Practice with Aikidoists in Brazil

By Nippon Kan Founder Gaku Homma

September 30 –October 9th 2001

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As we prepared for this trip to Brazil, the world watched the tragedy of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. As we took to the skies, I tried to convince myself that this was a safe time to fly since airport security had been heightened since the attacks. Usually long lines at airports can be irritating, but for this particular trip I found it somewhat of a comfort. Since this trip had been scheduled for many months, I felt I must go to not disappoint those who had worked to organize this event.

We arrived in Sao Paulo in a deluge of rain…it was pouring! FEPAL President Makoto Nishida Sensei, who presides over about thirty dojos all over Brazil, picked us up at the airport. Naoki Nakamura Sensei FEPAL Vice President who runs a well established dojo under Nishida Sensei in Sao Paulo accompanied him. Both Nishida Sensei and Nakamura Sensei were very light hearted about the rain, hoping the water levels would rise enough to produce more electricity for the city. They joked as they thanked us for bringing rain with us from America!

This visit had been arranged through an introduction from Shigeru Kawabe Sensei, Aiki Shuren Dojo, Akita Japan, Aikikai Headquarter Chairman. Kawabe Sensei, Nishida Sensei and myself were all born in the same city of Akita in Northern Honshu, Japan. Nishida Sensei and I even went to the same elementary school together where he was my sempai. The same instructor taught us both Judo and Kendo. Even though we had not met in many decades, it felt like somewhat of a reunion.

Accompanying me from Denver was Nippon Kan Chief Instructor Andrew Blevins, Technical Chief Instructor Jeremy Olive, Vice President Emily Busch and medical officer and uchideshi Debra Ragan. As a benefit for service to Nippon Kan, senior volunteer instructors accompany me as guests, all expenses paid. Everyone did a wonderful job as representatives of Nippon Kan and as my assistants.

After we were settled, the rain stopped and we headed to practice at Nakamura Sensei’s dojo. There were over sixty students there for the class, and I was impressed with their diligence and attention. After teaching for many years, it is easy to catch the spirit and tone of both students and their instructors, and I was impressed with both. Nakamura Sensei was born and raised in Brazil but has retained his Japanese Citizenship. What I found in Nakamura Sensei was a preservation of Japanese spirit that has even been forgotten in Japan. It was a treasure to find this spirit in a land so far away. His attitudes were well instilled in his students, and he had a wonderful dojo.

On our second day, we visited Nishida Sensei’s dojo where we were met by about sixty of his students. Mrs. Nishida welcomed us with a warm and wonderful smile. Mrs. Nishida came to Brazil with her parents when she was five years old and is a major organizer and overseer of dojo operations. As it was at Nakamura Sensei’s dojo, all of Nishida Sensei’s students were diligent and energetic. The comfortable aura of the dojo was a reflection on Nishida Sensei and his wife, and their continuous efforts.

The next day we flew to Rio De Janiero and enjoyed a fun day of sight seeing. Soaking in the spectacular views, we drank fresh coconut juice at Copacabana Beach. In such an idyllic setting, it was easy to forget the tragic events that had been taking place in other parts of the world. I told Emily the leaders of the Middle East should all come down here together for a time on the beach. If they did, I think that would be the end of war. If someone wanted to fight, they could settle matters on the beach volleyball courts instead”. It is difficult to imagine strife under the gentle breezes on the beaches of Rio De Janiero. That evening we had dinner with Luc Leoni Sensei and Alexandre Salim (2nd Dan) both who live and practice in Rio. We had a delicious dinner together on the bay and the next morning visited a Brazilian Army training facility located near by. I made plans to hold a seminar there on my next visit, hopefully in the first part of next year.

After returning to Sao Paulo, the next class was held in a major soccer training center. This dojo is run by Jose Gomes Lamos Sensei who is over eighty years old and still practicing. His dojo and students reflect his grace and worldliness, we had a wonderful time. Also in attendance was Shikanai Sensei who traveled by bus through the night from deep in the Brazilian interior to attend. Shikanai Sensei graduated from Meiji University in Japan. After he graduated he followed his dreams of developing Aikido in Brazil, and has been here ever since. He spoke to me of remembering well the early years of struggles and being desperately poor. From there, he has become a Sensei with many dojos and I respect very much his journey and accomplishments.

