Greenwood Aikido

Our teacher, Shoji Nishio Shihan has been gone 16 years now. We all miss him dearly!

Happy 60th birthday to Greenwood Sensei!

New Year message from Doshu....

The story behind this photograph- Nishio Sensei asked O-Sensei to take a photo together. O-Sensei asked to be dressed in this montsuki (kimono bearing Ueshiba family crest) before taking the photograph. After O-Sensei was dressed, they proceeded to the front of Hombu Dojo where Nishio Sensei said O-Sensei wanted the photo to be taken in front of the Aikido School sign. O-Sensei is said to have stroked the sign affectionately. It was February 1969, one week later he entered the hospital. This was the last picture taken of O-Sensei.

Greenwood Sensei was recently interviewed on the Spirit Aikido Podcast with Tristan Chermack. He discussed Nishio Shihans philosophical and technical approach to aikido- bridging the gap between the ethical and philosophical goals of aikido. Please have a listen, like and comment on the Spirit Aikido YouTube Channel.

My friend and Executive Editor of Aikido Journal Josh Gold, is spearheading a Kickstarter project- a massively researched and beautifully produced republishing of "Aikido Pioneers of the Prewar Era" in a 9" x 12" coffee table style book. Please consider supporting this project at whatever level you're able to. As of today, it's 70% funded with 23 more days to go! https://www.kickstarter.com//aikido-pioneers-limited-editi

"Most traditional Japanese martial arts are just about how to survive yourself. Your opponent is killed or eliminated. Aikido's philosophy is to respect and accept the opponent. We share and move with the opponent." ~Shoji Nishio born this day in 1927.

Thank you Nishio Sensei

This wonderful video on Shoji Nishio Sensei is available to watch through Aikido Journal TV. https://aikidojournal.vhx.tv//1st-demo-shoji-nishio-with-t

"When Saito Morihiro Sensei released his monumental first series of books on aikido, attempting, thereby, to preserve what he believed was the essence of O Sensei's aikido when he was at his peak, he included "portrait" photographs of only three men besides Ueshiba and himself: Ueshiba Kisshomaru, Shioda Gozo and Nishio Shoji. Saito was bigger than organizational politics. Through these three photographs (and his own book as a fourth point), he drew an arc, a "golden bridge" ...if you will, with Shioda Sensei representing the riches of the past; Nidai Doshu, the political/familial center of the present; and Nishio Sensei, the aikido of the future. Given Saito Sensei's uncompromising severity in his viewpoint regarding 'versions' of aikido that were promulgated by others, his recognition of Nishio Sensei here is something very special. What higher honor than to be considered by Saito Morihiro as the exemplar of aikido's future!" ~Ellis Amdur [AikiWeb post 04-23-2012]

Tsume means packing or stuffing. The tsume Aiki Toho kata is an expression of iriminage which can arise quite naturally in the course of combat.

Some of Greenwood Sensei’s books on sword. Since quarantine, Sensei has filmed more Iaido and Aiki Toho- ideal for solo practice. The quality of your art improves by studying the sword. It’s an integral component.

I just had someone ask a great question on YouTube so I thought I'd share the answer here as well because it reveals a lot about the heart of our practice - especially as it's expressed in katatedori and other "grabbing" practices. Q: Sensei, is there "munedori" in Nishio style aikido? A: Great question. A simple question, but the answer is fairly deep. The reason you don't see munedori practiced among Nishio style practitioners (very much) has to do with how Nishio Sensei ...interpreted all "grabbing" practice. Nishio Sensei taught that we're not "being grabbed," but rather, we are offering or giving our hand (or sleeve) to be taken. He saw this as an expression of aikido's spirit of giving and leading. It's not really correct to view these practices as "self-defense against being grabbed." He said that no serious martial artist would allow themselves to be caught off guard and grabbed this way. If someone grabs your wrist it's very easy to free yourself, so there's no reason to devise an elaborate response. The reason this "grabbing" situation happens at all is because we allow it to happen. In practice, we offer ourselves for the uke to take hold and then we lead them. By "giving" ourselves we also prevent the opponent from "stealing" or taking. When someone "gives" you something it's the moral opposite of them "taking" or "stealing" from you. This is what we mean when we say aikido is the opposite of martial arts that "take" (including everything up to another person's life). Aikido is a martial art that "gives." By giving and offering ourselves we are preventing the wrongdoing of our opponent. You can read the story of "Tohei's stolen jacket" told by Nishio Sensei in this regard. Aikido is a much deeper endeavor than just self-defense. It's a practice of "right action." So to answer your question: The way in which nage is held is completely the choice of nage. However, you must also offer yourself in a way that prevents harm to either of you. This is the meaning of the "irimi." And by offering our forearm or our sleeve we are able to maintain a congenial distance with our opponent. If we allow the opponent so close that they can touch our chest, collar or shoulder then they are also close enough to strike our body or face. At that point we've allowed an unacceptable spacing to occur. The act of offering ourselves - how we are held, where we are held, the distance at which it happens - is something we are practicing to take the initiative in. You can think of the grab as a strike. The way you move when offering your hand or sleeve is no different than the way you move if the opponent is striking. So when you see Nishio Sensei show "katadori menuchi" (shoulder grab + strike) he is actually showing "sodedori menuchi" (sleeve grab + strike) in order to establish correct maai. And this is why you don't typically see munedori with Nishio Sensei. It's a "social distancing" issue.

Hello! Class is postponed until Saturday, March 28. Please click on link to learn more. Stay safe out there!

When you look at a traditional martial art like aikido, it’s really about the development of the person and not just their fighting ability. I think aikido actually goes beyond even that. Aikido is really an expression of humanistic virtue. Right from the beginning, the priority in aikido is completely different from a sport or a combat art. To understand this approach, look at stoicism, especially thinkers like Marcus Aurelius or Epictetus. Philosophically, it’s really about valuing virtue that virtue is its own reward rather than just focusing on winning, and it’s important to be true to one’s own nature regardless of the outcome of a conflict. I think in this respect, there are a lot of areas that aikido represents a real true expression of stoic practice. ~Philip Greenwood Sensei

At our dojo Holiday party we presented Iaido certificates to Will Sandoval (shodan), Heather Greenwood (nidan) and Carre St. Andre (sandan) Congratulations to all!

Way back! Greenwood Sensei receiving his shodan from Gene Anderson at Pasadena Aikikai. Sensei was a teacher at Pasadena Aikikai for many years before moving to Temecula in 1991. Seated in the second picture is Jim Moore.

On November 8-11, Josh Gold, Executive Editor of Aikido Journal, represented the art of Aikido at Summit LA19, one of the world’s preeminent idea festivals. Fellow presenters included Dara Khosrowshahi (CEO, Uber), Gwynne Shotwell (President and COO, SpaceX), Reid Hoffman (Co-founder and Executive Chairman LinkedIn), Harrison Ford (Actor and Vice Chair, Conservation International), Grandmaster Flash (legendary DJ and music Producer) and many other distinguished entrepreneurs, business leaders, scientists, civic leaders, philanthropists, and artists. It was a great opportunity to share a new perspective on the art of Aikido with some of the key thought leaders and influencers of our time. Read more here: https://aikidojournal.com//aikido-a-message-and-mission-f/

Congratulations to Michael Jacob on his 1st kyu test. Well deserved

Never assume your technique will go unanswered. Every technique has a counter. Atemi (striking), kuzushi (unbalancing) and other devices are essential, but they don't guarantee a free pass. Kaeshi waza (reversal) is an intermediate level study that allows us to explore potential openings in our technique.