Brief History of Aikido: Part 6 - Present

Nev Sagiba

Nev Sagiba

“Sagiba Sensei once said: “The Essence of Aikido cannot be bought or sold. It can only be discovered by each individual through their own personal journey. Through regular practice. You already contain It and It awaits for you to unlock Its magnificent potential. I don't ‘teach’ as such. I simply make available an environment whereby, through regular practice, you discover yourself by your own integrated endeavour. And with the mutual assistance and respect of your fellow trainees. I serve the dojo by maintaining safety. I may guide, but no more than necessary. You unlock your own understanding, light, wisdom and potential. The techniques cannot be traded, patented or made exclusive. They are universal keys that unlock cosmic consciousness and are for everyone. They are but means. The techniques are not Aikido. They are working tools on the Way to discovering Aikido. Anyone taking up the courage to embark on a path of personal awakening should be given every means to help them on their quest. 'Training fees' are not for the training, nor the techniques. These are free. We don’t ‘sell tricks’. The fees merely contribute toward the upkeep and running of the of the dojo. The unlearning of the crap and conceptual clutter that gets in the way of letting you be who you truly are and live a fulfilled life, is the imperative! And not the further crippling collection of opinions, ideas, habits, 'styles', forms, rote, dogma and superstition that have only harmed humanity throughout the ages. At our core, we all already know what is right, good, wholesome and true. It requires no further ‘teaching’. Let us grow, discover and co-create together without the pathologies of ideological bullying, political manipulation or any form of infringement whatsoever. For these are the dark side of ki which only destroy life. The world has had enough of self righteous insanity and it has duly proven not to work. Let’s try something else. Something that will prepare us for the new paradigm of navigating successfully in the grand ocean of Universal Life as a Humanity. Let us journey together and unlock the immense innate potential that exists when we become saturated with the principles of Harmony. And then put that into practice in daily life.”

CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN

1970 came and a youthful Nev aged 19 could wait no longer. He packed a bag, a few dollars and hitch-hiked from Port Douglas, then a two pub small town in North Queensland, to Sydney N.S.W., where the only immediately available job was working evenings in a restaurant! This timing conflicted with training time, as the Aikido classes that Mr. Sugano was conducting were in the evenings. Nev soon found a way to change jobs and got on with the business he had come to Sydney for. The learning of Aikido. That first year proved a turning point in his life and he got to every class possible.

During the two years or so which followed, working rough on a fishing boat in the Torres Straits Islands, surviving intense dangers in the ocean and on the land, he was sometimes forced to 'field test' the practical principles of Aikido to survive life and death situations. This sojourn proved of immense value.

He then decided to return to Sydney and pursue Aikido training full time. In those days that meant after work. The few, all too short years which followed were a treasured time which passed too quickly. It would be many years of dynamic experience in life situations that would gradually unlock the fruit of previous training.

Necessity saw Nev having to travel in connection with work and in the 80's Mr. Sugano left Australia. Change had happened. More change was to happen. And in time even more change... 'Things' always do...

In 1984, after a ten year career in the NSW Fire Brigades, Nev moved to the Blue Mountains hoping to recover failing health engendered by years of toxic smoke inhalation and other job related injuries. At age 33 he was so ill that he believed it would not be possible to train again. But then he decided that if he was to die young, he might as well do it doing what he loved most. Here he sought to find if Aikido classes existed in western NSW, but he soon found they did not.

He put an ad in the local paper, "One person wanted to practice Aikido..."

Instead, several people came. None had practiced Aikido before. They wanted to learn. He was thankful for an opportunity to continue to practice, but before he could train, he had to pass on what he knew. And so he shared what little he could. This too, was to become a part of training. Do what you know and the universe will show you the rest. In other words, empty your cup so it can be filled again and... practice! The discipline of training within his limits, selective nutrition and careful management of the old work injuries, proved a very gradual rehabilitation.

From this modest and unexpected beginning there slowly emerged and grew the very first Blue Mountains Aikido school, the Aikido-Way of the Peaceful Warrior dojo.

And the firm foundation laid out from the beginning was to uphold many years of gradual but certain progress which continues to this day. (SEE 'US IN CLASS'>>