The secret is I have been a follower of Shoji Nishio Shihan’s (December 5, 1927 – March 15, 2005) method of Aikido for many years now. Nishio is no longer with us; however, his spirit is alive, and a select few are passing on his budo methods in this world. I had the great honor of learning from Ichiro Shishiya Sensei, and after he taught me the first technique in the lesson in English, I began to cry. He showed me and gave me the experience of feeling the Budo or aikido spirit. The experience was like understanding the value of life and friendship mixed with love over death. In 30 years of training in Martial Arts, this was the first time I cried on the tatami. Shishiya’s words were more and more authentic as my eyes teared up. This longtime student of Nishio and a master in his own right was taking the time to introduce some of the highest principles he has learned over a lifetime of study to me this Friday Fall night in Tokyo.
It does not matter if it is a private or a public dojo; in Japan as a foreigner, there are issues of understanding the language, having the proper introduction, and finding the school. Last month, I searched Japan to find an instructor that could teach Nishio’s approach to Budo. This quest was a specific one. In the acceptance message from Ichiro Shishiya, he said we could practice in the spirit of Nishio. After speaking with some of my Japanese friends at Judo, I found the training location of Shishiaya class. A few days later, I was on three Japanese trains trying to find Bunkyō City, Tokyo. It was a fantastic Fall night (my favorite time of the year) with the breeze hitting my arms at the wrist as I made my way to the Jr. High School tatami room.
I met Ichiro Shishiya Sensei as he walked into the open tatami room. To my surprise, his English was good. During our email exchanges, he wrote back in English and, in the final reply, asked about my training schedule in Japan. This training history is where we continued the conversation when Shishiya asked me why I wanted to learn Aikido if I have so much experience in other Budos like Judo, Jujutsu, etc. I expressed that here in Japan, I wanted to learn as much about Budo as possible and that I was interested in how Nishio used Japanese atemi in his Aikido and of Nishio’s practice of Iaido. Shishyia went on to say that students that get good with one Budo stay with this Budo for a long time in Japan. Next, he said, the Nishio’s Aikido differs from the Hombu Dojo (Aikikai; Aikido’s Head Quarters in Japan). I said I was open to it and wished to learn about these differences.
All the moves explained to me had a message in the class. During the lesson, Shishiya Sensei’s wife worked with a group of beginners while the black belts practiced on the other side of the tatami. Shishiya came finding his way over to me to continue our two and half hour private introduction lesson. After all the warm-ups and drills, the core techniques at Shishiya taught to were:
Shohatto: Aiki Toho Iaido; I was shown how Nishio endorsed the first cut to stop at the arm at the shoulder. This technique showcased the opportunity for life while at the same time giving protection. The first cut was not to cut all the way through to kill. Here is where Shishiya caused me to tear up to the point where I had to give him a hug for teaching me this powerful lesson. Technically, for Shohatto, up until this point, I had only practiced Nishio’s Aiki Toho Iaido variation standing. Shishiya taught Shohatto from the classic Omori Ryu form that begins from the kneeling position of seiza; also, the chiburui style (removing the blood from the sword) was different than what I practiced in the standing Shohatto form in Aiki Toho Iaido. Shishiya taught many points of the kata and the importance of protecting yourself and the centerline. Even during chiburui, that variation used, which is the most basic O-Chiburi, provides the ability to reengage to cut again, protect the center and shake the blood from the blade. Again, I had only practiced Shohatto standing and used a Yoko-Chiburi variation. Each point that Shishiya stressed had a message, and he also pointed out why Nishio changed this or that. I felt somewhat knowledgeable during the exchanges where Shishiya sensei referenced Kendo when I held and used the Bokken (Wooden Practice Sword) because of my experiences training Kendo in Japan and Nishio Ryu Iaido. Shishiya continued with many mini-lessons on how Nishio stood in a normal posture when holding a sword and not like in a dual or Kendo match. He could relate several important Aikido principles in how Nishio stood with the sword down yet had the blade angled to protect the body’s centerline. And, when the opponent raises the sword to cut, Nishio’s method, at the same time, wins the first exchange even without having the sword raised from the beginning. This idea was the guiding principle of the remaining empty-handed techniques that Shishiya sensei taught me.
