You are very kind for saying these words. I know that we must "All help O-SEnsei" the best way we can to make the world a better place. To me we speak different languages but we all hope and dream for the same rewards. To become better people.

Well said! I cannot add more words as between us we have been touched by the founders art in such a way we will never need to search to find our goal. All we have to do is keep training as ;A Student"

I agree!! ❤😊

Thank you for taking the time to say.

Glad you think so! My belief is that we should give and try to make those who are truly searching for O-Sensei's Aikido to understand that not enough time is given to the detail.

Wonderful! I only wish others would not make excuses and do more to keep the fitness at a level that one requires to be their best at all martial arts, as well as the health benefits it brings with doing it.

I totally agree, and one that I hope keeps training.

To answer in reverse. No I do not believe one can ever be ready for what springs out at any given moment until it does. "Why." How is one feeling that time and did one see or sense it coming? The only answer I can offer as the years roll by is: either act fast and crush such treat or talk your way out of fighting. I have done both and to date each one was the correct one to keep myself safe. Perhaps a question that can never be answered only by the one who survives. To me aikido has so mnay gems to offer one in life; the question of defeat is one not now days in my thinking. Thank you for sharing your personal findings. It has inspired me to read it.

@@Tony_Sargeant Many thanks for your answer! It makes sense to me.

I love to hear when others use their skills to use whatever it takes to improve their Aikido mastery. Well done and the path only gets better by doing so.

I made the comment and well done for making your own improvisations to advance your study.

My pleasure! Thank you for watching.

Thank you for your kind words.

Us too!

yes I can understand why you would say that. But after many years of training I do believe that what my Master said to me was true. "Tony the technique is strong you do not have to be." How many years one must train is what no one knows before this can happen. Thanks for your thoughts.

Yes I love them and miss them all. Such dedicated students and now sadly being forced in a downward direction that seems to have put all our trips there on hold for many years. They will keep training and this we can be grateful to have met and part of their journey.

And half my age if it helps you in your point.

Well when young have fun I say. Thanks for watching.

Like you say it takes time to acquire this calmness, But as I always try to speak truly, I am not sure if it can be gained by training or if it is in-built within our character and we put it down to Aikido training. I cannot answer the question, all I know is it worked when required and that is what is important I think we all agree on that. As for the others who hid, they may never change?

Thankfully, only a few of us will ever need to experience this. But perhaps it is in-built and not just the Aikido that keeps us sane and understands that anyone can fight, but to survive is better without damage. Thank you for sharing

The good part of it. all looking back is 'Aikido works'

@@Tony_Sargeant Absolutely! I have seen the huge differences from changing school whilst I was working as Door Supervisor and Iwama Aikido to me, is the strongest and most able to cope under such duress. I have tried it and tested it a few times, and it saved me. Had I not been practicing Iwama Aikido, I would probably have given up on Aikido... As you know, I had practiced Aikikai, Yoshinkan and I was not satisfied with how I was handling physical situation then as Bouncer that I was at a crossing point to really question Aikido as a whole and I remember vividly going to a book shop in Oxford Street, and I spent hours checking various Martial Arts books, and truly wanted Aikido to work as I had a gut feeling that there must be a way to make it effective (I owe this to my passion because, if I did not love Aikido the way I do, I would have given it up) and stumbled into a whole set of books with Morihiro Saito Sensei who was showing lots of weapons practice in images and I was mesmerised as to why I had not seen this before. So I sat down and was reading the pages and came across this line where Morihiro Saito Sensei wrote: If you want to really study Aikido, one must learn Bukiwaza to understand its deep connection with Taijutsu. Your Aikido will become much stronger... It hit me like a strong light bulb moment and knew that it was what I needed to do. The rest became history until now. I have never looked back since and never doubted it, as when I embarked on this new journey, my Aikido became much stronger when I was working as Bouncer...

Wow, must have been scary, but great that you managed to handle yourself so well! What was the decisive factor, you think?

