Interview with Kimura Jiro (8th Dan), President of the Osaka Buikukai

Jordy Delage: Sensei, could you please introduce yourself?

Kimura Jiro: My name is Kimura Jiro. I am currently the president of the Osaka Buikukai Association, and on a more formal level, I am the president of the Osaka Prefecture Aikido Federation.

Jordy Delage: Could you tell us when you started Aikido?

Kimura Jiro: I started in 1963 with Kobayashi Hirokazu Sensei and I never stopped practicing Aikido since.

Jordy Delage: This was a few years before O Sensei’s passing. Did you ever meet him?

Kimura Jiro: I only met him a couple times actually. I had just started and was merely a white belt so to tell you the truth, I only saw him from afar, but he was anyway a truly marvelous and very dignified being. He left a strong impact on me.

Guillaume Erard: How was your relationship with Ueshiba Kisshomaru Doshu?

Kimura Jiro: Kisshomaru Sensei was in Tokyo at the Hombu Dojo most of the time, and we were in Osaka, so we could not see him much. I managed to study with him on a few occasions though. What I remember most with regard to him is when Kobayashi Sensei passed away, I had to renew the Buikukai's membership with the Hombu in Tokyo. I had to go there in person, with all the documents. But before Kobayashi Sensei's passing, he and Kisshomaru Sensei had a falling out and things were a bit complicated. So when writing our cover letter, we felt rather uncomfortable. I therefore decided to go and meet Kisshomaru Sensei and the present Doshu in person.

Kisshomaru Sensei was a keen calligrapher, and we thus asked a renowned master who was also in the Buikukai to brush our letter. I took it with me to Tokyo but unfortunately, a typhoon passed over Japan on the same day and I arrived very late for my meeting at the Hombu, maybe more than an hour… Yet, Kisshomaru Sensei and the present Doshu had waited for me. I hurried to the dojo and I handed on the documents to Kisshomaru Sensei. He read our cover letter; well, at first he mostly assessed the quality of the calligraphy… But he finally nodded and kindly said: "Many things have happened between Kobayashi Sensei and me… I look back at those days with nostalgia however. You do not have to worry about anything. Please refer from now to the chief instructor of this dojo.Kisshomaru is referring to the then Dojo-cho, his son Moriteru, the current Doshu." To this day I can still remember the expression on his face. He then took leave... He passed away a few months after. I will never forget his kindness…

As Kisshomaru Sensei had told me, the current Doshu helped us a lot. First, he awarded our instructor, Hibuse Masafumi the 8th dan certificate and the following year he recommended him for the prestigious Martial Arts Merit AwardThe Martial Arts Merit Award (武道功労者表彰, Budo Korosha Hosho) awarded by the Japanese Martial Arts Council (日本武道協議会, Nippon Budo Kyokai).. It is rare for Doshu to come and teach at the same place every year but he came five years in a row to teach in Osaka. Thanks to him, the Buikukai developed and still continues on. That's why I ask to my students in return to contribute as much as possible to the development of Aikikai in Osaka and the Kansai area.

Certificate of recognition of the Aikido Osaka Buikukai Yao Dojo by the Aikikai Foundation. Signed in 2017 by Ueshiba Moriteru Doshu.

Jordy Delage: What motivated you to dedicate your life to Aikido?

Kimura Jiro: Actually I wanted to learn Aikido because I was a frail child. In junior high school, I was still quite small so I decided that I had to do something. I encountered Aikido purely by chance during that period. I think it was in a magazine... I loved it! With a lot of training, a feeble person like me could become stronger. This is when I started with Kobayashi Sensei.

Jordy Delage: Were you a professional or did you have other activities?

Kimura Jiro: Of course, you need to train a lot, so I was practicing as much as I could. In those days anyway, you could hardly make a living teaching Aikido; it wasn't enough, so I was helping my father with his work at the same time but I knew I would dedicate my life to Aikido. I managed nonetheless to train almost everyday.

Guillaume Erard: Do you have experiences in other budo?

