Aikido strives for more popularity

Aikido strives for more popularity

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

If you know a little bit about action movie star Steven Seagal,
maybe you already know that he is a master of aikido, a self
defense martial art originally from Japan.

Invented by Morihei Ueshiba in 1942 from several older forms
of Japanese martial arts, aikido is distinguished from other
martial arts as it is claimed as the only pure self defense.

Aikidoka (aikido practitioners) are well known for their
skills in throwing and manipulating opponents' body joints to
neutralize them.

We can watch Seagal in his movies defeating the enemies only
with his bare hands throwing them all over the place or locking
their joints.

"Aikido actually teaches harmony in life and those things we
see in Seagal's movies do not totally represent aikido. It has
been modified to appease the market," sensei (master) Ferdiansyah
of the Indonesian Aikido Foundation (KBAI) told The Jakarta Post
earlier this week on the sidelines of training and examination
sessions on Tuesday.

"The main principle is how to defend yourself while at the
same time preventing both ourselves and the attackers from
sustaining any injuries," he added.

Boasting some 2,000 aikidoka and 17 dojo, Ferdiansyah, who
holds a fifth dan black belt, said KBAI was the only Indonesian
aikido organization recognized by the Honbu dojo or aikido
headquarters in Japan.

"While we are self-sufficient financially, KBAI gets technical
and administrative support from the headquarters," he said.

"Instructors from the headquarters visit us once a year to
hold training sessions as well as black belt examinations."

This year the headquarters sent seventh dan Koichi Toriumi and
fourth dan Eiji Katsurada to oversee the examination and training
sessions.

A female student, Mia Marianne told the Post that she found
aikido was suitable for her to deal with the daily harsh life.

"Sometimes I have to take the bus while working and aikido
gives me a sense of confidence because I know that I can defend
myself," said.

"Once I managed to prevent a thief from snatching my bag by
locking his hand."

KBAI has not only accepted Indonesian students but also
expatriate ones. One of the them is 64-year-old Stanley Okahara
who has been living here for many years.

"Earlier, I learned judo and karate in Japan. But then I
decided to learn aikido because there is less chance of injury,
unlike judo or karate," he said.

There are also expatriate practitioners in other clubs such as
at the American Embassy Club, in which Okahara also is a member.

Now that KBAI has been somewhat organized here, Ferdiansyah is
setting another goal to achieve.

"I want the aikidoka to be professionals in a sense that they
can use their skills to earn a living. It has been a common
practice in other countries," he said.

"Even some of our aikidoka started their careers abroad by
giving aikido classes at local dojo in other countries."