So nice to read others thoughts and how they get on in situations. Thank you for sharing it with those who wish to take the time to read.

Thank you too! It is always good to get feedback if others find the films of value.

​@@Tony_Sargeant I do find your testimony quite interesting and inspiring to watch!

You R very kind.

My pleasure!

Well we all have an opinion and that's yours. Isn't it great to live where we can all have free speech.

Thank U again for watching the films.

Thank you. I hope the films help.

thank you for looking at my films, and I hope they help you.

Simple answer. He was not teaching the same as his father at the same time as they were both teaching and i did not like his style with lifting the leg like starting an old motorbike trying to kickstart it. You may know what I mean? It happens with family where the children clash and they certainly. had their moments and I wonder if H done it just because he did not like his father and wanted his own take on it. But perhaps I am being unkind. Basically he never done it for me.

@@Tony_Sargeant yes I do understand what you mean about the kick start particularly with the Ken. My instructor and senpai both had similar experiences with H, and described his technique as being quite different from his dads. Thanks for your honesty.

I always try to speak honestly but sadly it does at times get me in trouble, as people do not like the 'Blunt truth.' Thanks for you thoughts as well.

I think you have had a similar experience as most. It is costly and it seems to be part of the package sadly. I now run my own organisation and charge half if not less for dan ranks that the Aikikai. I realised towards the end that when they charge $900 for a 5th dan the organisation keeps half an dthe Aikikai get half. I made the suggestion to not take all that for the organisation I. wa sin at the time and they told me to but out. Sad as like you many just can't afford to do Aikido. I think what you are doing is good. I always say 'If U enjoy it then its ok'

@@Tony_Sargeant is great to see that you have broken away from the Aikikai in regards to the financial concern. At the end of the day a black belt is a black belt to the lay person, who gave it to you only matters to those inside Aikido and even then nobody can really say one is better than the other. I think black belts shouldn’t be determined by skill and ability alone if at all. Dedication, friendship and contribution to the Aikido community top that I feel. Otherwise practitioners who have disabilities either physical or learning have a disadvantage whereas everyone should be of equal footing. Sorry for my rant.

Sounds like we are talking from the same page. It's sad but it takes us so many years before we realise it is all about paying out for ranks rather than what it should be for. I was awarded my 7th and did not want it as I felt that over the last 20 -30 years it's like giving away nothing of worth. I look at who gets them and same old story, it's those who creap the closest to the sensei and if in favore they get it. I was pushed by saying "Sensei if U do not go up how can those below U." When I think of those gone before me I am just a small boy compaird to what they done in aikiod and the way they trained so harshly. I am talking about the. Saito era not the western aikidoka. We did train hard but not like they. Well thats my opinion and the way its going soomn it should be changed from 'Aikido' to the "Well-being shool of care" Now my rant. is over.

Thank you for your very kind words. I am still a student and I hope all those followingO-Sensei;s art would be as honest as they can. Thank you again for comments and taking the time to watch my films.

Perhaps I am better with faces than names. Who is he and where does he reside?

My pleasure!! Thank you.

At the time we can only do the Aikido we have inside of us, but to others it may all help them to see what they need at the time of their journey.

Until I see him again I will not know.

He was very. We had a few talks about it.

I she was a small Maori and from that same area 'Whangarei' then I am sure it was. I think her name was Maria or I may just be trying to, as it was 1982/83

@@Tony_Sargeant Thats her :)

She was awesome back then and sharper than most men I trained with. I may have told a story of Saito sensei calling her up telling her to grab a plastic fork, we all laughed and he got cross as he was serious, so she jumped up to gabe the fork and he threw her several time without it braking. Have U seen this film yet? If U see her please remember me to her. If she still teaches that. is?

@@Tony_Sargeant Unfortunately Im out of the Aikido loop and have been for many years but I still pick up the jo and ken every so often for solo training. Having said that I do train on a random Sunday with my friend at a Bukikai Dojo unfortunately not Iwama style but Im learning new things all the time. Regaring Maria if I ever do see her again Ill be sure to mention you name, Im sure she'd remember you.

