Losing A Dojo

By Charles Aarons, Aikido Takayama

In every teacher's career, there comes a time when the dojo must close. Sometimes it is only on a temporary basis, and sometimes it is forever. It can occur when you're too old to pass the torch with no one there to take it. It can occur from forces beyond your control like fire, flood, earthquake and other natural catastrophes.

For those unlucky enough to own a building, the worst scenario is when the landlord announces without warning that your precious place of training has been rented out from under your feet to a catering establishment. And such is our case now.

Without preamble, and during our Monday night class, we were told in a very straightforward manner to be out by month's end. To say that it put a damper on the classes would be an understatement.

We have had our beautiful dojo for over two years: the last in a line of many, many moves from recreation centers, old schools, gyms, basements of stores and some to terrible to remember.

I as well as Norine and all of our students, put heart and soul into transforming a dirty restaurant in the basement of a heritage building into Aikido Takayama. Lots of paint, hammering, wood cuts, mat costs, insurance, light fixtures, unforeseen events and more. Much was done without asking; much was donated and all was done from the goodness of the hearts of the participants.

Now, with winter coming on, children's testing at month's end, adult tests in December (how that's going to occur is anyone's guess), we find ourselves ready to look for a new place. Our dojo is very small and in a remote community east of Vancouver. Yet rent for business space is absurdly high.

Aikido teaches us patience. It teaches us acceptance of what is. Chiba Sensei once asked in a seminar in Portland "What is the meaning of ukemi?" No one answered with that Sensei was looking for. He said: "Ukemi is being prepared for the unknown at any moment."

Well, this is ukemi for our dojo. We must not complain. We must be thankful for the time we had, and we must go forth with certainty that we will find a new place to train within thirty days. We must adapt instantly to what is in front of us, and use "what, where and why."

Charles Aarons is Chief Instructor at Aikido Takayama in Mission, BC.

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