From 2007 Paris interview by Sisko Morera for Spanish Budo Magazine

Peter Shapiro

Spanish Budo Magazine (SM): And what do you think about Aikido nowadays, in general, are there any true research (in the world  generally) or are the people just doing gymnastic?

Peter Shapiro Sensei (PS): There is a problem in Aikido, which is that the integration of Aikido with the  spiritual teaching of O Sensei was never done, so there is a separation in terms of practice from the spiritual teachings; the spiritual teachings do not lead the practice, they are kept separate from it.  This reminds me about something Hikitsuchi Sensei used to say: ” True progress in Aikido does not come from concentration on technique, but as the heart opens the technique changes as a result. This cannot happen through making technique the most important thing in your practice. Budo is not technique.”, Opening of heart can be helped through the practice of technique, but there has to be an intent or movement in that direction (opening of the heart) on the part of the practitioner and also the teacher for that to happen.  And It is not able to happen as long as Aikido is practiced dualistically,- that is in terms of succeeding in technique against someone, or over someone, as in the concept of self-defense or in sports.  The Aikido of O Sensei is not done as a reaction to an attack. The seeming attack is called forth, is actually initiated by the tori as an expression of inryoku.  To really explain this it is necessary to demonstrate it with the movements because it seems contradictory or not logical,–but in Aikido it is not that someone attacks and then you do the technique, you enter in advance of the attack, not only physically but spiritually to a point just before the partner or opponent thinks/decides to make the attacking movement, and then the person is led through the move through the activity of ki-no-nagare and the movement/relation of aiki. So that in no case are you doing the move to someone. There is just one movement that happens through the two bodies. Continue reading »