We always hear that to understand Aikido; we need to understand the sword; however, Nishio traveled outside of Aikido to learn weaponry arts in his life. He was the person of vision to develop a method of Aikido that could be used with the sword, jo (4-foot staff), and empty hands. My limited observations of Aikido’s bokken and jo work are unrelated to Kenjutsu or other Jojutsu systems. In my research, the Aiki-Ken and Aiki-Jo techniques assist in understanding the Aikido movement but do not have actual application when looking at the Kenjutsu and Jojutsu techniques. Further, the founder of Aikido based his jo knowledge on the spear and bayonet techniques. Nishio, on the other hand, developed a system where Aikido techniques can be applied with or without weapons, but the ideas and principles of Aikido are expressed. Remember, Nishio’s classic Shohatto first cut stops at the opponent’s arm and does not cut through to kill. This point of stoppage is a vital notion to not only observe but to apply. Nishio’s method provides multiple moments in the technique for the opponent to live. This opportunity to live and not kill is the guiding message.
Next, the lesson transitioned to empty named aikido techniques; however, the sword was invisible in the context of the learning experience as it continued to be referenced. Each technique was demonstrated with the Aikikai Aikido style to point out how the opponent could attack by punching, kicking, or grappling holds at points during the form. Shishiya Sensei showed what the classic tenkan movement applied to counter a wrist grab (Katadori) in Aikido. He stressed how I could have punched his face using this tenkan movement. In the following demo, I grabbed his wrist, and Shishiya applied Nishio’s approach of using the tenkan movement with a kaiten movement. I first experienced how my body moved forward, and my arm was across my center. Shishiya stopped after this first movement to show he had arrived at a side position like the Aikikai style; however, how I had lost my balance and, at the same time, had my elbow across my center. At this moment, there is no way to punch the face with the freehand. The feeling is like having your arm dragged across your center in grappling and having the entire side exposed/back position. Throughout this technique, Shishiya Sensei showed atemi strikes that could be used to improve the technique if needed. The message was that pain could have been applied if needed. Yet, at each stage of the technique, there was the opportunity for the opponent to be forgiven.
Shishiya Sensei taught additional techniques: Shomen Uchi Ikkyo in the Nishio expression and Yokomen Uchi to Shihonage. Again, both were first applied with the Aikikai style, and next, how Nishio’s approach was much different from a tactical and strategic point of view, as well as the superior use of atemi. In the example of Shomen Uchi, Shishiya demonstrated how having your hands about the head in the classic Aikikai counter made you open to strikes to the open ribs. Further, having two swords clash blade to blade is incorrect. The Nishio approach was using atemi, irimi to enter to the inside and use the opponent’s second attempt to transition to the Ikkyo technique with zero strength.
Having experienced some of the curricula of Nishio Shihan directly from one of the master’s select living students and approved instructors in Ichiro Shishiya Sensei, I can forever remember and express that I shared a powerful insight into the true spirit of Budo and Aikido. This moment was emotional, and I will continue to reflect on why it happened for a long period from here. With time, I hope that I will be able to share this type of budo experience with my friends, students, and opponents.
‘Teachers have three loves: love of learning, love of learners, and the love of bringing the first two loves together.’–Scott Hayden
To The Reader
The author will be most happy to receive your comments, including criticisms and suggestions. Noteworthy comments may be included in future editions or books on this series.
Citations for Educational Purpose:
Youtube.com.
My best,
– Prof. “little” Tony Pacenski
Yokota Air Base – Tokyo Japan
www.tonypacenski.com