Thank you, and any training is better than none.

Well said! And lets hope this stupid world sees how much beauty there is and not keep trying to destroy it.

Totally agree

Not long. 3 weeks in 1994, then a week in Italy with Saito sensei as we were going from Japan to Italy then on to England where I was hosting him. It was a great time being with him all those weeks and he gave us so much. Sadly the next time in Iwama was at his Wake. It was such a busy time and so many at the farewell but I am so glade I went. After all he was my sensei for 27 years in total.

Glad you enjoyed it

You are very kind. Thank you.

I love the way you have gone into your thoughts,and to me "Everyone can do ti" it is like any other interest. If you like it enough you will study it for years and the more we learn the closer we get. Most are not interested in the slightest and that covers the majority of Aikidoka that i have met. But I make them for the few who are.

@@Tony_Sargeant Thank you! I also took the liberty of looking at your 'Human Design', based on the birth date I could find on Aikido Journal. From what I can see, you share O sensei's rare talent of intuitively knowing how to survive in the moment with your body, if you are born before 10:15 am. If you are born later on the day, you have a slightly different energy, but still consistent intuition which can be expressed into action. I thought it would be nice to share this with you. You don't have to believe it, but it might explain why you have been able to use aikido effectively and ‘do O sensei’s aikido’, rather than just being lucky...

This is very kind of you doing this. I was born at 19.10 on a Thursday 2nd Feb 1950 and I do psychic readings and stage work as another hobby of mine. So you may be picking up this side of me. But most do not want to go there or even talk about it, due to. not wishing to associate with weirdos.

@@Tony_Sargeant Thank you, with this date and time, to say it in a nutshell: HD predicts your life purpose is to be someone with individual direction whose unique way of remembering experiences brings a living, vibrant (aikido?) past into the future. I think you display this beautifully by all your teaching and videos in which you reflect on the rich past. You are also designed to combine intuitive depth with repetitive experimentation to achieve mastery, as you also demonstrate in your aikido career. You are good at survival in the now, 'thinking on your feet'. You impact your enviroment, leaving it healthier and more beautiful than it was, like an artist. So it looks like you are living your design very well!

Wow it looks like I am luckier than I think. Thank you very much this is a very nice read. I shall do my best in the years left to even better my footprint.

Absolutely! That is why I try to give. what gems Saito sensei gave to us, but many just did not see these points, or thye do not wish to give them.

Yes I know and it is good to hear that it. is going strong. So many. have struggled over the years and with Covid it got even hit harder. But us dedicated few will keep going as long as we have those who wish to follow the iwama path. Thanks for replying.

Yes. No matter how much I try to tell students they need to look wider in their Aikido "Matt time" They still do not think they need to. But I know how much it takes us further towards O-Sensei's art and understanding.

Thank you and there are more to come. I hope you enjoy the whole series of the set.

Thank you for your kind words.

I think I may have. got. the Ura atemi from Hitohira his son as he did this when I trained with both. But I truly now cannot remember. But glad U like it.

I like the word Cool.

I'm glad

With such kind words I have no fitting reply. All I can say is thank you. I know I am not the best aikidoka but have enjoyed my journey and hope I can for years to come. Today I taught a seminar and felt that I touched the path of understanding fluidity better than before. So as long as we keep the mind of a student and not as a teacher we can all get closer I think to what O-Sensei hoped for.

@@Tony_Sargeant When we teach with the heart of a student, we give the wisdom of a master. Thank you for sharing the journey of your life with us.

I hope I have more to share.

You're welcome

Thanks for watching!

@@Tony_Sargeant I knew about the correct crossed position of the hands by watching Saito senseis videos and I also practice it this way, but it wasn't until I saw your video at 2:00 that I fully understood why this crossed position feels good and strong: it is because the hand position resembles that of holding the ken! So thank you for increasing my understanding!

Thank you for your comments and taking the time to watch them.

My pleasure!