Edwin Loachamin and Milton Nasimba, aikido practitioners in Ecuador since 2003, wrote to me asking for advice and support to open a Dojo in their country, this happened in January. They began by telling me that in Ecuador, Aikido has around 20 years of existence with several Sensei and Dojos, however they felt that it was still underdeveloped. They expressed me that, with the following idea “We believe that this had happened for several reasons, one of them is the fact that despite the efforts, no real alternative has been offered. An alternative that can cover the needs of the Ecuadorian Aikidokas and the people interested in practicing Aikido.”
 
For example, in most of the Dojos the fees are way too expensive, so the number of drop outs is too high and some cannot even start their training. Another reason is that among Aikidokas of different Dojos, sympathy for a specific Aikido Sensei and styles creates small groups with few chances for development. When these groups are barely beginning the process repeats itself so the groups cannot withstand this and soon disappear. Another reason that impedes the development of Aikido, like for example when development aid is offered to a specific group, previous experiences in certain area that could help them, then the Sensei or groups show little interest and a close mind. We believe this happens because maybe they are scared to loose control or presence in their Dojo, or maybe is just a simple lack of real interest of Ecuadorian Aikido development.

This were in a short form some of their ideas that led Edwin and Milton- after trying all of the other possibilities in their country- to contact me, asking for a different guide to follow and the support to open a group that offered an alternative that could fulfill their needs.

Beginning the Seminar .

With this situation at hand, and before starting a relationship as well as giving them the required support, I explained them that according to what I have been able to see in different countries the current situation presents more often than what they could imagine; but no one was to be blamed. All the human beings must act according to their feeling and projects in life and we cannot force anyone to continually support something if they no longer want to. In several occasions and for different reasons, students leave their Dojos, just to return after some time with a different view and in a different relationship. I told them how this happened in my own Dojo and in several others that I had met, although with different situations the result is the same.

I also told them that if they really wanted and were willing to work for the development of Aikido in their country; we could join efforts and experiences and together create and offer the alternative that they were looking for. I advised them that they should have firm steps and begin from scratch in an open way and with clear ideas. I also told them that if they were planning on creating a group that was closed to other groups or styles I could not help them. This is because AHAN ideal as well as mine is that Aikido does not belong to anyone, totally the opposite, just like the founder had expressed it one time, Aikido was a gift for mankind. That if they do not begin with an open mind from the start they could end up, without wanting it, into the same thing that they wanted to change; that way the efforts would be useless since we would only be part of the process and therefore could not offer something relevant.

I explained them how AHAN, (Aikido Humanitarian Active Network) as an organization worked, that they had to work at least once per year in a humanitarian project were they could help their community periodically and in the long run. With that stated clearly and agreeing to do the necessary to learn to work and develop according to AHAN principles, we planned to begin with a three day seminar in Quito, Ecuador this was going to be during March. However due to a personal problem we could not make the seminar in the stated date.

The seminar was done from the 28th of March to the 30th of 2008, with a total of ten hours of practice. For this seminar different groups of Aikido in Ecuador and interested people were invited. As we expected-according to Milton and Edwin information- some students of certain groups although knew about the seminar, could not assist to this one due to the fact that their teachers told them not to go. However other groups with a much more open mentality about an Aikido without prejudices, allowed themselves to assist and participate and we were able to create a fraternal feeling, with very exciting Aikido practices and a good harmony inside and outside of the tatami.

Explaining age ate.

This event had several objectives besides being an open seminar; it was also organized as an introductory course for those who had never practiced Aikido before. The fee decided for this seminar was low, 20 USD, according to what they told me, a fee never seen before in Ecuador. Besides the seminar took place where Milton and Edwin opened their Dojo in February, the name of the Dojo is Katana Dojo. This Dojo is located inside the Young Christian Association (Asociación Cristiana de Jóvenes (ACJ), given the fact that their idea is to give humanitarian help at the same time that they practice Aikido and that way develop a mutual collaboration with this institution giving O’Sensei teachings without any cost; this is focused to young people who came from poor families and that belong to this noble institution. That way the people will be able to receive a guide so necessary in such a difficult stage of their lives, and with several other activities, Aikido will be a great aid. We also had people in the seminar which practiced other martial arts, who always acted with great spirit and eager to learn during the whole seminar.