Kimura Jiro: The first time I had to teach, I was in charge of the Aikido section at the Osaka Martial Arts Centre, which had been founded by the late Hayashi Teruo Sensei from the Shito-ryu Seishinkai Karate school. Many experts from different disciplines were training there so it was a good opportunity for me to study their techniques, but I never trained directly under them.

Guillaume Erard: What did Aikido bring you; how did it transform you?

Kimura Jiro: When you think about Aikido you imagine something that has no ending, it's a way… If you want to go further on a path you must walk. And yet, walking does not necessarily mean progressing. Aikido for me is a never ending repetition, in which one must find something new everyday. Indeed, the word keiko means "returning to the source, continuously, passing down the knowledge of our forebears." You will go nowhere if you skim over it alone. In order to advance, one must tirelessly repeat what he has learned. This is what I mean when I say dedicating a life to Aikido. Of course, repeating untiringly something is not easy but this is how you learn to be tenacious.

Jordy Delage: To you, what does Aikido mean?

Kimura Jiro: If it is a way, then you need to walk it until your last breath. What's important with a way and with the idea of progressing is to define the point where you want to go, until your body cannot move anymore and even so, will you still burn with the same passion? Well, you need to advance anyway, which means that you must continue further.

Kobayashi Hirokazu with his students. Kimura Jiro sits on his left. 

In my case, and as a Buikukai representative, I must guide the younger practitioners. I thus strive to become a model. To that end, I must continue to study what the "way" can teach me, what has been handed down for ages. It is a never ending path. How should I walk it? This is something I need to answer. Also, I do not know how many more years my body will be able to move. I must pass down what I have learned, to express my gratitude, for everything Ueshiba Sensei has done for me. It is my duty to spread Aikido as much as possible. This is why I still practice to this day.

Jordy Delage: What is the Buikukai? It is one of the biggest organizations affiliated to the Aikikai, isn’t it?

Kimura Jiro: People often say that. However, the Buikukai is not a pyramidal structure… What I mean is that there is neither top nor base. It is a federation, which gathers many instructors. My job here is to keep it organized. So I am not at the top of the pyramid like Kobayashi Sensei used to be. I administrate a horizontal structure. The Buikukai is a very large organisation but it is not led by a unique person whose role would be to teach and spread its principles. It does not work like that. Those who studied under Kobayashi Sensei and those who came after collaborated to create this structure known nowadays as Buikukai. I am not the "master" at the top of a pyramid.

Jordy Delage: Is the purpose of the Buikukai to pass on Kobayashi Sensei’s Aikido?

Kimura Jiro: One of its goals is indeed to spread Kobayashi Sensei's Aikido. But we are also indebted to Ueshiba Sensei. The first objective is to diffuse Aikikai Aikido and to grow its base. To achieve that, we use the techniques developed by Kobayashi Sensei. We endeavor to pass down to the next generations all the very precise techniques he taught us. We do not aim, however, to teach a "Kobayashi Style" detached from the Aikikai. What we want is to promote his pedagogy of Aikido and to provide to those who learned it a frame to exchange ideas.

Jordy Delage: What do you want to teach to the next generation?

Kimura Jiro: I thus hope that our group is successfully contributing to the development of Aikido. I think that nowadays, every instructor is confronted to the same problem: the young generation lack interest in budo or sports in general. University clubs remain, but the number of practitioners and sporting events continue to drop. Aikido tries to promote its "self-defense" aspect… But it takes years to master Aikido and nowadays people want immediate results. How can we explain the benefits of a discipline that takes a lifetime of study? All young people want is results. How can we make them understand the deep attraction Aikido has on us? This is, in my opinion, the challenge I, and those at the top, must face now. I have been asked this question many times…

Kimura Jiro teaching (uke: Guillaume Erard) 

Kobayashi Sensei used to spend six months in Europe every year. In other words, he had has many students in Europe as in Japan. Many people studied under him there. Not only in one country, but across the continent. Each of them now follows his own principles. I do not see myself as the heir of Kobayashi Sensei's techniques in Japan, but rather as the successor and the manager of his organization. Since Kobayashi Sensei passed away, I have visited Europe on numerous occasions. Many dojo there are affiliated with the Buikukai. Kobayashi Sensei's former European disciples are now independent. They all followed different paths and it is not always easy to establish relationships. I consider them as "brothers in arms" and I'd like to be able to collaborate more with them. I know however that our paths have diverged...

