 |
 |
| MI
Magazine Chats with Sensei Mustard |
| In
this exclusive interview, MI Magazine
had the privilege to speak to
Sensei Robert Mustard on his recent
visit to Australia, where he held
a seminar at Sensei Thamubu's
Melbourne dojo. In between his
busy schedule he took time out
to answer a few questions and
share some of his knowledge with
our readers. |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
| MI:
Sensei Mustard thank you for taking the time
to talk with MI Magazine. Can I begin buy
asking your age and rank? |
|
| I
am forty-eight years old and I am a rokudan
(6th Dan) |
|
| MI:
What brings you to Australia? |
|
| Sensei
Mustard: I was invited by Joe Thambu Sensei
of the Shudokan Dojo in Melbourne to conduct
a gasshuku and have a demonstration in conjunction
with the release of his new Dvd's. |
|
| MI:
How did you become interested in Aikido? |
|
| Sensei
Mustard: In 1977 I travelled to
Ann Arbor, Michigan to do a Kendo demonstration
at a martial arts extravaganza run by
Kushida Takashi Sensei. Kushida Sensei
was the Chief Instructor of Yoshinkan
Aikido at that time and he invited some
Judo, Karate and Kendo teachers to participate
in some demonstrations. At the demonstration,
it was the first time I witnessed Yoshinkan
|
|
 |
| Aikido
and was very impressed by Kushida Sensei's
power & grace. At the demonstration
I was introduced to Kimeda Takeshi Sensei
who was the Chief Instructor of Yoshinkan
Aikido in Canada at the time. To make
a long story short, he invited me to
his dojo, but I wasn't able to attend
his dojo. But one month later, he started
teaching Aikido at the college I was
attending, and I started practising
Yoshinkan Aikido then. After one month,
I knew Yoshinkan Aikido was the martial
art for me, and I have been practising
ever since. |
|
|
| MI:
You have had the fortune of training under
some great instructors, one person I am sure
all our readers know is Yoshinkan founder
Gozo Shioda. Can you give us an insight to
the man and his Aikido? |
|
| Sensei
Mustard: If you understand the Japanese
way, Shioda Kancho Sensei never directly taught
me but I was fortunate to spend time on the
mat with him and was also fortunate to take
his uke many times. His technique was effortless
and incredibly powerful, but more importantly
he genuinely seemed to appreciate the effort
that we were all making to learn the wonderful
martial art he created. |
|
| MI:
Shioda Sensei had some strong views on how
Aikido was changing. Are these changes organizational
or society driven? |
|
| Sensei
Mustard:
I have read some things where
it said Kancho thought it was
becoming more a 'martial dance'.
But to be honest, the best thing
I can say about Kancho's views
is that he said people will always
take the easy way to learn something
… and he said that is why
it is important to always return
to the kihon. If you read the
back flap of Total Aikido, it
says so there. |
|
 |
|
|
|
| MI:
Yoshinkan is commonly described as "hard
Aikido" can you explain to our readers
what is "soft Aikido" and "hard
Aikido"? |
|
Sensei
Mustard:
I
believe people who don't understand Yoshinkan
Aikido describe us as hard because we believe
in strong posture, strong technique and strong
spirit. I've been very fortunate that all
my teachers were incredibly hard in their
training methods, but their techniques were
always powerful and soft and I never felt
their hands. For me 'Hard Aikido' is using
all your muscle power and fighting against
uke, and 'Soft Aikido' is controlling uke
through your posture, and correct application
of the principles of Yoshinkan Aikido, and
not using your muscle power. The Aikido that
I try to do now is that I try my best to put
uke right between the cracks of the tatami,
but they always get up smiling.
|
| MI:
You
participated in the first Aiki Expo,
how do you think it has developed since
your demonstration? |
|
| Sensei
Mustard:
I went to
the First Aiki Expo and to be found
it quite an experience. To be honest
I have not had the opportunity to visit
the other expos, but it seems to be
getting bigger and better. |
|
|
| MI:
How has Aikido changed you as a person? |
|
| Sensei
Mustard:
I
believe that is a question best left to my
students and my teachers. |
|
| MI:
You were the Senior Foreign Instructor at
Yoshinkan Honbu for a number of years, what
was your approach to teaching then? |
|
| Sensei
Mustard:
I was the Senior Foreign Instructor
at the Hombu from 1991-1995. My approach
to teaching was to follow to the best
of my ability the Yoshinkan teaching
syllabus. I felt I had to be the bridge
between the foreigners and the Japanese
training at Hombu when I was there.
|
|
 |
|
| MI:
Where do you see Aikido going in the
years to come? |
|
| Sensei
Mustard: I hope Yoshinkan Aikido
will continue to prosper & grow
and the number of Yoshinkan Aikido dojo's
worldwide will increase. |
|
| MI:
Outside
of Aikido what do you enjoy to do? |
|
| Sensei
Mustard: I
love to spend time with my daughter
and wife. |
|
| MI:
Have
you plans to return to Australia? |
|
| I've
enjoyed Australia very much and
I enjoy teaching at any serious
Aikido dojo anywhere in the world. |
|
| MI:
Thank
you very much for taking time
to talk, we wish you a safe trip
home. |
|
| Sensei
Mustard: My pleasure. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
