Part 2 - Practicing with Yamaguchi Sensei
Q: Can you describe how you felt, or your impression, when training with Yamaguchi Sensei?
A:
I didn’t feel any power from him. When he performed ikkyo, I found myself wondering, “Why are his movements so smooth, so natural?” He didn’t attack me—my hand simply moved up and down on its own, entirely beyond my control.
Now I understand: I shouldn’t rely on hand strength. Instead, I should use only my center to generate free, effortless power. I try to replicate ikkyo the way Yamaguchi Sensei did. Compared to my earlier practice with Arikawa Sensei or other teachers, it feels very strange—there’s no visible strength, just pure, flowing movement, and the uke naturally falls.
Yamaguchi Sensei never explained techniques verbally. He would simply perform them, leaving us to observe and feel. He might say only, “Hum… hey, dozo.” No one could replicate what he did—not even in his classes at Hombu Dojo. He was truly exceptional.
Q: Did Yamaguchi Sensei ever get frustrated when students couldn’t do the technique he had just performed?
A:
Yes. I remember once, while he was teaching ikkyo, he suddenly became frustrated and said, “Why don’t you do it like me? Why do you only watch?”Then, one woman—clearly annoyed—raised her voice and said, “I can’t do this because you don’t teach us anything!” Everyone froze. The dojo went completely silent.
Quietly, I agreed with her… and I think many others did too. (He smiles.) It reminded me of something Saotome Sensei once shared—a similar moment with Yamaguchi Sensei.
Yamaguchi Sensei never gave explanations. He just showed the movement. We were expected to observe, to feel, and to figure it out ourselves.
Q: How could you understand his Aikido if Yamaguchi Sensei didn’t explain the techniques in the dojo? Was there any secret?
A:
No secret. He showed us everything—but you can’t understand just by watching. You have to touch, to feel it with your whole body.
Sometimes, when I took uke for him, there was a moment—very sudden—when I realized something. Not through thinking, but through feeling. That kind of understanding doesn’t come from words.
There was never any detailed explanation. Now, looking back, I can say… his teaching style was perhaps too subtle for most to grasp. (He smiles.)
No one really understood, but still, we kept following him.
Q: Did Yamaguchi Sensei ever explain Aikido principles?
A:
Sometimes, after practice, we would go out for drinks, and he would talk about many things—politics, economics, anything. Occasionally, he would speak about Aikido, too, but never during class.
Once a month, after practice at Chiyoda, we would go to dinner together, then to a coffee shop. Yamaguchi Sensei talked with us a lot—so many things that I couldn’t remember everything by the time the shop closed.
Usually, we took the same train home. He would keep talking the whole way—never stopping. I was tired from work, hard training, and a bit of drinking… and sometimes I just nodded off while standing. He would notice and quietly watch over me. (He laughs)