Guillaume Erard: You came to pay your respect during the Kyoto International Seminar last June. What are your relationships with Christian Tissier Shihan and Miyamoto Tsuruzo Shihan?

Kimura Jiro: It was the Doshu's wish that Tissier Sensei, Miyamoto Sensei and myself receive the 8th dan together. Miyamoto Ssensei is a leading instructor in Japan. Tissier Sensei is very active not only in France but also in Europe. They both are at the forefront of Aikido and their Aikido record is a perfect example of the way to follow. My position is however different. If Aikido is a pyramidal structure, then I work at its base, somehow. I think that my role is to lay the asphalt in order to facilitate the journey. I try to teach Aikido to children, to women and to the elderly; I try to nurture the base...

Miyamoto Sensei teaching during Aikido Kyoto's 15th anniversary seminar (uke: Guillaume Erard) 

Tissier Sensei and Miyamoto Sensei both have an amazing technique and are in a position to diffuse further the essence of Aikido. Me, I just want to strengthen and broaden the base, if I may say so. This is my dearest wish. I think that fate has a plan for each of us and I am totally fine with it. As I said, those two sensei are technically extremely competent, and I am glad I had the opportunity to receive my 8th dan with them. I thank them with all my heart. I actually meet them regularly. They are truly amazing, and their techniques continue to inspire me to this day.

Christian Tissier, Miyamoto Tsuruzo & Kimura Jiro - 8th dan promotion at the Kagamibiraki 2016

Jordy Delage: It is said that Kobayashi Sensei was enrolled in the army during World War 2 at the age of 15, and that he had very difficult experiences. How do you think this military experience influenced his interpretation of O Sensei’s Aikido?

Kimura Jiro: Kobayashi Sensei did not really talk about his war experience, so I do not know much about it. All I know is that he was introduced by someone to Ueshiba Morihei Sensei just after the war. I did not want to ask him questions about the war, so I really do not know if what people say about it is authentic or not. For most people during the war, and unlike us nowadays, their only concern was to survive that difficult time. Anyway, I think that Kobayashi Sensei was happy; he met someone, a model he could follow all is life and he managed to make Aikido his main job during all those years. He met an incredible man who gave him the motivation to choose his path… I think he found happiness in all that. War was a very chaotic period. My parents told me that they suffered a lot. They had almost nothing to eat… Kobayashi Sensei lived through those troubled times, met O Sensei and found a life-long pursuit... Yes I think he was happy.

Guillaume Erard: What kind of person was Kobayashi Hirokazu Sensei?

Kimura Jiro: As a human being, he was very intimidating. He was like one of those budoka from the past. He was a very strict person. How can I say this… Whenever he entered a room, the atmosphere would change completely. I can't claim to have that effect. A lot of the old sensei had that sort of aura. Their bodies emitted that sort of energy, that dignity. For me, that's what true budoka felt like. Their bodies looked like they radiated energy and power. On a technical standpoint, even though what he did was not showy like what you see in Hong Kong movies, when he threw you, you could well end up two meters away. His technique had strong absorption followed by throws. His techniques were like strong waves crashing on a harbor. He put most of his power when absorbing. So it went like "BAM!" and you were thrown two meters backwards. One day, YabuuchiYabuuchi Hirotoshi, 7th dan Aikido Osaka Buikukai told me: "His technique must be terribly efficient". He used to do Karate so he went and threw a punch at Kobayashi Sensei. We had no idea what happened, but he got thrown straight up in the air and then crashed right there. We thought: "Wow, he's really strong". He knew a lot and had a lot of experience.

Guillaume Erard: He spent about nine years in Tokyo. Was he an uchi deshi at any point?

