The flow of "mind" in water and Aikido

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1. The flow of "mind" in water and Aikido

In this issue I want to share with you a recent magical moment in Japan when I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Senta Yamada sensei for the first time. I hope you will meditate on what is written, and consider how sensing the flow of "mind" in water can bring you a deep sense of well being. May these words awaken you to join with, absorb, surround and protect all you encounter on your life's path.

The wisdom Yamada sensei shared with us was strikingly similar to the wisdom of Theodore Schwenk, a student of Rudolph Steiner and the author of "Sensitive Chaos." Quite fascinating to see how two people with very different backgrounds had come to distill many of the same "truths" from life. One man studying Judo and Aikido, the other studying nature, and both men coming to an understanding of a "spiritual science" that we can use to guide our life.

What follows is a loose translation of Yamada sensei's words, embroidered by the "larger picture" I sensed he was pointing towards. Uncharacteristically for a Japanese, he moved his hands as he spoke to portray the movements he perceived as inherent in the mind of Aikido and the mind of water. You might try doing the same as you read the words that follow. Take your time, breathe freely, and move your body so as to feel the movement and mind the words suggest.

* * *

Water unites all the world's land masses, large and small, connecting what is seemingly separate, distant, and different into one seamless spherical whole.

In Aikido we strive to embody the mind of water. We cultivate our energy flow to "become one with" our perceived adversaries and adversities, dissolving any sense of separation, distance, or difference.

Water not only joins together the land masses of earth, it also unites the earth with the sky via never ending cycles of evaporation and precipitation. This process of continuous metamorphosis mirrors the very path we take between heaven and earth, during the course of life, death, and back again.

Water expands and contracts depending on circumstances, and the same is true of our spirit.

The omnipresence of water throughout the ecosystem of earth is similar to the way the body's fluid system envelops and unites every cell and tissue of the body. The mind of water, the mind of the body's fluid system, and the mind of Aikido, all move towards joining with, uniting, nurturing, and cleansing.

Rain, mist, dew, snow flakes, and every single drop of water in all the oceans of the world -- in all its various manifestations the mind of water is spherical, and every point on the surface of every tiny drop is an equal distance from the center of the droplet's mass.

This mind of roundness is a key principle of Aikido. We project a full round presence to our adversary and flow with their movement, rather than attempting to stop or control their thoughts or actions.

When we embody the shape of water, we have no hard edges for others to bump into, and nothing for them to grab hold of. When we are round and soft, we better fit into the hard and jagged spaces so often projected by others.

Regardless of the obstacles encountered along the way, water does not stop, it does not give up. It joins with, is absorbed by, and surrounds all it encounters on the journey towards its home at the earth's center.

The mind of water, complete as it is, does not strive to complete its journey. It simply perseveres, knowing as long as it continues onward its destination is guaranteed.

This mind of endless effortless movement is what we strive to emulate in Aikido. Joining with, absorbing, surrounding, and protecting all that we encounter, regardless of the perceived adversity. Through our practice we come to embody the emotional understanding that we are very much the same as all of life. Each of us engaged in the inevitable journey back to the center of the universe, to die and be born again.

Senta Yamada
Senta Yamada was born in Fukuoka, Japan in 1924, and he is the founder and principle teacher of "Kikusui Kai."

He began to practice Judo in middle school, and received his 1st Dan at the age of 16. He became an outstanding competitive judoka, eventually reaching the rank of 6th dan under the founder of Judo, Dr Jigaro Kano.

Yamada sensei's name appears alongside the famous in the historic Sekiryu kan Dojo, as one who completed the session of 1000 throws.

Dr Kano sent Yamada sensei to study Aikido with Morihei Ueshiba Sensei after World War II. As a live-in student he began private training with the founder in Wakayama Prefecture.

In 1959 Yamada sensei went to England to teach Judo but instead introduced Tomiki Aikido to the UK. In 1961 he first published his book "The Ancient Secrets of Aikido," this was reprinted in 1962 and then revised and reprinted in 2004. His book published jointly with Alex Macintosh in 1966, "The Principles and Practice of Aikido," was the first extensive presentation of Tomiki Aikido in the English language and is currently out of print.

Yamada sensei left England in 1965 leaving his original students (to name a few) John Waite, John Wilkinson, John Gay, Jim Elkin, Bill Lawrence, George Chew, Alex Macintosh, Eric Domini and later Loi Lee to carry forward his inspiration.

Since those early days Yamada sensei has been involved in several projects of humanitarian aid to people in countries which need help. He is currently helping the government of Sri Lanka feed its people and grow its economy by providing information on new farming techniques being used in Japan to increase crop yields.

He has set up a Dojo in Sri Lanka, where students study, regularly train, and enjoy the benefits of his unique style of Aikido.

He has returned to England many times since the sixties and everyone who has the opportunity to meet him comes away feeling blessed to have met, such a great yet peaceful and humble "gentle" man.

Workshop Announcements
Click on the event's title to find out about the details
When?	Where?	Workshop/Event & Presenter(s)
July 15, 2006 14:00–17:00	Antwerpen, Belgium	Seishindo Study Group in Belgium Marleen Adriaensen Info in Dutch in French
October 5, 2006 19:30 - 23:00	Antwerpen, Belgium	Introducing Seishindo - The role your body plays in helping you to maintain your health and emotional well-being Charlie Badenhop, Originator of Seishindo Info in Dutch
October 7, 2006, 9:30 - 17:30	Antwerpen, Belgium	Finding Inner Peace - Exploring the body language of migraine headaches and chronic pain Charlie Badenhop, Marleen Adriaensen Info in Dutch
October 11, 2006 18:00-20:15	Antwerpen, Belgium	Aikido - A gentle yet powerful martial art Charlie Badenhop Info in Dutch
October 14-15, 2006 9:30-17:30	Antwerpen, Belgium	EMBODIED PRESENCE - Use "Verbal Aikido" to resolve conflict and build relationships Charlie Badenhop Info in Dutch in French
October 27-28-29, 2006 9:30-5:30	Washington, DC, USA	EMBODIED WISDOM - The Dance of Intellect, Intuition, and Emotion Judith DeLozier, Co-Founder of NLP Charlie Badenhop, Originator of Seishindo, Dorothy Pietracatella, Certified Specialist in Somatic Experiencing
January 26-27-28, 2007 9:30-5:30	Antwerpen, Belgium	EMBODIED WISDOM - The Dance of Intellect, Intuition, and Emotion Judith DeLozier, Co-Founder of NLP Charlie Badenhop, Originator of Seishindo

2. Seishindo Teleclasses

Because of the high demand for our taster classes we increased the number of attendees for each teleclass so once again spaces are available. Thanks so much for all of the energy you have shared with us! It has been great meeting so many of you for the first time.

If you have already taken a taster class and are considering signing up for our four class series, please do let us know as soon as possible, so we can properly organize and prepare for you.

To sign up for a taster class, please go to the links below. One link for Seishindo Self-Hypnosis and one for Embodied Presence. You can sign up for both classes, or just one.

Self-Hypnosis Taster Teleclass
Embodied Presence Taster Teleclass

To sign up for the paid Seishindo Self-Hypnosis series please go here:
Self-Hypnosis Teleclass Series

To sign up for the paid Embodies Presence series, please go here:
Embodied Presence Teleclass Series

I look forward to talking to more of you soon!

Regards,
Charlie