Last week, a friend of mine who owns a local dojo, hosted Sensei Leo Tamaki, the founder and head of the Kishinkai School, for an intensive seminar of Aikido. Kishinkai is a modern school of Japanese Martial Arts that takes a pragmatic approach to combat, incorporating both weapons and open-handed techniques in a way that sets it apart from more traditional styles.
I’ve learned bits and pieces of the style from my friend and founder of the Hanoi branch, Clement Martin, over the past few years and have met his teacher before. So when I heard Sensei Tamaki was coming for a seminar I realized it would be a great chance to learn with a high level master. The seminar ran for a week, with morning and afternoon sessions each day, providing ample opportunity to delve deep into the art (although I could only attend several of these).
Sensei Tamaki is obviously a very skilled martial artist to be able to make a living touring the world teaching and his expertise was evident throughout the seminar. His teaching style is direct and no-nonsense, focusing on practical applications rather than relying on perceived mystical powers and ancient secrets, which are often espoused in Aikido. I also appreciated his systematic and logical approach of breaking down complex techniques into digestible components.
We spent a significant portion of our time working with the Jo (short staff) and Ken (wooden sword). These weapons sessions weren’t just about learning specific techniques, but about understanding core principles that apply across all aspects of Japanese martial arts. One concept that stood out was the idea of projecting strikes quickly by disassociating the movement of the limb (or weapon) from the rest of the body. While this naturally reduces power, it also assists the striker in not telegraphing their intentions—a skill that I think will prove useful in sparring situations, when throwing a jab for example.
Another focus of the seminar was on applying Aikido principles in realistic scenarios. Instead of the static, cooperative training often associated with the style, we practiced defending against dynamic attacks like punches, kicks, and tackles. This approach highlighted how the control of space—a fundamental concept—can be used not just for traditional locks and throws, but also to create openings for counterattacks. You can see Sensei Tamaki explaining more about this in the video below, where he was invited to spar with famous YouTube Karate master and martial arts influencer Jesse Enkamp (aka the Karate Nerd).
The seminar also shed new light on the rolls and falls that are so iconic in Aikido. Rather than mere performance or demonstration tools, Sensei Tamaki emphasized their practical use as evasion and escape techniques. We spent time drilling these movements from various positions, learning how to safely disengage from an attacker and regain an advantageous position.
All in all, the seminar was an enlightening experience that helped clarify many aspects of Aikido that are often misunderstood or misrepresented. The practical focus and rigorous training certainly challenged my preconceptions about the art. That said, I’m still not fully convinced that Aikido alone is a hugely effective fighting style for self-defense situations. However, in my opinion, its techniques certainly have value when integrated into a broader martial arts skillset and practitioners are exposed to both contact sparring and fully-resisting opponents.
However, it’s important to remember that for many practitioners of Japanese martial arts, combat effectiveness is secondary to the pursuit of personal growth, mental discipline, and physical well-being. If pure fighting ability were the sole goal, more people would gravitate towards MMA or military systems.
Reflecting on the seminar, I’m grateful for the opportunity to have learned from such a respected master. The experience has deepened my appreciation for the art and provided new perspectives that will certainly influence my future training. While I doubt I will ever study Aikido as my primary martial art (the style I currently practice just suits my needs better), I believe variation and open-mindedness are key to ongoing development in martial arts and I look forward to exploring more in the years to come!
