Interviewer: What kind of stories were they?

Kato: He said, "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 said. I did not have any sense of it at all during that time. I just listened to his words and simply said, "yes" to him.

I remember one incident. During those days, at Hombu dolo, we had meetings with Osensei regularly. One day, an important guest was in the meeting and he seemed different ftom other days, uplifted and full of Ki energy. I was Uke and I was thrown to the degree Martial arts cannot be taught that I saw my legs with the ceiling in the background. I could not do Ukemi at all. It was almost like Jinshin nage. I was really scared.  But such experiences became a huge part of my dedication to practicing Aikido. Even now, when I practice, I visualize the founder in my mind. It is not something that can be taught, but must be developed with discipline. That is why  I started to understand the things he said.  Things I have learned by myself are not easily forgotten, but things that have been taught by other people, without inquiry within me, and taught in the language like "it should be done only in one way, and no other way," are all forgotten.  Well, I was not obedient also. (smiles).  Each Aikido teacher has his own idea and way of practicing and teaching.  I think it is because the founder did not really teach as if here were only one mold or pattern. Therefore, I think each individual style has developed out of his teachings.  "Extreme softness controls hardness, (a Japanese maxim) is not always true.  Extreme hardness controls hardness," he used to say.  And extreme softness controls hardness.  Extreme hardness controls softness and extreme softness controls softness.  When I think about them, all of them are really true..  Depending on the situation, each concept is important. Osensei did not really stick to only one concept, but embraced many.