nothing which is useless (LIVE)

"The most important thing is to immerse yourself completely in the strategy."

Stop fence riding. Piss or get off the pot. You can't be a little bit pregnant. However you want to phrase it decided to commit yourself to a higher standard of life; to demand more of yourself. If you're being honest with yourself, I'm sure you can recognize that the only things you've been truly successful with have been those in which you have completely immersed yourself in.

"…the man who comes out superior will be he who manages his underlings with flexibility…"

This was probably the most meaningful quote to my life in the Earth Book. To me this is about conquering our lesser selves. I interpret this not as learning to control others, but as controlling the lesser characters of myself who sometimes (OK, often) emerge in times of stress.
Sometimes I refer to these as my dwarf selves, as in the Seven Dwarves – like greedy, selfishy, procrastinator, etc… My underlings are those traits of my personality that do not serve my highest good.

If you'd like to read more, be sure to read article three: The Water Book. Or, if you're tired of reading my thoughts on the subject and would prefer to read Musashi’s book directly, I would encourage you to do so.

Read Part One - Introduction to Book of 5 Rings
Read Part Two - The Earth Book
Read Part Three - The Water Book
Read Part Four - The Fire Book
Read Part Five - The Wind Book
Read Part Six - The Void Book

Ready to Try Aikido?

New Earlier Aikido Class Times Prove Successful

7pm class times well-received by students and prospective students

A few weeks ago, Castle Rock AIKIDO added some earlier evening classes to the class schedule. Over the past six months we have received many requests for earlier class times from students and many prospective students. However, due to our restrictions at our previous facility, we were unable to accommodate those who wanted earlier class times. Now that we have purchased our own building, that is no longer an issue!

Castle Rock AIKIDO now holds Aikido classes for adults only from 7pm to 8pm on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Visit www.CRaikido.com to get a FREE coupon to come try an AIKIDO class. If you have not been able to try the Castle Rock AIKIDO program because classes were held too late, now might be a great time to come visit us and see if our program is right for you.

Come find out why some students travel over an hour to come practice AIKIDO with Albright Sensei and Shiraki Sensei!

Twilight Samurai Movie Review

Samurai movie review by Sean Hannon

When many people think about a stereotypical samurai movie, one often thinks the movie will be full of swords and bloodshed. Twilight Samurai surprised me. I'm not sure why I loved this movie, but I very much did. It was a personal story, a very intimate one, as opposed to some tale of epic societal shift. I literally felt as though I lived in this small, feudal shogun village.

Twilight Samurai (or titled 'Tasogare Seibei' in Japanese) is a 2002 film, starring Hiroyuki Sanada who you may recognize as "Ujio" in 2003's The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise. The story takes place around the 1860s and involves members of the Unasaka Clan in the Shonai Province. This area is now referred to as the Yamagata Prefecture in northeast Japan.

It is at a time of significant, progressive change in Japan just prior to the Meiji Restoration when the samurai effectively lost power. Some samurai pretend nothing is changing, others defiantly resist the changes, and some accept it as a natural defeat. The age of the sword is coming to an end and society struggles to adapt to that change.

The scenery is breathtaking and I was immensely impressed with the village sets. It very much makes me want to visit the countryside of Japan. The music is also quite good; emotional, fitting, and complementary to the cinematography.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well annunciated the Japanese dialogue was. I recognized some words, having studied Japanese for a year and a half in college. However, it would be a gross understatement to suggest that I actually understood any of the story's detail without the assistance of the subtitles. At over two hours of reading subtitles, this may not be your kind of movie – but I really connected with it.

Twilight Samurai, in some respects, has occasional tones of a romantic comedy, but is overwhelmingly a romantic tragedy in that the two that love each other are consistently blocked from being together by the arbitrary standards of a conformist culture and the societal expectations of a doomed feudal regime. The story is so familiar and so human, that non-Japanese speaking viewers can easily connect with it.

Much like many books and movies today, the protagonists in this film are people of modern-day values trapped in a time and a system of antiquated, obsolete ones. The order of the samurai and their sense of obligation and loyalty are part of what keeps a low-ranking samurai, Seibei (pronounced 'Say'-'bay') from his childhood love, Tomoe (pronounced "Toe'-'mo'-'eh'). Similarly, the conformism and social conservatism of a woman's expectations are what keeps her from him.

There are only two fight scenes in the entire movie. So if you are expecting an action movie, you'll likely be disappointed. This movie is a story about relationships. Told from the point of view of Seibei’s youngest child, the story reveals itself with hints of the class Romeo & Juliette dilemma.

The samurai belong to a class and each individual samurai's rank within that class is measured by a monthly rice stipend called a 'koku.' Our widowed hero raises two daughters and cares for a mother with Alzheimer's with only 50 koku. This petty amount is described to be only enough for a single person to survive for one year. This low stipend has forced Seibei to take menial side jobs such as cage building and farming to subsidize.

