There are different flavors of aikido, usually representative of O-Sensei’s teaching at the time the branch fiirst sprouted from the tree. The early forms, such as Yoshinkai and Shodokan, and some of the later forms like Ki Aikido, have their own separate organizations. Yet even the main branch, the Aikikai Foundation (Aikido World Headquarters), has its own sub-dialects, reflecting the growth and complexity of aikido: in the U.S. there’s the USAF (United States Aikido Federation), usually just called the Aikikai; the CAA (California Aikido Association) often labeled as “Iwama Ryu” since its founders were students of Morihiro Saito Sensei, who’s dojo was the Aikido Shrine; and more recently the Birankai International founded by T.K. Chiba Sensei of the San Diego Aikikai, among others.

While the technical differences in these “styles” are fairly minor (though the weapons work may not be), these separate organizations unfortunately remain fairly insular, with seminars and other events attended only by students from affiliated dojos. As someone who has “cross-trained” trained in both Aikikai and Iwama dojos and has been priveledged to befriend and respect so many aikidoka in both camps I’ve always regretted this seeming limitation to our training. Fortunately that has been changing.

Last night Elizabeth Lynn Sensei hosted a two hour Friendship Seminar at Eastshore Aikikai (Birankai), taught by herself and Kayla Feder Sensei from Aikido of Berkeley (CAA), and it was obvious that whatever stylistic differences there may have been only added to the spirit and vitality of the event.

Of course, my opinions may slant toward the enthusiastic since I was unexpectedly honored at the beginning of class by Lynn Sensei’s introduction of me as an old friend and training partner from Mission Rebels over 30 years ago, and at the end of class by Feder Sensei who decided to seriously wipe the mat with my old bones in a fast jiyuwaza, demonstrating a good dozen techniques that captured the class’s attention. Afterwards, it was also fascinating to watch the two Senseis, out of their hakamas, comparing their respective school’s sword katas, echoing the very same discussion that Carole Gifford and I just had at open practice at the previous weekend at Alameda Aikikai.

I had the impression that if one school were a red lens and the other blue, one could as if use them as a pair to glimpse a more 3-dimensional image of O-Sensei’s teachings than might easily be seen by either one alone. I really hope this promised yearly event inspires other dojos to reach across the aisle and embrace together the heart of aikido training as O-Sensei might have wished it.

Lynn Sensei told an interesting, and possibly related, story. It seems her dojo also serves as the home of the Uechi-Ryu Okinawa Karate Academy, and the problem of where to hang their founder’s picture arose. Some suggested that the aikido and karate shomen (or kamiza), could be on opposite walls, but Lynn Sensei realized that that would mean facing away from one while bowing to the other. After much discussion, she decided to call her Sensei for advice, who laughed and responded that “Martial arts masters don’t fight.” Now, pictures of O-Sensei and Kanbun Uechi and their associated scrolls share the same shrine. Bow to one or both as you please.