At the Aikido Yuishinkai Seminar 2012, conducted by Koretoshi Maruyama Sensei in Bologna, we had the great honour to ask him some questions.
In the interview we asked him which was the meaning of the practice in his experience and his relationship with everyday life aspects such as fear, suffering, death, joy, and trust.
In his answers emerge the spirit of Japanese culture and the deep awareness that the state of our mind decisively influences the course of our lives.
Koretoshi Maruyama Sensei was born in Tokyo, on 5 October 1936. He became interested in martial arts during his middle school years and he practiced Judo, Wrestling and Boxing.
In the spring of his third year of college in 1957, he began to develop doubts about the martial arts which emphasized a mere contest of strength.
At this point he met Morihei Ueshiba's Aikido, founding in this practice what he had been searching for all those years: a martial art which did not depend on strength, and taught the right attitude of mind.
In 1967, he became instructor in the founder's dojo. In 1971, after Ueshiba's death, he became head instructor in Ki no Kenkyukai school, founded by Koichi Tohei.
Tohei assigned to Maruyama sensei 8th dan and chief instructor degree. Maruyama sensei taught Aikido in many countries worldwide until 1991, when he retired in a Zen monastery for a period of 10 years. During this period he founded Aikido Yuishinkai (Aikido without Boundaries). In 2001 he left the monastery to return to his teaching activity. In 2004, with the Aikido seminar in Bologna, Maruyama Sensei began a world tour to spread his teaching outside of Japan.
Aikido
The basic principle of Aikido is to remain in harmony with the attacker, rather than engage in a conflict. Motion and energy of the attack are guided without need of collision or use of strength.
Practicing constantly this principle leads to a deeper understanding of human beings and nature, and to a more effective conflict resolution. Movements in Aikido are circular and fluent. They are inspired by nature, that moves in circles and spirals. When Aikido is practiced with skill, it expresses harmony and elegance.
Aikido Yuishinkai
Aikido Yuishinkai has been founded by Koretoshi Maruyama Sensei to support universal values and promote peace worldwide. Students practicing any Aikido style are welcome to our seminar.
Meeting students from other dojo draws us closer to Aikido's spirit of harmony. Aikido Yuishinkai is truly "Aikido without Boundaries".
For further information, please visit Aikido Yuishinkai website.
Interviewers: Simone Semprini, Paolo Ferrante
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