Kimura Jiro: I don't know whether he was an uchi deshi or not. Kobayashi Sensei was a lacquer craftsman. This is a side note but, I once spoke in private to Tada Sensei at the Nippon Budokan for 20 minutes or so and he said: Kobayashi-kun used urushiUrushi (漆) is the lacquer from tree sap that is used by Japanese craftsmen. In most individuals, urushiol causes an allergic skin rash on contact. right? When we trained together, he must have had rashes! Sensei was OK so he said that he was alright. He practiced [in Tokyo] while also working at same time. It seems that he often went with the founder, almost every day, but I don't know what exact status he had as an apprentice.

Guillaume Erard: I believe Kobayashi Sensei met André Nocquet while he stayed as an uchi deshi at Hombu. They maintained contact until the end. Were they close friends?

Kimura Jiro: Yeah, I guess they were close at Hombu. I think that they separated a bit when he returned to France. Initially, I think they trained quite a lot together. I visited several times Nocquet Sensei's group in Europe after Kobayashi passed away, but I heard that there are several organizations in France. Therefore, it is Yokota Sensei of the Tokyo headquarters is now going to the Nocquet group in the UK.

Kobayashi Hirokazu awarding the 7th dan from his own organization, the Aikido Osaka Hombu to André Nocquet on July 6, 1973. 

Guillaume Erard: The group led by John Emmerson, right?

Kimura Jiro: Yes.

Guillaume Erard: I used to attend his seminars as a child.

Kimura Jiro: Is that so? The Nocquet group is a fairly large organization. That's why I thought that Kobayashi was getting along with Nocquet in the beginning, but I don't know about it in detail.

Kimura Jiro and his students in Belgium, with John Emmerson, Claude Cébille, Jacques Mosbeux et Michel Desroches. 

Jordy Delage: Did Kobayashi Sensei talk about how he perceived O Sensei?

Kimura Jiro: O Sensei seems to have had something about him that greatly attracted people. It seems he was the sort of person that you would follow for the rest of your life. Many people were dedicating their lives to following him and calling him "great teacher". I think that Kobayashi was one of those. It seems that there was something that strongly attracted people. And in turn, Kobayashi was really attracted to the founder, from the heart.

Kobayashi Hirokazu with O Sensei and his wife. 

Guillaume Erard: Did Kobayashi Sensei practice in Iwama?

Kimura Jiro: This is often said about him, but I don't think there was any exchange at all. Every year Kobayashi went to Iwama for the Aiki Taisai and even after  passed away, we continue to attend the event. However, I don't know whether there was any cooperation. Saito Sensei had his own unique form of weapons. Kobayashi's weapons form was a bit different. I am not quite sure what form it was, but it was a bit different. Kobayashi was certainly also high-ranking in kendo, so his sword movements were extremely sharp and fast. Once, when I practiced with Saito Sensei, I was really surprised by the pressure he applied. I was subdued, but without any clashing of the blades. There was a truly amazing pressure, but it was different from what I felt with Kobayashi. I don't understand it that well myself.

Jordy Delage: Was the ken very important to Kobayashi Sensei?

Kimura Jiro: In Europe, he made his students practice a lot the ken and the jo, so I think that compared to his Japanese disciples, they practiced it more. His kiri kaeshi had amazing speed. He did a lot of left and right cutting practice by himself in front of the mirror. That made him really fast. I suspect he was trying to take the center line with his sword. But I was too young to understand it at that time because he was so much more advanced than me. I don't know where his attention on the center was when he was doing this, but it is certain that he was doing it. He was emphasizing this.

Guillaume Erard: We know that Kobayashi Sensei was acquainted with Hisa Takuma. How did they meet?

Kimura Jiro: He didn't talk about it often. The story goes that Hisa Sensei was quite elderly and that Kobayashi was still young. Hisa liked him. There was a big university in Osaka called Momoyama Gakuin Daigaku. Hisa Sensei had established an Aikido club there. The first captain was Kobayashi Kiyohiro Sensei. It was the Kobayashi Sensei who is now the General Secretary of the Daito-ryu Takumakai. At that time, Hisa Sensei said: "Kobayashi [Hirokazu]-kun, since I'm old, please take care of Momoyama." That's why Kobayashi Kiyohiro Sensei and Kawabe Takeshi Sensei from the Takumakai also learned Aikido at Momoyama University from Kobayashi [Hirokazu], in addition to learning Daito-ryu [with Hisa].

