Methuen Aikido

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Is This What The Future Of Aikido Looks Like?

(The following letter does not necessarily reflect any opinions but my own.)

Recently our dojo was preparing to host a weekend long seminar. Sensei Perriello had invited an acquaintance of 40 years to teach during this seminar. The students at Northeast Aikikai, including me, were please to hear that this sensei had accepted the invitation. We were enthusiastically looking forward to the seminar.

Not a week had passed when we heard that the sensei would not be able to participate. You see, this sensei is affiliated with the United States Aikido Federation (USAF). Our dojo, while a member for many years in the USAF, is now a member in the Aikido Association of America (AAA). It turned out that this sensei was told that he had to make a choice. If he was planning to participate in the seminar at Northeast Aikikai, the USAF would not support his future seminar, and the local shihan, the scheduled feature instructor at this sensei's next seminar, would not participate.

No one, certainly no students, gained anything from this oppressive action.

Hey Everybody, eliminate all this petty squabbling between one federation and another, and between one dojo and another. We should not look at each other as competitors. We should all be working to promote aikido and help realize the benefits it can bring to ourselves and to the world.

Sincerely,
John Dore
Student at Northeast Aikikai.