Tag Archives: love

Essay

Aiki is Love, isn’t it? Aiki isn’t Love, is it?

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"Ai – Ki" – "Ai (Love) – Ki"
The dichotomy between Aiki as a technical principle and Aiki as a spiritual principle has come up in a number of conversations recently, but I suspect that this has been a matter of discussion since Taisho year 14 (1925), upon Morihei Ueshiba’s spiritual experience after defeating a young naval officer’s attack with a bokuto (bokken):
武道の根源は、神の愛–万有愛護の精神–であると悟り得て、法悦の涙がとめどなく頬を流れた。I attained the realization that the source of Budo is the love of the Gods, the spirit of Universal Loving Protection, and tears of ecstasy streamed endlessly down my cheeks.

Translation

The Secret of Aikido is love?

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Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba’s Calligraphy for "Ai" ("love")
Takashi Sasaki (佐々木貴) entered Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1962. He completed a Master’s program in commerce from Waseda University in 1966, and with a Ni-Dan in Aikido from Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei he departed for Germany, to work and teach Aikido. Returning to Japan in 1977, he was promoted to 7th Dan Aikikai in 2003. He is the author of "Budo Wisdom for Business" (ビジネスのための武道の智恵), and the founder of the Sasaki Aikido Institute (佐々木合気道研究所).

"Budo Wisdom for Business" (ビジネスのための武道の智恵)
This is an English translation of some thoughts by Sasaki sensei on the nature of love in Aikido. There are many interesting articles on Aikido and Aikido training by Sasaki sensei available from the Sasaki Aikido Institute website.