Kobayashi Kiyohiro (left) and Kobayashi Hirokazu (right) in front of the Momoyama Gakuin University Aikido Club sign 

Guillaume Erard: Did Kobayashi Sensei formally learn Daito-ryu from Hisa Sensei?

Kimura Jiro: Rather than learning from him, he must have seen some techniques and used them as reference. For example, on nikyo, he would do it like this, not like that. I think that these are hints that he got things from him, like how to connect to your opponent. I myself also shared a lot with Kawabe Sensei from Daito-ryu when we did demonstrations together. The wonderful hand movements are a great inspiration. I don't know of any formal connection, but I got some hints about it.

Demonstration in Osaka. Kimura Jiro and Kawabe Takeshi (second and third from left, respectively) 

Guillaume Erard: Was Kobayashi Sensei ever involved with the Kansai Aikido ClubUnlike its name suggests, the Kansai Aikido Club was actually a Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu dojo. It was established in Osaka in 1959 by Hisa Takuma.?

Kimura Jiro: The Daito-ryu club?

Guillaume Erard: Yes, the Daito-ryu club.

Kimura Jiro: Kobayashi often used to go to the demonstrations, as a representative of the Buikukai organization, so I think there was a connection.

Guillaume Erard: André Cognard, who was a student of Kobayashi Hirokazu claims that he was a chief instructor of Daito-ryu in the Kansai, and that he was a shihanThe piece in which this claim was made is available on Aikido Journal.. 

Kimura Jiro: Though I haven't heard anything formally, my impression is that there seemed to be some form remaining in the technique that I saw. I think that Kobayashi's form was his own though. Although I think that it was picked up rather than learned formally, I don't know whether Hisa Sensei taught him separately. I made this assumption myself, judging on what I saw, but I don't know if it's true.

Members of the Kansai Aikido Club surrounding Hisa Takuma 

Guillaume Erard: So there is no evidence to support that claim, right?

Kimura Jiro: No, there is none. Regarding the fact that he might have been invited by Hisa Sensei as a guest teacher, I never heard anything about this from Hisa Sensei's old students. So I don't think it's trueFor more information on this, my response to Mr Cognard regarding the lack of evidence surrounding his claims is also available on Aikido Journal..

Guillaume Erard: What is your relationship with the Takumakai these days?

Kimura Jiro: The Takumakai is a big Daito-ryu group. I think that Mori SenseiMori Hakaru (森 恕) is the somucho of the Takumakai is building a strong organization and I think it has now been recognized as a non-profit foundation. There are a lot of students in the Kansai area. Kobayashi Kiyohiro Sensei and Kawabe Sensei learned from my master Kobayashi, so I could see many things at various Daito-ryu demonstrations. I was able to see meaningful things immediately and add them as a plus in my Aikido. I'm happy about that. Although I have little experience with Kobayashi Kiyohiro Sensei, there are similarities between his and Kawabe Sensei's techniques, and Kawabe Sensei's technique is the one I know better. Outside Aikido, the technique of those teachers is what I like best. They are wonderful people.

Kobayashi Kiyohiro with Guillaume Erard 

Guillaume Erard: I don’t know whether it’s due to the proximity with all those people, but your Aikido is quite interesting, for sure.

Kimura Jiro: Now we don't have enough time for anything. Things just aren't like they used to be. I'm really happy that you're interested in my techniques. But my basic techniques are... How should I put it? Well, put simply, they're crude. Crude meaning that they are not very graceful. These are forms, techniques that I've worked on all throughout my training. There is no way to improve your kata other than repetition. Taking any breaks will affect your technique. Your kata won't be good anymore after a year-long break, for example. The real difficulty is in the practice. I really think it's curious that people are interested in my techniques.

Kimura Jiro and Guillaume Erard in Osaka 

Jordy Delage: What are the particularities of Kobayashi Sensei’s Aikido?

