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Evolutionary History
of
Mumonkan-Do Aikido of California
Morihei Ueshiba Sensei (1883-1969)
Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido, was born December 14, 1883 and died
April 26, 1969 at the age of 86. In his early thirties, he began the study of
Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu under Sokaku Takeda. He was one of Takeda Sensei's
most gifted students. Ueshiba Sensei later altered what he had learned from
Takeda Sensei (based on many years of hard daily training, based on his
studies of other martial arts, and based on his religious studies). He completely
changed the combative art of Aiki-jujutsu to a way of studying harmony with
nature.
Gozo Shioda Sensei (1915-1994): Yoshinkai Aikido
One of the earliest students of Ueshiba Sensei was Gozo Shioda (born September 9, 1915). Shioda Sensei
began studying under Ueshiba Sensei in May of 1932. He continued his training
(for approximately 8 years) until he was forced to go to Formosa
in World War II. It is unclear how long Shioda Sensei continued to study with
Ueshiba Sensei after his return to Japan.
What is clear however, is that Shioda Sensei had the opportunity to study
under the founder of Aikido early on -- during the period when Ueshiba
Sensei's techniques were the most active and clear.
When Shioda Sensei established the Yoshinkan Dojo in Tokyo,
his interest was in teaching a form of Aikido based solely on Ueshiba
Sensei's sharp and clear techniques. So in establishing the Yoshinkan Dojo,
Shioda Sensei strictly cut out all of the "religious" components
that had been a part of Ueshiba Sensei's teachings. But he did not cut out
the "spiritual" components. "Yoshinkan," in fact, is a
name that he inherited from his father who owned a kendo and judo dojo by
that name. Yo means cultivating; shin means spirit or mind, kan
means house. Thus "Yoshinkan" is the house for the cultivation of
the spirit. Shioda Sensei passed away on July 15, 1994, at the age of 78.
Takashi Kushida Sensei (1935 - ): Yoshokai Aikido
Takashi Kushida was born May 2, 1935.
He began studying Aikido with Shioda Sensei during the very early days of the
Yoshinkan Dojo. Not long after he began his training, he was asked by Shioda
Sensei to become one of the first uchideshi (live-in student) at the
Yoshinkan Dojo. For ten years, Kushida Sensei lived in the dojo as an
uchideshi. He became a certified instructor in 1964 but continued to focus on
his own training in addition to teaching students junior to him.
For twenty years, Kushida-sensei stayed with Shioda Sensei. During this time,
he was Shioda Sensei's number one uke (for demonstrations and in class). In
addition, Kushida Sensei handled Shioda Sensei's administrative duties. In
1973, a request for an instructor was sent from Takeshi Kimeda Sensei, who
currently teaches in Toronto, Canada.
In response to the request, Kushida Sensei left his position as chief
instructor at the Tokyo dojo and
came to North America.
In 1976, Kushida Sensei started the Aikido Yoshinkai Association of North
America (AYANA). In 1991, Yoshinkai Aikido in Japan
established a group called the International Yoshinkai Aikido Federation
(IYAF). Their representatives discussed the mission, policies, and activities
of IYAF with Kushida Sensei. However, Kushida Sensei did not wish to change
AYANA's standards to conform with those of the IYAF.
So in December 1991 Kushida Sensei changed AYANA's name slightly - from
Yoshinkai Association of North America to Yoshokai Association of North
America and began operating as an independent organization -- completely
separate from Yoshinkai Aikido in Japan.
Wayne Tourda Sensei (1939 - ): Mumonkan-Do Aikido of California
Wayne Tourda Sensei, born August
25th, 1939, was introduced to Yoshinkan Aikido while watching a
demonstration here in the United States.
In 1969, he went to Japan
to study at the Yoshinkan headquarters, then under the direction of Shioda
Sensei. He remained in Japan
for four years - studying primarily with Kushida Sensei at the Tokyo Dojo.
Kushida Sensei left Japan
in 1973 and Tourda Sensei followed soon thereafter helping to spread the
Yoshinkan style of Aikido in North America. He
remained in Canada
for approximately 4 years. In 1977 he moved to Southern California
to continue the spreading of Yoshinkan Aikido here in the United
States. He originally taught for the UCLA
Extension Program and in 1978 he began teaching Aikido at Orange
Coast College.
In 1983 he, along with one of his senior students at the time, established
the Aikido Federation of California.
At the same time that he was pursuing his study and teaching of Aikido,
Tourda Sensei was pursuing studies in Zen Buddhism - initially with Roshi
Phillip Kapleau (Rinzai Sect) - later, and primarily, with the late Reverend
Dr. Soyu Matsuoka (Soto Sect). He was formally ordained by Rev. Soyu
Matsuoka, Roshi in the Soto Sect of Zen Buddhsim.
