Aikido
intro
I only wish to tell how I started and what has been the path that after 30 years still brings me on the “tatami” (training mattress, for non aikidoists).
All begins in Rome, January 1976, when I was fourteen years old at my first year of secondary school. My P.E. teacher from the earlier school had dearly recommended to me to finish secondary school and enrol to the ISEF (Italian P.E. University), because he believed I was particularly able in his subject. In the mean time, for months I asked my parents to help me look for a Gymnastics school, but at that time there were none around where I lived. One day my oldest brother Piergiorgio told me that he had heard very good things about Aikido, and he believed that it was very suited for me.
My first reaction was that of disgust…I did not know anything about Aikido and in my imagery it was a place crowded with many Bruce Lee-to-be. However he insisted for me to go with him to see a lesson. The “Scuola Centrale” was in the most suited place ever for a Dojo, Via Eleniana 2. For whom did not have the chance to ever train or in that dojo or at least visit it, should imagine it in the historical centre of Rome, virtually isolated from the Roman traffic and chaos by the surrounding Aurelian Walls, with a tatami of 300mq. It was definitely a bit of a run down building but it surely kept its charm.
My clearest memory from that day is meeting the teacher, Hosokawa Sensei on the doorsteps of the Dojo, and my brother’s question to him: “Is Aikido suitable for a fourteen years old boy” which he answered with a seventy-teeth-smile “sci, sci” (yesh yesh!). That’s when my adventure started.
Still today when I smell a brand new keikogi, when they are still yellowish, my memory goes back in a flash to those days. I trained intensively, as it often happens to many in the beginning, nearly with an addiction, and I remember that when I could not go because I needed to study, I felt as if I was missing out on a big opportunity.
The “Scuola Centrale” gave me the great opportunity to meet many people, including my wife Velia, who were generally older then me. I met lots of people during seminars around Italy and later around the world as a teacher. However nowadays when I look around there are fewer and fewer people older then me…I wonder why?
The great merit of Aikido I believe is that to bring people closer, however my wife might disagree on this because I am often away going around the world, indeed she is extremely patient and understanding.