Online study modules, for Aikido and sword, will be available here for purchase shortly.
I will be placing video modules here, for interested practitioners worldwide to purchase, which will be breaking down techniques, showing the intricacies and finer points, step-by-step, some which you may not have even noticed over the years, to allow for viewing and reviewing of the steps involved.
I intend to fully and openly share ALL that I have learnt, holding absolutely nothing back, in over 40 years of study in New Zealand, Australia, and most importantly, my 10 years of living and studying in Japan. For Japan was where I found out that there were many deeper layers, levels, dimension of technical skill, ability, a depth of understanding, knowledge and expertise, that I never knew existed for many decades. Your teacher can only teach you what they know, and nothing more. That is why you have to get out there and actively, constantly, seek more. For there is so much more to find, if you only seek it out
My personal belief is, that only individuals who have spent many years studying in Japan, under some amazing masters there, will always have a far superior, honed, polished skill, ability, expertise, and a far deeper depth and level of technical knowledge and understanding of the art, technically superior, compared to those that haven't.
My Japanese wife, at the time, translated for me 24/7, and that opened so many more doors, made so many teachers more willing to pass on their knowledge to me, compared to those non-Japanese studying there that could not speak the language.
I am also a Shihan of Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu, a 600-year-old traditional Japanese sword style, which has a very distinguished and highly respected history. This particular sword style was chosen by the last three Shoguns, as the number one sword style. Stanley Pranin (rip) the late editor of Aikido Journal, mentioned that O-Sensei also studied this particular sword style. This sword style changed my Aikido techniques, for the better. Without studying this sword style in Japan, my aikido would be medioca, average, at best.
Now, whenever I travel to attend seminars, around the world, people notice that what I do is different, good, honed, sharpened, more polished.
My intention in doing this is to allow anyone, around the world, to polish and perfect their technical understanding and skill, without having to spend many years studying in Japan. Giving them the tools to become amazing at the art, rather than just average.
In these modern times, there are many non-Japanese who have lived and studied in Japan, for many years, and therefore are as good as, if not better then, the Japanese themselves. How can non-Japanese instructors/teachers be better than the japanese?
Because, we non-Japanese have something that the Japanese do not, FREEDOM.
In Japan, you must do exactly as your Sempai/senior/boss says, or suffer the consequences. The Head instructor at Akikai Hombu headquarters in Japan, is the one who tells all other instructors under him what to do, say, and teach. No one dare stray from those orders, challenge, or ignore them, or they face dire consequences in doing so. That is why so many instructors look, move, and perform techniques in the exact same way. Cookie-cutter style. Gone are the days of Yamaguchi Sensei, Tohei Sensei, and Sudonamori Sensei. There is no individualism in Japan. I know, for I lived there for 10 years. Be thankful that we have freedom, is all I can say.
Constantly seek more, do more, and strive to become more. Enjoy the journey. Paul Araki-Metcalfe Dojo cho Aikikai Aikido also Shihan Yagyu Shinkage-ryu