Aikido master Michiharu Mori says “keyboard warriors” are destroying his traditional martial art.
The Brisbane sensei will close his West End dojo in December after nearly 30 years due to declining student numbers.
The eight-level black belt said aikido was losing popularity due in part to internet commentators who scorned the discipline as a weak and ineffective martial art.
Michiharu Mori says he will hone his art in Japan. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
However, Mr Mori said for him aikido was more about self-mastery and harmony, and less about defeating opponents through strength.
“There are martial arts that represent power, but aikido is not about power,” Mr Mori said.
“For me what is important is not defeating opponents or winning in the ring, but training and improving oneself.
“Aikido is about harmonising with your opponent, and that principle applies in many aspects of life.”
Aikido translates to “the path of harmonious spirit”, and places heavy emphasis on peace and non-aggression.
Unlike other martial arts it lacks “shiai”, or matches where two opponents try to defeat the other.
Mr Mori said he would return to Japan to continue honing his personal style of Australian aikido, Goshu-ryu Aiki Jujutsu.
He plans to visit Australia intermittently in order to teach his techniques, and to try to improve the damaged reputation of aikido.
Carrying on sensei’s legacy
His legacy will be passed on to one of his longest disciples, Lawrence Monforte, who plans to open another Australian aikido dojo in Brisbane.
Lawrence Monforte says he is determined to carry on his sensei’s legacy. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
Mr Monforte said young people these days were more interested in the more aggressive, glamorous styles of fighting practised in mixed martial arts.
He said YouTube boxers such as Logan Paul and Brazilian jujitsu podcasters such as Joe Rogan were typically scornful of less combat-oriented arts such as aikido.
50 years of martial arts
Mr Monforte said more young people were watching exhibition matches on the internet, but fewer people were turning up to the dojos to train.
As a new sensei, Mr Monforte said he hoped to repair the reputational damage caused by “podcast bros”.
“In aikido you’re working with each other to grow in a non-egotistical or, necessarily, competitive way,” Mr Monforte said.
“People always say it’s fake, but you should give it a go and see what you think because it’s not what people expect.”
