Aikido Newsletter February, 2004
Volume 3, Issue 2
"The Last Samurai"
 It
is the recommendation of Yamada Sensei that everyone watches
the recently released film, “The Last Samurai”.
He feels that there are certain aspects of this film that
are appropriate for us all as Aikidoka.
"The Last Samurai" is set in 19th Century Japan.
It describes a moment in Japanese history when the country’s
isolation was being replaced by modern western values and
accomplishment. It details the tragic clash between such movements
and the millennia-old code of bushido, the warriors’
lifestyle that emphasises honour, strength, compassion, fierce
loyalty, inner harmony, commitment to honouring their world
and beliefs and a willingness to give their lives for what
they know is right.
Originally, the term Samurai came from the verb, saburahu
– meaning ‘to serve’, while later on in
Japan’s history, it took on the meaning of warrior or
knight. Samurai or Bushi, viewed their life and death through
a prismatic Code of Honour called Bushido – ‘Way
of the Warrior’. To a certain extent, it was not a way
of life; it was life itself. Dedication, honour, loyalty,
veracity, sacrifice, courage, bravery and a fearless spirit
that accepted death was the rallying cry of these feudal knights.
Add to these qualities a compassionate soul and you may just
begin to understand inner and the outer world of the Samurai.
The true Samurai does not fear to loose his life. This aspect
can be seen in the film.
A good part of the story is set in a beautiful mountain
village. The site of the Buddhist temple amid the mountain
where a large golden Buddha is enshrined makes you in awe.
The film treats Zen Buddhism and its relationship to the samurai
way. It is often said that Bushido is closely related with
Zen, this is a statement, which worries a lot of western people
– as it leads to a widespread belief that Zen is somehow
a warlike philosophy. It is not completely untrue to say that
there is a relationship between Bushido and Zen but it is
more appropriate to say that Bushido was profoundly influenced
by Zen and that Zen, in order to survive during Japan’s
long feudal period, ended up developing certain techniques
which appealed to the samurai. In one scene, someone tries
to teach the American soldier (Tom Cruise) about proper fighting
technique and tells him that he is using “too many minds”.
To fight properly, he must have “no mind (mushin). It
is true that these meditative practices are of great use to
the samurai to enhance their fighting technique and is proved
in the story that this Zen idea of the development of mental
and physical clarity helps you in anything you choose to do.
The film realises Director Edward Zwick’s lifelong
dream. Japanese culture and Japanese films have fascinated
him since he was a teenager.
It is a Great Movie. Tom Cruise plays his part very well.
There is definitely a degree of “Hollywood” licence
used in making the film. They are portraying violent times,
which cannot be treated in a trite way, but somehow the viewer
cannot but feel a certain savouring of this violence. That
said it is still a very entertaining and moving film. There
are a couple of scenes that may prove of interest. Especially
where the Japanese Lord offers his sword up to the emperor
and in the final scene when Captain Nathan Algren does the
same thing. It shows where part of our Kikusui Kai Mon originates.
There are many other small moments in the film, which act
as a memory jog to those who have had many pleasant times
in Japan.
One closing question:
“Is the Bushido sprit held onto in modern Japan”?
This is a question that is important in Japan today, and it
is also important to the rest of the world.
BAA GRADING AT ROTHERHITHE
The day started at 9.00am with a class at Sutton Aikido until
11.00am. Adrian Tyndale supervised the class dealing mainly
with pointers on basics and revision for the grading. It was
a small class with 9 students attending.
 The
group then travelled over to Rotherhithe were they settled
in to a further practise session. Most people had arrived
by just after 12.30pm, so James Austin proceeded with the
registration. Licences were checked and everyone was asked
to fill in their Grading Sheets. The grading formally started
on time at 13.00pm, with all 17 of the candidates demonstrating
foot and then hand movements.
The grading ran smoothly with each of the three examiners,
Arthur Austin, Robert Austin & Adrian Tyndale having a
batch of candidates to look at and record each technique.
For the Brown belts only each examiner assessed each candidate.
A Grading Format sheet was devised which was closely followed.
This helped the examiners to keep to a structured timetable.
It also kept the lower grades, with relatively less to do,
as busy as possible throughout the day. As predicted, nerves
got the better of some candidates. The reassurances from Arthur
Austin, the Senior Examiner of the day, helped the students
to settle. It was planned to finish at 16.00pm and it did
in fact finish well before that.
At the end of the grading Arthur summarised his view of the
day’s performance to the candidates as a general comment.
He praised them for their efforts and explained that it was
a good grading to a high standard. The new grades were announced
and congratulations given in the form of applause.
The BAA Licences were all signed sealed and returned to candidates.
It was noted that still some students had not fully filled
in their Licences, which should include a passport-sized picture.
BAA Certificates were not requested by anyone on the day.
It is assumed that the successful candidates will contact
the Dan Grade Registrar direct. New Dan grades were Myles
Glover and Peter Bacon-Darwin, congratulations to them and
also Jim Macarthur who achieved his 2nd Dan.
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