Meeting Henry

After 6 years of training at dojos around the country, I found myself questioning the “Art of Peace”. The way I experienced Aikido classes usually involved pain and fear in the name of blending and harmony. The more I read the Founder’s words, the more confused I became about the practice I was doing. When I discussed my experience with teachers, I was often told that I needed to improve my “ukemi”, and that would allow me to be thrown safely. Though it seemed odd that it was my problem someone else was twisting my arm into my shoulder, I looked for someone who looked like they knew ukemi at every dojo I visited and asked them to show me what they were doing. Though most people had an answer, it was usually vague and disconnected form all the other tips I had gotten. Many just insisted that I keep practicing. Unsatisfied with the answers I had received and suffering from tendonitis in my wrists, I quit.

Two years later, I received a long distance phone call from a good friend who was an Aikido student in Toronto. He said, “you need to see this guy”. Now, I had seen many Aikido “guys” and “gals”, but was still happy to see another. When I met Henry, it was in the restroom where we were changing for class. I didn't realize he was the teacher at the time since I never met a teacher who changed with everyone else. I was quit impressed with his take on the principles of Aikido and what actually happened on the mat. When we walked out into the dojo everyone bowed to him and then I said “you’re the teacher?”

During the class, he threw me in a way which was completely different from everyone else. Now, at that point, I had been thrown by a lot of people. Each time I was thrown I knew that they had taken my balance and threw me to the ground. Some were much more efficient at this than others. With Henry, I felt this hole open up into which I moved into….not fell, but sort of “ended up”. It felt amazing and energizing and I had a huge smile on my face. Even better, after class I asked him about “ukemi” and he explained very specifically what he wanted me to do. It was exactly what I was looking for and it brought me back into the Art. This was in 1996 and he mentioned that he was traveling to Ireland to teach classes and so I said that I'm going to Ireland too.