Tourda Sensei, unlike Shioda Sensei and Kushida Sensei was strongly
influenced by Zen Buddhism. He desired to bring the Zen element into his
teaching of Aikido, as many martial artists before him had done. Tourda
Sensei remained loosely connected to the larger Yoshinkan organization. But
when he established the Aikido Federation of California in 1983, he did so in
affiliation with the Zen Center of Long Beach rather than in affiliation with
the Yoshinkan Organization in Japan.
The Zen Center of Long Beach was Rev. Soyu Matusoka's headquarters in the United
States.
One of Tourda Sensei's first students in Orange County,
California was Lori Parker Sensei. In
1990, he encouraged Parker Sensei to establish her own dojo which, reflecting
the Zen element, was called Mumonkan-Do Aikido of California. The loose
translation of "Mumonkan" is the "Gateless Gate" or the
"Gateless Barrier." Mu translates as "no" or "does
not have," mon translates as "gate."
In 1990, Tourda Sensei left the Aikido Federation of California and began teaching
at the Mumonkan-Do Dojo where he remained until he semi-retired in 1994. He
continues though, to teach at a local college.
Lori Parker Sensei (1955 - ): Mumonkan-Do Aikido of California
Lori Parker Sensei was born on the same day as Wayne Tourda Sensei (August
25th). She began studying with Tourda Sensei in February 1980. She was one of
the most dedicated of his early students - often times training 6 days a week
and several hours a day. Though there were no live-in quarters available,
Parker Sensei served as Tourda Sensei's primary apprentice and assistant for
many years - assisting not only in demonstrations and classes but also in the
administrative tasks.
In January 1986, Tourda Sensei asked her to take over some of the teaching
responsibilities at the Aikido Federation of California. By 1990, her nucleus
of students had grown to almost 90 in number. It was these students, herself,
and her teacher, Tourda Sensei, that formed the original Mumonkan-Do dojo.
Following in her teacher's footsteps, Parker Sensei, while studying Aikido
and pursuing her Ph.D., also pursued Zen Buddhism with Rev. Soyu Matsuoka.
She was ordained a Zen Buddhist Priest, by Rev. Matsuoka, on June 15, 1992.
Though Parker Sensei is deeply involved in healing arts as well, she
continues as the Chief Instructor of Mumonkan-Do Aikido of California. She
has always been, and remains, dedicated to passing on the both the sharp,
clear Aikido techniques of the Shioda Sensei lineage, as well as the Zen
Buddhism passed on to her by Rev. Soyu Matsuoka and Rev. Wayne Tourda.
More about Parker Sensei, the Author.
Doug McBratney Sensei (1961- ): Mumonkan-Do Aikido of
California
Doug McBratney Sensei was born on March
11, 1961. He began studying Aikido with Parker Sensei in March,
1985 at the age of 24. Parker Sensei, then an instructor at the Aikido
Federation of California, noticed McBratney Sensei as someone with
outstanding potential in both technique and spirit.
After a couple of years of dedicated training, Parker Sensei, believing that
he would set an excellent example for all incoming students, requested that
he become her apprentice. He agreed and began to assist Parker Sensei in the
beginning level classes. He continued his dedicated study and served as
Parker Sensei's senior-most and primary apprentice and assistant for several
years.
In July of 1991, shortly after the Mumonkan-Do Dojo opened, McBratney Sensei
founded the Youth Program at Mumonkan-Do Aikido - a program specifically
designed for ages 8 to 17. He continues as the director and senior instructor
of the youth program -- passing on the important principles and ideals of
Aikido and Budo to that age group. He also teaches Aikido to adults at Chapman
University.
Tom Brooks Sensei (1960 - ): Mumonkan-Do Aikido of California
Born June 14th, 1960, Tom
Brooks Sensei began studying Aikido with Parker Sensei in January of 1988 at
the age of 27. An extremely dedicated student, Brooks Sensei trained 4 or 5
nights a week, 2 to 3 hours a night for most of his Aikido career. He became
a formal apprentice to Parker Sensei in 1994 and remains so today.
Brooks Sensei became a certified instructor in 1998 but continued to focus on
his own training in addition to teaching students junior to him. He teaches
Aikido at the Mumonkan-Do dojo as well as at Orange
Coast College.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, and in addition to his
continued training, he serves as Parker Sensei's primary apprentice and the
senior administrator at the dojo. Brooks Sensei remains dedicated to
understanding the principles of Aikido at a deeper level, to passing on that
understanding to others, and to implementing the principles of Aikido in his
daily life.
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