Learning To Be Silent

A nafudakake is a rank board, and is a common part of traditional Japanese dojo. Not all nafudakake are uniform, however; there are variations in the lineage recorded, and in board placement. In our dojo, we have reserved the uppermost left board, or fuda, for O-Sensei. In other dojo, the ranking fuda is reserved for the current Doshu.

Board placement can also vary. For our rank board, the fuda proceed from left to right in rank order, from dan to kyu. In other dojo, board placement is dictated by its position to the shomen. In those dojo, the ranking fuda is closest to the kamiza.

Although rank boards traditionally acknowledge O-Sensei, or the current Doshu, it is worth noting that neither actually have rank in Aikido. Rather, it is Doshu who confers rank on others, through the Aikikai Foundation, and ultimately through its shihan. In that sense, then, it may be more accurate to view a nafudakake not as a rank board, but as recorded lineage.

For most dojo, however, it is more than that. The nafudakake also serves to memorialize dojo membership. This is distinct from an attendance sheet. Typically, once a student achieves rank, her fuda remains on the wall, even if she takes a leave of absence or stops training altogether. The reality of limited wall space, however, does dictate some compromises, depending on student turnover. In some dojo, membership, and therefore fuda placement, is fixed only after reaching yudansha. At our school, we intend to permanently display fuda after a student passes their first promotional test. Time will tell whether that is realistic.

Since a nafudakake represents dojo membership, rather than dojo attendance, a student’s fuda typically remains on the wall even if she transfers or opens her own school. (Of course, much depends on the circumstances of her departure.) For example, on our rank board, we will continue to acknowledge one of our own, although she previously left the dojo and joined New York Aikikai as an uchi-deshi. In her case Seabolt Sensei introduced her to Yamada Sensei, who then accepted her into his dojo.

Lastly, as a United States Aikido Federation dojo, our intent is to acknowlege rank received through the Federation, either from Seabolt Sensei in her capacity as a fukushidoin, or from our shidoin and shihan.

Sensei would like to thank Kevin for his excellent woodworking skills, and Buck for his practiced script, for making our rank board a reality.

Editors Note: This is the eighth in an eight part series discussing past seminars at our school. The videos can be found in our multimedia archive. The series can be found under the video tag.

And so we come to it - the final installment of our video series.  Fret not, however; the dojo vault is teeming with memory cards chock full of videos of seminars past. (To pique your interest, how does technique performed by Nobu Arakawa sound? Or Penny Bernath? We thought so.)

Today, however, we have two videos of Ed Di Marco Sensei, chief instructor of Lake County Aikikai. For those who may not know, Di Marco Sensei is an alumnus of the storied New York Aikikai, where he trained for twenty years under the leading lights in the American Aikido community. He brings a host of real world experience to his technique, which he is fond of sharing on the mat. (And no, I’ve never asked Sensei the particulars about these experiences. These things, I think, are way above my pay grade.)

The first video shows Sensei executing kokyu-nage from a shomen strike. And uke? Well, that’s Joel Miller, one of our past instructors. Nowadays you can find him on the mat at Austin Aikikai, under Damir Jamsek Sensei.

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The second video shows a variation on the same technique. Dee Sensei is uke.

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The seminar itself took place in April 2007 at the UNF dojo.

Editors Note: This is the first in an eight part series discussing past seminars at our school. The videos can be found in our multimedia archive. The series can be found under the video tag.

We’ve been fortunate to host Peter Bernath Sensei several times over the years, most recently in January 2009.  It really is a privilege to observe his technique; our students are always grateful when he visits.  The videos and pictures below were taken from our seminar in March 1996.  Don’t worry if the location seems unfamiliar—at this point in our history we were training in a dance studio in the Mandarin area.  We’ve come a long way since then!

In the background you can see Chris Rozette, one of our early instructors, and Grady Lane Sensei, chief instructor of Brevard Aikikai.  Neil Bednar is uke.

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To me, what’s interesting about this technique is the throw itself; or more specifically, the cut and follow through.  Notice the connection Sensei makes with uke’s hips.  The throw, (really a cut to uke’s center), is a perpendicular strike which casts uke away.  It is as much a hip throw as shiho-nage.

It is also the type of throw Dee teaches—a perpendicular cut across uke’s center that redirects uke’s energy outwards.  You’ll see this hip movement throughout her waza.

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In this next video, Sensei is executing a direct kaiten-nage, soto variation.  Joey Turner is uke.  There is a lot going on here, but what I wanted to mention is Joey’s ukemi.  Dee learned what is sometimes referred to as soft or wide legged ukemi at New York Aikikai, which she then introduced to the Jacksonville area.  Although her primary influence here was Donovan Waite Sensei, she also trained with Joey, himself a former deshi.

Our students undoubtedly recognize this style of ukemi from our classes.  If there is one thing that distinguishes our school, I think it would be this—Dee’s emphasis on soft ukemi.

Below are two still shots of the seminar.

Comments?  Observations?  Fire away!

This past Tuesday we were honored to host a special guest instructor. Ed Di Marco Sensei, 6th dan shidoin and chief instructor for Lake County Aikikai, happened to be in Jacksonville on business.  We were quick to ask that he teach both evening classes, and of course he graciously agreed.

During the first class, we saw several interesting tsuki variations, including a kokyu-nage I had not seen before.  The second class consisted of weapons work, including a paired jo and bokken kata I first encountered at New York Aikikai, in a class taught by Sugano Sensei. Which of course is not surprising since Di Marco Sensei trained in New York for twenty years.

We took lots of pictures, a few of which are posted below.  Enjoy!

I spent the morning reading Debra Crampton’s blog, Riding Between Heaven & Earth. For those who may not know, Crampton Sensei is an Aikido 5th dan and instructor at New York Aikikai.

The blog is a great read; what particularly drew my attention, however, was this post: the weaker sex.

Don’t mess with Miss Whitley.