Kimura Jiro: Since you also practice Aikido I am sure you already know about this… In Aikido you defeat your opponent using both vertical and horizontal movements. When you use horizontal moves, you either want to "suck your opponent in" or try to read his intentions and enter in his space accordingly. When using vertical motions, you either want to pull your opponent's power down or try to break his balance. Kobayashi Sensei liked horizontal techniques quite a lot, especially the "sucking the opponent in" ones. He was very good at it and used it a lot. He was also using tsugi-ashiTsugi-ashi (次足) is the act of bring the back leg under one's center after a forward motions a lot. You know, when the front foot leap forward and is immediately followed by the back one...

Kimura Jiro taking ukemi for Kobayashi Hirokazu 

Jordy Delage: Like in kendo...

Kimura Jiro: That’s right. Like when they hit men with the feet chasing each other… The hakama is hiding our feet, right? It hides the stance's width. When he was young, his stance's width was quite wide, but later on, it became very narrow. He could leap in or retreat, the second foot was never far behind. Kobayashi Sensei's retreating moves were especially strong. He was also good at shifting from nikyo to kotegaeshi and vice versa. Or from sankyo to kotegaeshi… This kind of techniques… Even from yonkyo, he would go to this kotegaeshi.

This rotation was also very characteristic of his style. Those techniques require however a huge amount of training and refinement. I am sure he trained a lot to acquire this combination of strength and suppleness. Suppleness only is not enough… You wouldn't be able to move a big and strong foreigner. You need power, and therefore tanren practice, as well. In Daito-ryu there are techniques where one keeps sticking to the opponent. I think he was using some of them as well, actually. I myself use this side and this side of my arm to stick to my opponent… There are many techniques like that. You don't want to lose contact... You stick to the opponent and twist your body around. I personally use this knee as a pivot for my body. But Kobayashi Sensei was very fluid; like this… That really characterized him: he wasn't taking shortcuts using his hands only. Footwork was the essence, tsugi-ashi...

Jordy Delage: What about kaeshi-waza?

Kimura Jiro: He liked it very much. As you know, kaeshi-wazaKaeshi-waza (返し技) are counter techniques where one reverses the opponent's technique, to their advantage. are very difficult techniques to master. Succeeding in countering the technique of an experienced practitioner is the hardest thing. Yet, if you can read your opponent's strength and use fluid moves to counter it… He loved this kind of techniques and used them a lot.

Jordy Delage: I heard that he was also doing those techniques from a seated position, with his toes laying flat...

Kimura Jiro: The question here is: do you sit on your toes or not. I personally do. Kobayashi Sensei did not. And still he could apply all his techniques. I think he could do it because his absorption power was very strong. Unskilled people would be pulling with their arms only, but Kobayashi Sensei wasn't. He was using his elbows and shoulders as pivots. He was indeed using the power of his hara, not just his arms… Therefore, being on his toes or not wasn't a problem: he would have pinned you down before that stage anyway…

Jordy Delage: Did Kobayashi Sensei learn Aiki shin taiso, and did he teach them?

Kimura Jiro: That's a good question. As you know, with Aikido we do torifune from right to left, no, left to right. Kobayashi was doing it there as well. He spoke about loosening up the body and generally doing things in the set order. I've never really asked about it myself. The traditional way of doing it is a lot of tapping, knocking and bending over and stretching completely. Honestly, I'm not sure if it has any real meaning. Done completely, the entire process takes about 30 minutes. It takes a pretty long time. We don't dedicate as much time here currently but I'd love to see how it's thought of and done in Europe.

Jordy Delage: Yes, in Europe, those taiso can take up to 30 minutes.

Kimura Jiro: That makes sense. Training is done in one-hour sessions nowadays in Japan. And I think it's best to do these warm ups even if it's just for health reasons for ten to thirty minutes. Assuming that we're training at an Aikido classroom - excuse me - dojo, I believe these warm ups are like misogi. Every practitioner should do it regularly and often. And it should be maintained.

Guillaume Erard: Those exercises might not have needed to be taught explicitly since the old generation of budoka would have learned them at school, and done them individually before starting practice.

