Aikido strives for more popularity<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
If you know a little bit about action movie star Steven Seagal,
\nmaybe you already know that he is a master of aikido, a self
\ndefense martial art originally from Japan.<\/p>\n
Invented by Morihei Ueshiba in 1942 from several older forms
\nof Japanese martial arts, aikido is distinguished from other
\nmartial arts as it is claimed as the only pure self defense.<\/p>\n
Aikidoka (aikido practitioners) are well known for their
\nskills in throwing and manipulating opponents' body joints to
\nneutralize them.<\/p>\n
We can watch Seagal in his movies defeating the enemies only
\nwith his bare hands throwing them all over the place or locking
\ntheir joints.<\/p>\n
\"Aikido actually teaches harmony in life and those things we
\nsee in Seagal's movies do not totally represent aikido. It has
\nbeen modified to appease the market,\" sensei (master) Ferdiansyah
\nof the Indonesian Aikido Foundation (KBAI) told The Jakarta Post
\nearlier this week on the sidelines of training and examination
\nsessions on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"The main principle is how to defend yourself while at the
\nsame time preventing both ourselves and the attackers from
\nsustaining any injuries,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Boasting some 2,000 aikidoka and 17 dojo, Ferdiansyah, who
\nholds a fifth dan black belt, said KBAI was the only Indonesian
\naikido organization recognized by the Honbu dojo or aikido
\nheadquarters in Japan.<\/p>\n
\"While we are self-sufficient financially, KBAI gets technical
\nand administrative support from the headquarters,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Instructors from the headquarters visit us once a year to
\nhold training sessions as well as black belt examinations.\"<\/p>\n
This year the headquarters sent seventh dan Koichi Toriumi and
\nfourth dan Eiji Katsurada to oversee the examination and training
\nsessions.<\/p>\n
A female student, Mia Marianne told the Post that she found
\naikido was suitable for her to deal with the daily harsh life.<\/p>\n
\"Sometimes I have to take the bus while working and aikido
\ngives me a sense of confidence because I know that I can defend
\nmyself,\" said.<\/p>\n
\"Once I managed to prevent a thief from snatching my bag by
\nlocking his hand.\"<\/p>\n
KBAI has not only accepted Indonesian students but also
\nexpatriate ones. One of the them is 64-year-old Stanley Okahara
\nwho has been living here for many years.<\/p>\n
\"Earlier, I learned judo and karate in Japan. But then I
\ndecided to learn aikido because there is less chance of injury,
\nunlike judo or karate,\" he said.<\/p>\n
There are also expatriate practitioners in other clubs such as
\nat the American Embassy Club, in which Okahara also is a member.<\/p>\n
Now that KBAI has been somewhat organized here, Ferdiansyah is
\nsetting another goal to achieve.<\/p>\n
\"I want the aikidoka to be professionals in a sense that they
\ncan use their skills to earn a living. It has been a common
\npractice in other countries,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Even some of our aikidoka started their careers abroad by
\ngiving aikido classes at local dojo in other countries.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aikido-strives-for-more-popularity-1447893297",
"image": ""
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