As for me, and with the intention to help in the early stages of this new Dojo in Ecuador, I asked for no retribution for my teachings. I even had the opportunity to cover the expenses of aerial transportation. My real retribution was the opportunity to share with all the participants and to get impregnated of all their spirit and good energy. During the breaks and meals we were able to talk about Aikido in a global scale, students came to me and asked me how they could practice Aikido without falling into rivalries of groups, which they said were tired of, and just affected the brotherhood among the different groups of Aikido in Ecuador. They were really interested in being able to keep a good relationship with all the Aikido groups in their country; right now as well as in the future. They explained me that several times they felt this problematique came because of the different lines of Aikido in the world leaders; they told me about their feelings of sadness and impotence when they could not understand why all this happened in a martial art like Aikido, whose ideals are union, friendship, development and peace among all human beings.

Relating the empty hand techniques with bokken .

To answer the latter I told them that even though I knew that various interests existed that would lead to this situation and many others; it really depended on them all. The real question is how far are you willing to go in Aikido and let yourself be influenced by a group or someone in particular to the point were you do not allow yourself to share with other Aikido groups in the future?

I explained them how sometimes this happened to many practitioners of different groups, because they think that they might loose the possibility of a grade or level in Aikido. In other cases people that have certain level and have come to be recognized by their teachers as leaders; giving them certain control or power over their Dojo or some position in the hierarchical structure, they decide to do only what their teachers told them or authorize them to. Given the fact that they do not want to loose the earned distinction they do not allow themselves anything that can go against their teachers’ orders.

I told them how in many occasions that can happen for tradition, I mean, to follow a single way to do things and do not dare to experiment and share a different way. I expressed them one of my ideas about how I feel regarding Aikido. Due to the fact that it is an art whose roots are deeply into the Japanese culture, where values like honor, duty and to do the right things do not enter into discussion and are taken very seriously in order to consider an authentic development of the practitioner and understanding of Aikido. In the present day these concepts can be mistaken if they are not clearly defined becoming a very powerful weapon converting a human into a mere puppet; taking away his right to be and in some cases even to think. That they had to be very careful not to fall into a situation like that, not even with a group, a teacher or leader in Aikido or any other martial art. Aikido should be for the human beings and not the human beings for Aikido.

In order to share and at the same time practice Aikido with different groups and lines of Aikido, I advised them that maybe they could do something similar to what we have been doing in Mexico; continue each group with their affiliations but being able to share at least once per year. We had recently done it on September of 2007 the First National Encounter of Aikido Friends
(1er. Encuentro Nacional de Amigos de Aikido), this event resulted very positively to everyone so I invited them to read my report so they could have an idea, and if they wanted to, doing something similar in their country.

To conclude I remind them that all the styles and forms of Aikido that exist all over the world are actually in essence one single Aikido, and if we could be able through time to keep a spirit of harmony and open mind we could advance in concordance with one of the most important ideas of the founder “To make a family of all the human beings”

At the end of one of the classes .

The seminar had several stages, at certain moments the beginners were considered, giving them the theoretical and practical bases, as well as a bit of philosophy, history and general fundaments. I also offered techniques for those people in an intermediate level and asked for mutual consideration at all times; that they should help their mates and at the same time try to practice in a more fluid and firm manner according to their partner. I was able to share my own method of teaching Aikido, in which there is a strong relationship between bokken and jo with the empty handed techniques. So with this experience I was happy to be in the belly button of the world and being able to practice and share with the Ecuadorian Aikido students; most of them “quiteños and quiteñas” —as they make themselves be called showing how aware they are of genre distinction in their society.—

The last day –Sunday 28th- during the seminar I answered several questions, from a vast spectrum which included:  technique, way of practice and daily application. We all ended very happy, they promised to participate in future seminars organized by Katana Dojo and I promised to attend to their invitations to future seminars without caring about the group, style or affiliation organizing the seminar. At the end they asked me if I could deliver the diplomas to the practitioners, I gladly agreed. We then went with some students to have a last meal to a close place, we hugged and say goodbye to each other. Edwin and Milton, as well as their families, took me to the airport to catch my flight that would take me back to Mexico, with certain stops in Costa Rica and Peru.

I want to thank everyone in this seminar, for letting me share, for your enthusiasm and attitude, and even though not a lot of people assisted, I did felt a great energy, commitment and desire to learn. My most sincere thanks to Milton and Edwin for the magnificent organization, and thanks too to all the family and friends that in various moments where watching the seminar and that one way or another shared with us. Some of them where so grateful that told me they would be soon practicing Aikido. This happened because this seminar changed the idea they had about this art. Now they had realized that they could participate in regular practices and in future seminars. I honestly expect to see them practicing inside the tatami soon, and I will be glad to return next year or before if it is possible to….the navel of the world.

For people interested in practicing Aikido in Ecuador with humanitarian aid purposes, to practitioners of Aikido of other Dojos in Ecuador and other countries, I invite you to visit Milton and Edwin in their Dojo, if you want to practice or just for mere knowing and sharing: www.katanadojo.com