Kimura Jiro: I agree with that statement. Before you even began training you would need to walk into the dojo, bow, and clean. After finishing all that, that's when you'd consider warming up or doing our modern stretches. Then, when the teacher would arrive, you'd greet them sitting properly. These are our martial arts traditions. The proper way of doing things.

Guillaume Erard: How were the relationships with other Aikido circles in Osaka at the time?

Kimura Jiro: Back in those days, Tanaka Bansen Sensei, Abe Seiseki Sensei and Kobayashi Sensei were very influential in the Kansai area. Tanaka Sensei passed away, but his foundation, the Osaka Aikikai, is still powerful nowadays. Houn Sensei, the son of Abe Sensei, succeeded his father and is now working hard to spread his own style. The Buikukai evolved into a federation after the death of Kobayashi Sensei but it has now a very large membership. It is probably second in number after the Osaka Aikikai. People used to say: "Because the Aikikai, Abe Sensei and the Buikukai are in bad terms they will never be able to create a federation in Osaka, never!" Well, we talked about it and were able to create it right away! We all thought that old quarrels were water under the bridge then. We knew it was time to unite and support Ueshiba Sensei. There haven't been any problems sinceThe current president of the Osaka Aikido Federation is Shimamoto Katsuyuki, 8th dan..

Jordy Delage: What is the origin of the name Buikukai? Is it from Kobayashi Sensei himself?

Kimura Jiro: Not at all! Buikukai is a contraction of Buiku Center and Yudansha-kai. So we officially called it Buikukai. Behind the place where you stayed last night in Tennoji, was a big sports and martial art center. The dojo was called Osaka Buiku center. The Aikido black belt committee took the the name of the dojo and made up Buikukai and started to use it in Tokyo during dan examinations. There is thus no special meaning to it.

Jordy Delage: During demonstrations, do you show genuine Aikido or do you show something somewhat different depending on the audience?

Kimura Jiro: Sorry, I might be evading the question. What do you think? How do you see it? That is my answer. Am I doing my true Aikido or am I not? I let you judge. We trained together during the past two days… Don't you think that my techniques were somehow different from what I do during demonstrations?

Kimura Jiro teaching in Osaka (uke: Guillaume Erard) 

For two or three minutes, you must be ready to show your personality and your Aikido. A demonstration is not a performance. It is often misunderstood. Those are two different things. This isn't an act. Every single instant of it must be real, powerful, with zanshin. Of course there may be moments were you relax a bit, but still… A demonstration allows me to express the Aikido I've mastered so far and the Aikido I am now working on. I want to show that I am alive thanks to Aikido. I have done a lot of demonstrations. Yet I feel that the Budokan is a special place. There, I always have the jitters… I normally do not feel "stage fright", but I am always nervous at the Budokan, for some reason. I admire the Doshu who always seems unaffected by the atmosphere. Well, everybody is different!

Kimura Sensei demonstrating during the 57th All Japan (2019)

I consider the Budokan a sacred place and doing demonstration there must be an expression of gratitude. I do not know if other people have the same reasoning, but I try to use those minutes to show who I am and how Aikido makes me alive. I do not know if I look good, but I sure give all I have when I do a demonstration.

Jordy Delage : People's expectations certainly increase when you reach 8 dan...

Kimura Jiro: Indeed

Jordy Delage : High-ranking sensei must feel a lot of pressure...

Kimura Jiro: Naturally. In my opinion, the simplest techniques are the best to demonstrate. Because the most effective martial art techniques are always the simplest ones. For example in Aikido, ikkyo or irimi. Stuff like kotegaeshi, etc. are actually quite difficult. Pinning down techniques are simple and very effective. Eighth dan sensei generally focus on a particular aspect of Aikido during their demonstrations. I think that Takenaka Sensei and me make a good contrast. Takenaka Sensei endeavors to express his style.

Takenaka Hideo at the 57th All Japan Aikido Demonstration 2019

Guillaume Erard: Takenaka from Kyoto?

