Hi Tim, thanks for reading - quote whatever you like.
The contrast between Sensei Dave's technical depth and Sensei Brian's negligence (that clothesline story!) captures aikido's central problem: a total lack of consistent instructional depth.
Until we prioritize biomechanics, functional safety, and clear curriculum over parrot teaching and unchecked ego, the "Brian experience" will stay tragically common. Your piece illustrates exactly why that matters.
Sensei Dave is still out there,teaching somewhere in the USA, since he relocated from the UK. I would like to reach out to him, to tell him what a positive model he was to me.
Your phrase, 'The mat is not a battlefield. It’s a laboratory' is perfect. I hope you don't mind me quoting you?
You asked about other people's experiences, I will share this link with you (although the events were quite a while back, although it's quite personal, including x-ray). https://budojourneyman.substack.com/p/adventures-in-aikido?utm_source=publication-search
Hi Tim, thanks for reading - quote whatever you like.
The contrast between Sensei Dave's technical depth and Sensei Brian's negligence (that clothesline story!) captures aikido's central problem: a total lack of consistent instructional depth.
Until we prioritize biomechanics, functional safety, and clear curriculum over parrot teaching and unchecked ego, the "Brian experience" will stay tragically common. Your piece illustrates exactly why that matters.
Sensei Dave is still out there,teaching somewhere in the USA, since he relocated from the UK. I would like to reach out to him, to tell him what a positive model he was to me.