Today we’d like to introduce you to Kdazuho Nishida.
Kdazuho, please kick things off for us. Set the stage for the story please.
Aikido is a martial art whose origin, aiki-jitsu, was used on the battlefields in ancient Japan. Aikido, as conceived by its founder, Morihei Ueshiba, is a Path which can lead to enlightenment. He himself became enlightened. He taught that the warrior’s path is one of love. He said the Universe is Love, and “the secret of Aikido is to harmonize with the movement of the universe, and bring ourselves into accord with the universe itself”–it is a way to overcome the discord within ourselves and bring peace to the world. He stated that “Aikido is not an art to fight with or defeat enemies. It is a Way to bring all people together as one family.”
We have no competition in aikido. Practice in this martial art is in harmony–not to win, or to defeat another. Most practice is done in pairs: an attacker, and one defender, in harmony, using the mind set of harmony to physically and safely control the attack. Thus training is without the aim to win, or to defeat another. Rather, the result is to mutually beneficial to each. There is a bonding, which can be called an aspect of love, which happens on the mat.
I, Kazuho Nishida, shihan, the teacher, at City Aikido of Los Angeles, believe everyone is on the path to enlightenment, consciously or not—that enlightenment is inevitable, but, it will simply take longer for some of us. I do not talk about this in class, but it is my underlying approach to teaching aikido. I do, however, often end classes with a short meditation, in a nod to the universe.
City Aikido opened its doors in June, 1991. It is a small school, and I teach all the classes. I am able to give a lot of individual attention to each student, whatever his/her level of training; new students especially get a lot of attention. I have learned that fundamental movements and techniques support the student for life.
City Aikido of Los Angeles offers aikido at affordable rates. Fees are kept low because I desire that everyone who has a sincere desire to learn aikido be able to practice. Anyone who requires a lower fee need only ask; and tuition scholarships are available.
Please tell us about City Aikido of Los Angeles.
We are an aikido dojo/school affiliated with United States Aikido Federation, and Hombu dojo in Tokyo, Japan.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Probably nothing differently.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
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