CLAUDE BERTHIAUME SENSEI 7 TH DAN AIKIDO

SEMINARIO AIKIDO IAIDO CLAUDE BERTHIAUME SENSEI NOVIEMBRE 2009, CARACAS VENEZUELA

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• IAIDO
• AIKIDO

[Proton1]

@Proton1

Yes, I practice iaido only.  Are you hinting that I should measure Claude's iaido merit based on the fact that aikido is closely related to the sword and there are legitimate sword-based exercises in aikido?

I don't think so. He's attempting to teach ZNKR iaido in this video, not aikido sword/aikiken, and it appears he has little clue about its fundamentals.

[josantmelendez]

@Proton1 Who knows whos right whos not, what im saying is thats very interesting that is a frecuent issue even at higher levels, there is an interview in aikidojournal where Stanley Pranin ask Nobuyoshi Tamura sensei why Osenseis sword was criticized by other budo masters

[josantmelendez]

@josantmelendez In fact it is so hard to western people learning iaido directly that aikido is instead a kind of shorcut for the right thing

[mekugipin]

@Proton1 The following comments are directed towards @Proton1, and should be read from the bottom up, owing to my reverse posting. -mekugipin

[mekugipin]

@Proton1 However, your harsh words of insult and criticism demonstrate that your practice may be guided by pride and ego. A true Aikidoka would not have written what you did. Similarly, nor would one who has been studying the art of Iaido under Berthiaume Sensei and the lineage that he belongs to.

[mekugipin]

@Proton1 The question of whether you practice Aikido or not has relevance, though not in the way that you assume. A fundamental tenet of Aikido is the practice of respect and non-judgment. Your opinions are informed by your training and experience, and may have merit in a discussion of the details of various Iaido schools.

[mekugipin]

@Proton1 Another instructor, with 30 years of Iaido experience, unaffiliated with Berthiaume Sensei, declared him "one of the finest Iaido instructors in North America". Most egregiously though, are your comments on 'transmission'. At this point you not only insult Berthiaume Sensei, but disparage the memory of the late Kanai Sensei, Mitsuzuka Sensei (who has attended Berthiaume Sensei's dojo as a guest instructor), Hakudo Sensei, and Haga Sensei.

[mekugipin]

@Proton1 Your use of the familiar in referring to Berthiaume Sensei by his first and last names, individually, without the term "Sensei" may be passable in some forums. I know very few serious students so willing to drop this official title. Your various critiques of details, and the audacious insinuation of "opportunistic fraud" are shocking.

[mekugipin]

@Proton1 Regardless of your opinion of Berthiaume Sensei's Iaido (an opinion garnered it seems through anecdotal exposure and minutes of youtube time, rather than extensive training under his tutelege), a brief online search reveals that Berthiaume Sensei is a martial artist at the highest level, with international reputation and acclaim.

[mekugipin]

@Proton1 This flaw lies in your willingness to pronounce judgment and insult in your comments. At the heart of Japanese martial arts is the development of respect and character. Your criticism of this video suggests that this is an unexplored aspect of your training.

[mekugipin]

@Proton1 Your dedication, and passion for Iaido are obvious and commendable. I have no doubts that your instructors merit the esteem you demonstrate for them. However, your critique of Berthiaume Sensei reveals a startling flaw in your development as a martial artist. ...

[junbh2]

If you look him up he's a 6th dan in Iaido with the Kaze No Kai Iaido organization. I can't judge for myself but I think that what you're seeing are stylistic differences between different Iaido traditions. I.e., deliberate differences which he was taught by his own teacher who apparently came from a different branch of Iaido than your own. It's interesting how many martial arts discussions involve debates about different styles, actually...

[Proton1]

These are things that you as a student of his should be investigating because quite frankly there are a lot of opportunistic frauds out there. Of course I don't speak of his aikido because I'm not in a position to judge him on that. He may be a great teacher, but the caliber of his iaido speaks clearly to me as a longtime iaido practitioner who studies the set he's teaching you.