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Page 1 of 5 "Budo (martial arts) was a gift of God, not the creation of the human mind," and "Budo cannot be learned from other people. It has to be exercised by oneself." Recently, at last, I am starting to understand what he (O-Sensei) said. Aikikai Magazine interview with Kato Hiroshi Sensei (8th Dan)
Profile of a Master
Hiroshi Kato, Dojo-cho of Suginami Aikikai, Eighth Dan
Translated by Takanari Tajiri
Interviewer: Editor, "Aikido Tankyu" magazine
Interviewee: Hiroshi Kato (Chairman of Suginami Aikikai, Eighth Dan) Interviewer: Sensei, please let us know why you decided to learn Aikido. Kato: I did not have a particular interest in Aikido, but I wanted to learn martial arts. My mother knew someone who did fortune telling. This person also knew the founder of Aikido. The fortune teller read my situation and found that Aikido was the one for me. So, without any specific intention, I started to practice around Showa 28 (1952). Interviewer: How was the atmosphere of practice in those days? Kato: I only remember I lost myself in practicing. There were many tough people and it was hard for me. Interviewer: Would you tell us some memories you have of the founder? Kato: He did not say anything in detail about Waza (technique). Rather than listening to his words, I learned by watching him. I haven't accomplished what I saw-probably less than half of it. When he took my hand, I felt like I was being absorbed into him because of his God-like presence. One time, Osensei gave me a chance to give him Shiatsu on his shoulder. As his muscle was bouncing back, I noticed his back muscle was extremely flexible. Whenever I had such personal time with him, Osensei used to tell me stories. |
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