Aikido Today, October 1987, Vol. 1, No. 3

In addition to holding the rank of 8th dan in Aikido, Shoji Nishio Sensei has earned 5th dan rankings in both Judo and Karate and master-level ranks in arts of the sword, spear, and staff.

On a recent visit to Los Angeles, Nishio Sensei graciously allowed us to tape his answers to several questions. Some of those answers appear below, translated from the Japanese by Chikako Higa and Darren McKee.

AT: What is Takemusu Aiki?

Nishio: Originally, true budo was supposed to open peoples’ way of life and bring happiness. Unfortunately, about a thousand years ago, people reversed budo’s direction, using it in fighting and competition. Aikido exists in order to demonstrate that such budo is wrong—to open our way of life and bring happiness… [In written Japanese, the ‘bu’ in ‘budo’ is the same character as the ‘take’ in ‘takemusu’—ed.]

I feel sorry for Japanese budo in the U.S., since many American budoka don’t understand real budo. To tell the truth, very few Japanese budoka in the U.S.A.—including Aikidoka—are at the highest level of their arts; they are on the second or third levels down. I’m saying this so there will be no mistake about it.

A budoka who understands true budo teaches how ridiculous it is to hurt people. There is nothing easier than hurting people and knocking them down, awful things to do. But Japanese budo, such as Judo, Karate, and Kendo, have spread all over the world in the wrong way. Aikido must therefore demonstrate that this way of budo is wrong—that to win is not to hurt people and that only inferior people injure others.

If one masters just one part of budo—such as Judo, Karate, Kendo, Yari, or Bo—that does not signify mastery of budo. Since budo is no one of these arts, mastering one art has little importance. Among human beings, some are male and some female. Females do not by themselves make up a species; if there were only females, humanity would be crippled. The same thought applies to budo. Judo alone does not constitute budo; Karate alone does not constitute budo; and Kendo alone does not constitute budo. If one’s art has only one of these, it is crippled.

We, as Aikidoka, must let people know that Judo, Karate, and Kendo lack many things. We must also let them know that budo’s aim is, not to knock people down, but to broaden our view of others and to open our minds. When we do open our minds, there will be no point to discussing racial, national, or religious differences. The aim of Takemusu Aikido is to develop respect and love in peoples’ hearts—to demonstrate the unity of all mankind.

AT: When did you start your training in budo?

Nishio: Weak when I was young, I started studying Judo when I was 16, and it made me stronger. Right after receiving my fourth dan in Judo, I broke my shoulder and decided to start studying Karate. Still, I had some doubts about Judo and Karate. At the time, many of my friends were Judo and Karate champions, but they were not at the level at which I expected them to be. I felt that there must be more to budo—that it must be deeper than that.

Just when I was becoming disappointed with Judo and Karate, I was introduced to Aikido and began to study it. Since I had not learned very much about ken [sword] in Judo or Karate, and since ken is an essential part of Aikido, I did not really understand what I was being taught. When I asked senior students for help, I found their explanations unsatisfactory. They did not understand very much about ken either. So, in addition to Aikido, I began studying ken through Iaido. And I also began studying Yari and Jo.

My friend Yoshio Terai, who was a world champion in boxing, and one of my students who is the president of Japan Kick Boxing convinced me that Aikido should not continue in the “old style.” When its surroundings change, Aikido must change; otherwise, it looses its value. A technique that ceases to be effective is worthless, and those who use it find themselves held in contempt. Accordingly, I always adjust my technique to its environment.

The concept of budo in most of the world is wrong. Knocking people down does not indicate strength. Only the weak or violent try to knock others down. The strong care for others, help others, benefit others. That is what we must do in Aikido.

AT: Are you saying that O-sensei failed to teach ken correctly?

Nishio: It wasn’t O-sensei’s failure. His students misunderstood or did not learn correctly.

AT: Do you think Aikido will be different 20 or 30 years from now?