Hi COMF,
Many years ago, soon after I realized that the WTS would no longer control my life, I attended the first Earth Day Festival in Seattle, and there I had the great pleasure of watching an Aikido demonstration put on by George Leonard, author of "The Ultimate Athlete". George's essay, "that's not Richard" is a beautiful piece of writing.
After searching the dojos of Seattle, I decided to begin practice with Hirata Yoshihiko Sensei at his downtown Ki-Aikido (Koichi Tohei) dojo. It was a period of great fellowship with other aspiring male and female Aikidoka and our Senseis. As I'm sure you know, the "fear of falling" becomes the joy of flying, and the tatami become a seperate reality. As the years passed I began to see the "organization" behind the Ki Society, and I visited the Ki Society dojo in Portland Oregon and came away feeling it was run like a certain cult I had just walked away from. My enthusiasm dwindled.
After a few years, I participated in a couple of Stephen Hayes' Ninjitsu seminars, then some Kali/JKD.
Hirata Sensei died a couple of years later from lung cancer.
If my circumstances permitted I would not hesitate to visit the tatami again, except that I fear I would break myself. My current interest is primarily street combat martial arts that do not require 30 years to perfect. One often overlooked fact of O-Sensei's life is that in his youth he mastered many jutsus before he was enlightened and created Ai Ki Do.
I bow to you! REI!!
Edited by - Nathan Natas on 4 September 2002 0:23:41