Twilight Samurai is valuable for someone who is interested in Japan's culture beyond that of just martial arts. Here, a lot is learned of a samurai's place, position, and interaction with a society. While there is much that I have always admired about the samurai, there has also been a part of me that wonders if the reason why they are essentially extinct is because of some of the rigidity of their alleged values. This assertion is something I am currently writing about for an upcoming article for the Castle Rock AIKIDO Dojo Newsletter, which will review the Seven Values of the Samurai first articulated in the 1899 Japanese text entitled Bushido: The Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe.

In a scene near the end of the movie, I am reminded of some of the text from Miyamoto Musashi's Book of 5 Rings: The Water Book, when he describes the best ways to fight indoors. I had not truly appreciated these passages until I watched this scene from Twilight Samurai.
I first saw Sanada-san, the male lead actor, portray "Ugio" in The Last Samurai. The Last Samurai and Twilight Samurai are similar to each other in that both take place at approximately the same time period. However, The Last Samurai deals with these societal changes on a macroscopic level and Twilight Samurai addresses these societal changes on a microscopic level.

Twilight Samurai wasn't about changing the country or saving the world. It was about a series of events that brought two people together. It was about a man who was, overall, content with his place and standing in the world – who had no ambition to rise in it other than to provide as best he could for his family. I guess one could argue that of the seven virtues of a samurai, Seibei most valued that of humility.

As I watch more and more Japanese films I’m getting used to what I (at least by Western standards) might call their melodramatic performances. I can definitely see how this movie won 12 awards from the Japanese Film Academy, including Best Director, Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Actress. If it means anything to you, Roger Ebert also gave it 4 stars. You can rent this movie from Blockbuster Video. However, I borrowed it from the Castle Rock Library. Enjoy!

www.CRaikido.com

Aikido Testing Seminar Held in Castle Rock for First Time

The summer's testing seminar for Colorado's Aikikai dojos under Izawa Sensei was held on Saturday, September 6th. For the first time ever, testing was held in Castle Rock at our new dojo on Caprice Court. It was a hot, sweaty time, as dozens of students packed into the dojo.

For many students, it was their first rank test (Go-kyu). Others tested for brown and black belt. Senior student, Steve Yee, tested for black belt after ten years of Aikido training. This is quite an achievement because in Aikido, less than 5% of all students ever reach black belt. Significantly less than other more popular martial arts in America, this may explain why earning a black belt in Aikido is so coveted and respected in the martial arts world.

This promotion represents only the 3rd time Albright Sensei has ever promoted someone to the rank of sho-dan or 1st degree black. The other two students are Andrew Ishmael of St. Louis Aikikai and Daniel Hicks of Doushin Juku Aikido (a.k.a. Castle Rock AIKIDO).

As is part of our tradition at Castle Rock AIKIDO, Steve's black belt earns him the right to wear the Japanese hakama. Hakama are the dark colored, pleated pant-skirts reminiscent of traditional samurai dress. Many Aikido school's hakama are black. However, at Castle Rock AIKIDO, our hakama are a deep indigo color, which, like the depths of the ocean and the layers of a night's sky, are meant to symbolize the continued future journey of a student privileged enough to reach the rank of sho-dan. Other schools allow Aikido students to wear hakama before they reach black belt. However, Castle Rock AIKIDO reserves this privilege only for those who have truly earned it.

View pictures of Aikido seminar, click here.


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The ranks issued by Castle Rock AIKIDO are sanctioned by the home school in Japan. This is one way Castle Rock AIKIDO is unique among some other Colorado dojos.

Castle Rock AIKIDO is an award winning, traditional Japanese Aikido martial arts school. Aikikai affiliation. Program exclusively for adults, sorry no kids classes. No contracts ever. Visit http://www.craikido.com/ for a coupon to try a free class.

Visit from Japanese Martial Arts Student Reinforces Traditional Culture Taught at Castle Rock AIKIDO Martial Arts School

by Jeff Albright Sensei

Several weeks ago, Haruki MATSUZAKI-san sent me an e-mail saying that he'd be visiting the United States and that he would very much like to treat our Aikido students to an authentically-cooked, Japanese tempura meal. Matsuzaki-san owns a quaint little restaurant in Nagasaki where he cooks right in front of his patrons. That way he can interact with them, tell jokes, and sometimes even perform magic tricks – all this, while he's preparing their four-to-five course meals! How could I possibly refuse such a generous invitation?

Matsuzaki-san and I are both students of Morihei IIO Shihan (pronounced 'ee-yo'). We met shortly before I left Japan to return to the United States. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be until several years later upon revisiting Japan that I would get to enjoy his unique and delicious tempura-style cooking. Although we only had the opportunity to train in Japan together once, he made quite an impression on me.

Apparently, when Matsuzaki-san informed Iio Shihan of his intent to visit the United States to consider the viability of opening a restaurant somewhere in America, Iio Shihan said, "Why don't you go see Jefu-san?" 'Jefu' is how they pronounce my name in Japanese. This, of course, was probably more than just a "suggestion" by Iio Shihan. It may very well have been a personal request by Iio Shihan.

Matsuzaki-san is an incredibly friendly person with a great sense of humor. In fact, I can't imagine him not getting along with anyone.

