{"id":30288,"date":"2026-02-18T11:05:46","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T04:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yukoshinzendojo.com\/?p=30288"},"modified":"2026-02-19T14:41:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T07:41:04","slug":"part-2-practicing-with-yamaguchi-sensei","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yukoshinzendojo.com\/ja\/part-2-practicing-with-yamaguchi-sensei\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 2 – Practicing With Yamaguchi Sensei\u200b"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Part 2 - Practicing with Yamaguchi Sensei<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In this part, Yamashima Sensei shares what it was like to train under Yamaguchi Sensei\u2014his unique approach, the learning process through feeling rather than instruction, and how students struggled and adapted to his style.<\/span><\/i><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Q: Can you describe how you felt, or your impression, when training with Yamaguchi Sensei?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A:<\/strong><\/p>

I didn\u2019t feel any power from him. When he performed ikkyo, I found myself wondering, \u201cWhy are his movements so smooth, so natural?\u201d He didn\u2019t attack me\u2014my hand simply moved up and down on its own, entirely beyond my control.<\/p>

Now I understand: I shouldn\u2019t 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\u2014there\u2019s no visible strength, just pure, flowing movement, and the uke naturally falls.<\/p>

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\u2014not even in his classes at Hombu Dojo. He was truly exceptional.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Q: Did Yamaguchi Sensei ever get frustrated when students couldn\u2019t do the technique he had just performed?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A:<\/strong><\/p>

Yes. I remember once, while he was teaching ikkyo, he suddenly became frustrated and said, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you do it like me? Why do you only watch?\u201dThen, one woman\u2014clearly annoyed\u2014raised her voice and said, \u201cI can\u2019t do this because you don\u2019t teach us anything!\u201d Everyone froze. The dojo went completely silent.<\/p>

Quietly, I agreed with her\u2026 and I think many others did too. (He smiles.) It reminded me of something Saotome Sensei once shared\u2014a similar moment with Yamaguchi Sensei.<\/p>

Yamaguchi Sensei never gave explanations. He just showed the movement. We were expected to observe, to feel, and to figure it out ourselves.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Q: How could you understand his Aikido if Yamaguchi Sensei didn\u2019t explain the techniques in the dojo? Was there any secret?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A:<\/strong><\/p>

No secret. He showed us everything\u2014but you can\u2019t understand just by watching. You have to touch, to feel it with your whole body.<\/p>

Sometimes, when I took uke for him, there was a moment\u2014very sudden\u2014when I realized something. Not through thinking, but through feeling. That kind of understanding doesn\u2019t come from words.<\/p>

There was never any detailed explanation. Now, looking back, I can say\u2026 his teaching style was perhaps too subtle for most to grasp. (He smiles.)<\/p>

No one really understood, but still, we kept following him.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Q: Did Yamaguchi Sensei ever explain Aikido principles?<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A:<\/b><\/p>

Sometimes, after practice, we would go out for drinks, and he would talk about many things\u2014politics, economics, anything. Occasionally, he would speak about Aikido, too, but never during class.<\/p>

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\u2014so many things that I couldn\u2019t remember everything by the time the shop closed.<\/p>

Usually, we took the same train home. He would keep talking the whole way\u2014never stopping. I was tired from work, hard training, and a bit of drinking\u2026 and sometimes I just nodded off while standing. He would notice and quietly watch over me. (He laughs)<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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