Principles of Tamura’s aikido

Most of Tamura’s words reach us in translation (Japanese → French → English). We keep quotations short and link to the published source.

One aikido

Tamura would not have his teaching called a style. For him aikido was O-Sensei’s creation, and he argued against “new aikido” or a “Tamura-ryū”.^[9] He said he came to Europe “above all” to work for the unity of aikido.^[10]

“The goal of Aikido is none other than unity.”
Tamura Nobuyoshi, Budo International interview. Source

Rei: etiquette as the heart of budo

In Étiquette et transmission he puts rei at the centre of budo: without real respect, form is an empty shell. Cleaning the dojo purifies oneself as well as the room, and the teacher must lead by example.^[12]

“The dojo is not only a gymnasium; I would like you to think of it as both a church and a gymnasium.”
Tamura Nobuyoshi, “Dojo”, in son Message, son Héritage (2015), from French.^[62]

Budo as protection

He described budo as a way of purification (misogi), beyond victory and defeat, not a way to destroy an opponent. In one image he gave, the true meaning of bu is a mother protecting her child.^[9] He distinguished bujutsu, a technique that serves an end, from budo, a way that shapes the person; for him, competition had cost judo and kendo their budo essence, because the sense of life and death was gone.^[9]

Musubi

“Aiki is musubi.”
Tamura Nobuyoshi, interview with Léo Tamaki, « Interview Tamura Nobuyoshi, l’aigle de l’Aïkido » (2007), from French: « L’Aïki c’est musubi ».

Union is what lets something be born. If you see yourself as separate, nothing can come into being.^[9]

Body, breath, posture

Simplify the body and the technique becomes simpler. Breathing governs the mind, and posture governs breathing.^[16] He held that good work on the knees (suwari waza) is the source of good standing technique.^[9]

Weapons and empty hand

For Tamura, aikido came out of weapons practice. Empty-hand and weapons work form one whole, and weapons should not clash.^[9]

Humility and endless study

“The greatest danger is excessive pride.”
Tamura Nobuyoshi, Étiquette et transmission (Eng. tr.). Source

He asked students to learn the whole, not take it apart:

“Wakaru (to understand) must not become wakeru (to divide).”
Tamura Nobuyoshi, interview with Léo Tamaki, « Interview Tamura Nobuyoshi, l’aigle de l’Aïkido » (2007), from French: « Il ne faut pas que wakaru devienne wakeru ».

Study means trying to do what you cannot yet do, and there is no shortcut.^[9] He spoke of the teacher as an educator and guide, who gives each student the “tea” that student needs.^[13]

“This direction is clear, and anyone can set out on it.”
Tamura Nobuyoshi, “Do”, in son Message, son Héritage (2015), from French.^[62]

Seeing and preparation

When Tamura began as an uchideshi, the 6:30 morning class at the Hombu opened with Ame no Torifune and went straight on to technique; ukemi were learned simply by being thrown. The preparatory exercises (jumbi dosa, jumbi undo) were developed later under Koichi Tohei, then shihan bucho, when aikido reached schools and companies and many beginners had no other martial art behind them.^[65]

“If you cannot see, explanations are useless.”
Tamura Nobuyoshi, preface to Christophe Page, « Jumbi Dosa – La préparation en Aïkido » (2007), from French: « Si vous ne savez pas voir, les explications sont inutiles ».^[65]

Loyalty

Asked in 1983 about the students who did not follow him after the 1982 split, he answered that loyalty is a fundamental principle of bushido, and that his students remain his family.^[10]