The weekend took us into the mountains about one hour from Sao Paulo for a two-day gashuku (training camp). It was beautiful in the mountains and I was surprised to see so many new faces as Aikidoists from all over Sao Paulo gathered for practice. They definitely have an abundance of Aikidoists in Brazil! I focused this seminar on the relationships between Bokken and Jo movement and open-hand Aikido movements. After practice, under the stars, we had a campfire and many discussions on Aikido. Everyone had very thoughtful questions and opinions. The next morning practice began just after sunrise where we worked outside on the Multidimensional JO Kata I have developed at Nippon Kan. After a breakfast break and a final class it was time for a happy farewell before driving back to Sao Paulo.

Driving back, I had a chance to talk in depth with Nakamura Sensei. I learned many things from him about the Japanese community in Brazil. Outside of Japan, Brazil has the largest Japanese population of any country in the world. The first immigrants to this land came here with big dreams of finding gold just lying on the ground waiting to be picked up. These I reflected were very similar dreams to the immigrants and pioneers that settled the United States. Earlier in the week we had a chance to visit the Japanese pioneer museum housed in one of the nicest facilities in Japan town. On that visit, Nishida Sensei pointed to a model of a ship that brought generations of immigrants to this country. It was that actual ship he arrived on and the journey at the time took forty-five days. In today’s world we can travel from country to country in a number of hours. We forget what a major trial a journey like that was in those days.

After returning to our hotel to start packing for the trip home, Jeremy called from his room. “Please turn on your TV” he said. “The United States has just began a counter attack on Afghanistan”. From our peaceful week in dreamy Brazil, we were quickly pulled back into reality.

We left Brazil the next day. The airport was quiet, sorely lacking in passengers for a busy international airport. Nishida Sensei, Mrs. Nishida and Nakamura Sensei accompanied us for a final farewell.

I sincerely thank our wonderful hosts for a remarkable experience. I also wish to thank Nakamura Sensei and Professor Shimizu from the University of Sao Paulo for acting as translators from Japanese to Portuguese.

I marvel at the way we can learn to understand many different people from many different countries through our practice of Aikido. I also marvel at the spirit of those who teach and practice Aikido in different parts of the world. In Mongolia too this year I met a Japanese Peace Corp. volunteer who was teaching Aikido full time in Ulaanbaatar. For two years he had suffered through bitter winters, surviving on little for expenses. I am in awe of this kind of pioneer spirit.

Due to the efforts of these pioneer Japanese Instructors, Aikido has become ingrained in the fabric of Brazilian life and has become part of the culture for generations to come. This is very powerful and has come to be because of a tremendous effort. I wonder sometimes if Hombu Aikikai Headquarters knows about these efforts or if they understand the hardship. I wonder if they only hear news about distant successful dojo and forget the process and the struggle it takes to have them.

In the United States, all of the first generation pioneer instructors are getting old. Some have already died. It is my sincere hope that Aikikai Headquarters researches and carefully documents the accomplishments of these leaders and the footprints they have left. It is my sincere hope that these instructors are acknowledged for what they have done for all of us.

In Tokyo, Hombu Dojo is housed in a building five stories high, and Doshu has a splendid residence next door. This, in great part is due to the fact that Aikido has been spread throughout the world by these pioneers. For their generation to disappear without proper recognition and documentation would be negligent.

As leaders of an organization, if you do not honor those who have led the way before you, and taught these principles of respect and learning, there will be no one to honor you when the time comes.

Nishida Sensei, Nakamura Sensei, Shikanai Sensei, thank you for all of your efforts helping to bring Aikido to Brazil. To all the Aikidoists we met this trip in Brazil,

To all the Aikidoists we met this trip in Brazil.
Because you practice Aikido, because of your power, I could come to Brazil.
Because you all have very good Senseis, I could practice with you in Brazil.
Because everyone has a warm open heart, I could learn from you in Brazil.
I deeply appreciate your wisdom and hospitality. I hope to meet again in Brazil someday soon.
Muito obrigado.

Para todo os Aikidoists nós encontramo-nos com no Brasil,
Porque vocês praticam o Aikido, por causa de sua potência, eu poderia viajar a Brasil. Porque vocês tem muito bons Senseis, eu poderia praticar com vocês em Brasil.
Porque todos tem um coração aberto, eu poderia aprender de vocês em Brasil.
Eu aprecio profundamente suas sabedorias e hospitalidade. Eu espero encontrar-vocês logo em Brasil.
Muito obrigado.