Kimura Jiro: No, the Takenaka from Wakayama. This year, I did my demonstration at the same time as Takenaka Sensei, but I also wanted to express my personality through my concept of "instantaneous contact", where one must not only react but engage the opponent and lead him to attack or grab the way he wants. This is something that is also connected to my way of life. I am not interested in performance. I am afraid of failing, of course, but at the same time I like to do demonstrations. In any case, it is not about performance but how you express your true self… How do people see my demonstrations? This not something for me to say. On the contrary, this is something for me to ask.

Guillaume Erard: I was really surprised to see so many youths, especially girls in your dojo. As you mentioned before, that sort of demographic is getting quite rare in Aikido. Do you do anything particular to attract the youth?

Kimura Jiro: It is probably a coincidence. The thing is, I consider women and men equally. I don't alter my teaching because she is a woman or he is a child… The most important in martial arts is enthusiasm and devotion, in my opinion. I don't accept comments such as "I am strong, I don't wanna train with a girl". I instead gladly welcome people who show enthusiasm and understanding.

Guillaume Erard with the students of the Osaka Buikukai 

Needless to say, I deeply respect Okamoto Yoko Sensei, because she is having amazing results as a female instructor. There are very few professional Japanese  women. I wish the girls who come to my Dojo now have a successful Aikido life like Okamoto Sensei. Yes, I really admire Okamoto Sensei. Despite her position, everybody loves her, and she has reached a very high position. I think she is amazing.

Anyway… I am not exactly sure why there are so many young people in the Buikukai, but when I think about its future, that makes me very happy. Seniors can of course enjoy Aikido as well but there would be no future without children. So I am very thankful. Again, I don't know why they are so many but anyway, I treat everybody equally. My students face me with enthusiasm, even frail women; they all practice very seriously. They are great! Anyway, to answer your question in short, I think it is just a coincidence…

Guillaume Erard with the students of the Osaka Buikukai 

Jordy Delage: Don’t you think that it’s because of your way of teaching, the way you connect people?

Kimura Jiro: I hope it is the case… Teachers must be impeccable and the 8th dan even more. They must become a model. When you get older you tend to "enforce" your own views; that must be annoying for younger practitioners… Martial arts must be severe nevertheless. Discipline is necessary. Hierarchical relationships also. The way we address each other is also important. Power harassment has become a social issue nowadays. In the past, teachers tended to be very harsh, like: You bunch of idiots suck!, etc. We now call that "power harassment". Personally, I don't think harassing people is a good method but one must be strict while showing empathy.

Jordy Delage: In Tokyo people are quite cold...

Kimura Jiro: Come on, you are exaggerating a bit! [laughs] When I meet them they are quite friendly. But the way people talk in Tokyo may feel a bit colder indeed I find them all very kind in fact. In Osaka, the tone of language can be different… Tokyo people are probably just as surprised when they come here.

Jordy Delage: French people get along better with Osaka people...

Kimura Jiro: It seems so! In any case, I am very glad that you came here to train with me. I am also glad that my students could practice with high-ranking foreigners like you. Thank you very much for training with them.

Jordy Delage training with the students of the Osaka Buikukai 

Jordy Delage: Would you like to say something in particular to our readers?

Kimura Jiro : I met many people thanks to Aikido. Thanks to Aikido, I could go abroad and make many friends. And because of that..., no, sorry "that" is a disrespectful way of saying it. Thanks to Aikido, I was able to meet you. Aikido is part of my life. I don't know how many years I have left, but I intend to do Aikido until the day I die. I hope I answered your questions accurately. Forgive me if I did not.

Jordy Delage: Do you have any advice for future generations regarding their personal and martial life?

Kimura Jiro : Aikido is a subtle martial art, with no end goal to it. We Japanese see it as a "Way". It is up to each practitioner to discover its attraction and find how to keep progressing. Whatever happens on the way, this path is endless. It is long and thin, I used to say. Now I say: "continue as long as you can, whatever may happen". "You can take a break if you need but come back later and continue as long as you can." You will find wonderful things in Aikido. Many times… You will find yourself thinking: "I am glad to have Aikido in my life". I cannot give you all the keys… All I can say is: "please keep on training".