By Yuka Noda
Staff Writer
When people learn that the true nature of Aikido is to connect to the life energy around them, it is a stark contrast to the image many have of martial arts.
In order to share this art, English teacher William Brown holds Aikido sessions for students after school. Brown has been taking Aikido for 16 years at the International Yoseikan Budo Federation in Torrance, ever since his first encounter with his Aikido Sensei, Patrick Auge, in 1999.
“I was looking for something, and I was interested in martial arts,” Brown said. “I wanted to say I found the school, but the truth is, the school found me. My teacher found and saved me. A lot of the ways I teach have been influenced by that man.”
Although Aikido is considered a form of martial arts, it also emphasizes the importance of inner peace. Students of Aikido are often taught strength, compassion, and wisdom in their studies.
“Aikido is a pacifistic martial art, which is a paradox,” Mira Costa English teacher and fellow senior Aikido student Alan Zeoli said. “If you have wisdom to understand that it’s not personal, you can avoid reacting in an immature way. It’s all based on the strength in the knowledge that you have the skills to avoid conflict.”
As a senior Aikido student, Brown holds classes for beginners as a part of his training. He started the sessions after the February vacation on Mondays and Wednesdays and now has four students.
According to senior Timothy Shar, he takes the class because Brown is a knowledgeable man and he’s always been interested in martial arts.
“There is no better person to teach me than an expert,” Shar said. “I hope to improve my ability to defend myself because I’ve never formally learned, but also to learn a new culture that is different.”
Their training begins with deep breathing, followed by Ukemi, which is the art of breaking falls and rolling gracefully as to not bring harm to the body. Every week, the students review the basic techniques they have learned as well as attempt to learn new ones.
“Because physical fights are rare, it’s more about a way to approach life,” Zeoli said. “You learn to focus in the moment, to be mindful and aware of what’s going on around you and to respond to obstacles and adversity with solutions.”
Brown’s Aikido classes are offered free of charge to all students who are willing to commit to learning the art of Aikido or for students who are simply looking for a way to improve themselves.
“I’d like for the students to learn to coexist,” Brown said. “The value of school is to learn to coexist, but I’d like to take it one step further. I’d like people to know that we have the responsibility to get better, but to also help others become better.”
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