Over time, much has been written and said about weapons training in martial arts, especially in aikido. Opinions are of course, shared: both for practicing exercises that use weapons (bokken, jo-we refer to them here), but in their detriment also. It is unnecessary to mention the fact that both those who are “pro” and those who are “against” come to support their belief with a series of arguments that it is not appropriate to analyze here in this article. It is certain that many dojo`s around the world practice aikido using weapons, but there are also plenty which don`t use them. This decision is based on the lineage (current) of the dojo.

    I was pleased that at the seminary led by Fukakusa Shihan and Yamada Shihan we had the opportunity to taste a little of the bokken training, which was conducted with high mastery by the first shihan mentioned above. Everything was a delight for us, the way in which the Thai Aikido Association president feels, „sees” and practice the teachings of O`Sensei is one very remarkable. Although the exercises and techniques have not been very spectacular, they had the gift to remind us that aikido is not a sport but a martial art in the whole power of the word, and though we have sometimes the tendency to forget this we should remaind us that the founder Morihei Ueshiba used to say this often. There was demonstrated principles like: ma-ai, timing, atemi, alertness and others, wich although are present in the empty hands practice, they are more noticeable in the weapons practice.

   Yes, I said alertness (kamae), which in my opinion has an important role in the practice of martial arts and along with the etiquette  (and others of course) is one of the fundamental difference between martial arts and sports. But I am convinced that during the time which they had available (unfortunately too short) the two masters had showed us other elements and basic principles of Aikido, but as beginners, probably we`ve let the slip, those principles being part of the so-called ”secrets”  of martial arts, that will reveal to those who will have the strength and patience to move forward on the path. Now all we have to do is to let the words behind and to start practice what we`ve learned at the seminary, so I must say „thanks”  to those great shihan`s and to all the participants and...keep up the good work!

Georgel Boanca