A san-dan (3rd degree black belt) in Aikido, Matsuzaki-san lives and breathes Aikido both on and off the mat. One could easily observe his Aikido fluidity and creativity as he adapted to his new and unfamiliar surroundings here in the US as he set up a make-shift mini-restaurant right outside the front door of our dojo! For someone who claims not to speak very good English, Matsuzaki-san also managed to crack several very funny jokes in English!

In addition to his amiable disposition and delicious tempura, Mastuzaki-san brought with him many good wishes and salutations from past friends of ours in Japan and some fun stories, too. For example, there still appear to be some remnant stories about me being perpetuated back at the Nagasaki dojo. Matsuzaki-san reminded me of an old "rivalry" during my tenure there. In Japanese the term "rival" is used in a positive context for someone who pushes you to get better (as opposed to the negative context of the word here in the US, which usually means an enemy or hostile). A student named, Kei WAKASUGI and I were "rivals" to each other. That is, we definitely pushed each other very hard to grow.

Today, Matsuzaki-san and Waksugi-san are good friends with each other and Matsuzaki-san said that whenever a student complains about the intensity of the training at Nagasaki Kiwakai being too tough, Wakasugi-san says, "Aww, come on, this is nothing compared to when Jefu-san and I trained together." Wakasugi-san was a big guy (by Japanese standards), about 5'11" and quite muscular. We were good rivals for each other and that is, in part, because of the tremendous spirit that exists at Nagasaki Kiwakai. Shiraki Sensei and I are very much intent on creating that same spirit, authenticity, and sense of community here at Castle Rock AIKIDO that exists at Nagasaki Kiwakai.

Indeed, I did train more intensely in those days. Actually, in order to get enough training to satisfy my seemingly insatiable appetite for Aikido I trained at three dojos simultaneously: Nagasaki Kiwakai, Nagasaki Aikidokai, and Nagasaki Aikidoukai. Nagasaki Aikidoukai was actually located in Omura, which was about an hour from Nagasaki by train. I trained six days a week with two practices on Thursdays and another day just for practicing Iaido (the art of live sword drawing). In Japan, they called me Keiko Oni, which literally translates as "training demon." Here in the States, we call someone like that a "dojo rat" – a student who eats, sleeps and breathes their martial arts training.

Matsuzaki's visit reminded me of an amazing and truly meaningful time in my life - one which I shall never forget. He reminded me of how much our mutual teacher has influence my life. Yet, using the word "influence" to describe Iio Shihan's effect on me is grossly inadequate. In Japanese, the noun SONZAI kind of translates as "being" or "existence." Iio Sensei is the biggest sonzai in my life, in the sense that the effect he has had on me has truly touched my very being, my very existence. He taught me everything that I was seeking, at that time in my life, and he opened me up to a world to which I wouldn't otherwise have had access to. Without him, I would not have had many of my cherished life experiences. Indeed, he was very much a father figure to me. Yet, no matter how hard I try to convey his significance in my life, words consistently fail me. I simply cannot accurately and comprehensively express in words what my years and experiences in Japan have meant to my life and Matsuzaki-san’s visit caused me to, once again, reflect on these times.

It was an absolutely pleasure hosting Matsuzaki-san at our Castle Rock dojo. Miho, Matsuzaki-san, and I sure had a blast going from store to store in Denver trying to find the right Japanese produce or the closest thing we could find to such. It was quite the scavenger hunt! It was also nice to drink some real Japanese sake that Matsuzaki-san brought with him.

Our friendship was greatly strengthened over his recent visit and I very much regret not having gotten to know him earlier when I was living in Japan. What a much needed gift from Japan his visit brought Miho and me. We look forward to having him return to Colorado and perhaps visit a future Colorado restaurant of his!

Share Our Facility: Below Market Rent For Physical Exercise Businesses

Castle Rock AIKIDO is renting their new building during non-martial arts hours. Now you can get your physical arts business off the ground in Castle Rock with below market rates.

Perfect for yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Dance, Bootcamp Fitness, Aerobics, Meditation & More

Now you can safely expand your business, add more class offerings, or introduce a satellite school in Castle Rock without worrying about high rents or costly flooring purchases.

Facility Features:
Nearly 2000 sq feet of unobstructed, matted floor space;
14 foot ceilings;
Rent based on hours and times usage;
Morning, day, evening and weekend times available;
Single event use available;
Quarterly "Business Growth" marketing meetings with landlord;
Easy highway access - I 25 at exit 181 (Castle Rock;
Plenty of parking;
Zoned B2 Retail;
Women's & men's changing rooms;
Clean, tranquil Japanese decor.

Sorry, NO KIDS CLASSES. The facility is not conducive to hold children's classes. Classes are exclusively for adults.

Visit: Affordable Retail Space to rent in Castle Rock to view calendar.

Located at 185 Caprice Court #5; Castle Rock, Colorado

If you would like to tour the facility or have questions, please contact the property manager, Allison Frederick, Sophia Management, LLC at:
303.522.4740 or allison@craikido.com