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Welcome to the 1st issue of Connections our dojo newsletter. Last year our dojo took an important step forward by affiliating with the Aikido Association of America. The advantages of this decision: the guidance and high-quality instruction of Toyoda Shihan, the support of a vibrant and growing organization and the realignment of our dojo with the mainstream aikido community, have also positioned us for our next important step - to GROW! As we move forward we want to insure we effectively keep in touch with our members. We hope this newsletter will serve not only as a vehicle to keep you informed of dojo events, but also as a forum for discussion about issues important to you.

It will also assist in providing information about our organization to potential new members and outside groups.

Connections will be published quarterly and we encourage your submissions, ideas, comments and suggestions. Our goal is to become a key center for aikido in the communities of Northeastern Illinois and Southeastern Wisconsin. This is just one of the many steps on our road to that goal. Warmest Regards, Jerry Smith Sensei

The first day is always the hardest and most humbling. I walked into the Aiki Shoshinkai dojo on a late January eve not knowing what to expect. Granted, I do have formal martial arts training (four years, and a purple belt in karate), but new endeavors have always been hard on me. I had to keep reminding myself that Aikido is a soft, passive form of self-defense, unlike karate where one attacks and defends hard. So I quietly introduced myself to Richard Worth (that day's sensei) and proceeded to change into my gi. Class started with a formal ceremony, and then into a choreographed warm-up designed to loosen the joints and relax our breathing.

It was then that I realized that Aikido is not like any other martial art I've seen before; imagine my surprise when all of a sudden everyone lined up (single file) and proceeded to roll backwards around the circumference of the training mat…twice! If that wasn't enough, Worth Sensei then barked out another command (in Japanese) and suddenly the line, in perfect unison, proceeded to walk around the mat on their knees…again, twice. And finally, just for good measure, we did forty forward rolls to end the "warm-up session." It was now time for training to begin - and begin we did. It was at this point I am reminded of one of history's most famous warnings, "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts."

I now submit that the warning should be reworded to read, "Beware of an Aikidoka offering you a hand!" Trust me, you take that hand and soon you will find yourself looking up at the ceiling. Remember, Aikido is an art related to jujitsu, so one must expect to be knotted up and thrown with extreme repetition. Thankfully, we spent the earlier part of the session stretching. Nine months has now past since that fateful January night, and it is safe to say that I am still "hooked" on Aikido. Sure I still enjoy going to karate (as a matter of fact, I'm due for a promotion to brown belt) but there is something mystical about Aikido. Unfortunately, it is not an emotion that can easily be expressed on paper. One does not "do" Aikido, he "feels" Aikido. Simply put, Aikido is a sensation. And, after a day on the mat, you can't help but notice definite change in your sensual acuity.

Perspective

Mother May I?

-Richard Worth

As children we all played this game. It involved asking permission to take steps toward becoming "Mother". We would take some combination of giant and mini steps forward and backward until someone tagged "Mother" and reached the goal. Your aikido career can be characterized in this manner.

The first giant step forward involved walking in the door. We all had different reasons for taking that step. Maybe you needed a Phys Ed credit. Maybe you had always been interested in martial arts and wanted to try something different. Maybe someone wanted you to get your lazy butt off the couch. Whatever the reason, that first step is the hardest. Once it's made, it's easy to keep stepping forward. The next steps depend on your commitment. While learning aikido a person takes many steps forward and many steps backwards (as well as to the rear quarter!). Sometimes you even take steps sideways. However the number and kind of steps are up to you.

Sometimes people start the game and are almost ready to tag "Mother" when they take a step in a different direction. This happens for many reasons. Maybe the person reached their personal goal. Maybe they got a new job. Maybe they moved. Whatever the reason, the person never really left the game. They just started to take mini steps backwards. They haven't forgotten what they had learned but their body is beginning to forget the movements that took so much time and effort to learn. The important thing is that it's easy to rejoin the game. All it takes is an effort.

Get off the couch. Get out from behind the computer. Go to class once a week. Remember what got you involved in the first place. Once you take that first giant step again, you'll be back in the game. The Aiki Shoshinkai has taken a few steps forward in the past couple of years. Affiliating with the Aikido Association of America was a large step forward. Now we need your help to take another step forward. Come to class. Help us to grow. We don't need armchair aikidoka. We need your ideas and participation to do this. We need your knowledge and experience to do this.

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The Japanese sword is the product of a process that refines and blends base elements into something beyond a simple tool of war. Iron and carbon, fire and water, are blended with the skill and spirit of the sword smith to yield a weapon of elegant precision. Rigid enough to hold an edge yet flexible as not to break, it embodies the balance necessary to endure.

The process of forging a sword is often used to describe the development an individual through the study of the budo. It can also be expanded to encompass the dojo as well. A dojo exists as place for individuals to forge themselves into something greater than they are. To provide an environment to develop and refine the human spirit, it serves no other purpose. . The members of a dojo are its base elements, the raw materials of its existence - the expression of its purpose. To endure, the dojo, like the sword must also embody a balanced spirit. New members are needed to provide energy and challenge. They generate an atmosphere of creativity and the desire for precision.

Without them the dojo may stagnate and eventually disappear. Experienced members are needed to provide guidance and stability. They lead, inspire and create an environment necessary for discovery. Without their dedication and sacrifice the dojo loses its spirit, its driving force and over time becomes nothing more than a gymnasium. Creating and maintaining an established, balanced dojo is an evolutionary process. If we look at our own dojo we can see this process in action. We began as a small independent group of people, simply working out. This led to the creation of formal classes. . The expansion of those classes soon followed and we began to draw together some of the "raw materials" necessary to create an identity. We are now at the stage where we have a structure, a foundation on which to build further. To do so we must expand our base, we must aggressively attract new members and keep the support and participation of our "old timers." If you haven't been to practice lately we'd really like to see you back on the mat. If you feel "a little out of shape" start slow. Remember if you're forty you shouldn't expect to do everything (or at least not everything the same way) as you did when you were 20! If time is an issue, take a look at the class schedule in this issue. You'll see that we've broken down classes into one-hour sessions, three days a week. That's six possible classes! We've done this to add more convenience to our schedule.

Over the next several months increasing our membership will be our number one priority. Details of events and activities supporting this member drive will be sent to you as we progress - better yet, get involved up front. Updates and ideas are discussed after each class! . To be effective we need your help, your creativity, dedication and experience. We need you to help us create the balance to endure.