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Interview with Sensei Dorin Marchis, 4th Dan Aikido Aikikai

MVS: Where from the idea of "Discover Aikido"?
DM: I had this idea for a long time, but only at the end of last year, while sitting at my home in Cluj-Napoca with Fujita Sensei talking, I dared to suggest this. It took several hours until I explained what I wanted: a documentary about his the life, about Aikido, taking into account that Fujita Sensei was very close to the founder of Aikido, O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba.

MVS: Why was it so hard to convince Master Fujita?

DM: As always told me: "If someone wants to learn Aikido from me, he must come to practice with me!" Then he continued, "Aikido is not taught in books or DVDs. But, finally, he accepted because he understood that this project wants to show the spirit of Aikido, the way hid founder left it. That's why we called this project "Discover Aikido.

MVS: At what stage is the project?

DM: I accompanied Sensei Fujita in Ukraine and the Netherlands, where I shot pictures and videos as much as I could. Unfortunately, after the trip to the Netherlands, when returning to Japan, Sensei had a stroke and we've canceled all trips. However, we decided to continue to honor the life work of our master. Until he returns to the tatami, we will continue to travel, to know and to interview all his close students and all his friends. So I came to take interviews from Fukakusa Shihan in Thailand, Yamada Shihan in Malaysia, Rosso Fernandez Sensei a from New Zealand. We continued our shooting in Tokyo, where I met close students of Shihan Fujita. Since May, we will shoot in various cities in Japan,where there are different Dojo's where Aikido is thought and where Fujita Sensei teaches.

MVS: What is the next international seminar which will be attend by the "Discover Aikido" crew?

DM: In May, in Tokyo, where a demonstration off all organizations that practice Aikido in Japan, will be held at Nippon Budokan,. Then, representatives of the RAAF will go to Toyama, where a seminar of Aikido will take place.

MVS: What are the main objectives of RAAF?

DM: The main purpose of the Romanian Aikikai Aikido Foundation is promoting, developing and supporting the study and practice of Aikido Aikikai in Romania and facilitate direct contacts between practitioners of Aikido in Romania and from foreign countries. Technical Supervisor of the RAAF from Hombu Dojo is Shihan Masatake Fujita.

MVS: Since when does RAAF work?

DM: RAAF was founded in 1997 with initial name Musubi Foundation. Later in 2002 the name was changed in the Romanian Foundation for Aikido, then, in 2006, at the request of master Masatake Fujita, official name of the organization to become Romanian Aikikai Aikido Foundation.
MVS: How many branches has the Foundation?
DM: Currently we have branches in 12 cities across the country: Arad, Baia Mare, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Lugoj, Pitesti, Ploiesti, Resita, Reghin, Ramnicu-Valcea, Satu Mare and Timisoara. In each of these cities there is at least one Dojo where Aikido Aikikai is practiced.
MVS: Who should start practicing Aikido?
DM: Children - to form his or her mind, young people - to shape it and to the elderly to temperate it. So, I think, we all can become better and more sympathetic.
MVS: Who are the main collaborators of RAAF?
DM: RAAF is in collaboration with the Aikido organizations in Hungary, Ukraine, Netherlands, Serbia and Republic of Moldova. But what is most important, RAAF is an organization officially recognized by the Hombu Dojo, so it is in collaboration with all Aikido organizations recognized by Hombu Dojo. We also have close links with the Center for Japanese Art and Culture in Cluj-Napoca.

MVS: What can you tell us about this center?

DM: Our target, and the greatest desire is to form a community of people who love the Japanese culture, a community that is extending in time, to draw more people regardless of the field there attracted to the this vast culture of Japan.

MVS: With the opening of this Center in Cluj, will Cluj become the most important nucleus for the studying the Japanese culture?
DM: I would enjoy that every Romanian city to have such a center!
MVS: Where can I contact people interested in Aikido and Japanese phenomenon?
DM: I recommend the website of the RAAF (www.aikikai.ro) and of the Japanese Center (www.nipon.ro). We always have open doors!
MVS: Thank you for your time and hope to meet again soon!
DM: Thanks for everything and I and I hope to see you soon.
Noted by
Mihnea Voicu Şimăndan
Bangkok, 7 May 2008
This interview was originally published in the magazine for cultural entertainment "Arcadia", Year III, no. 13, May 2008, pp 50-52.

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