shi wa deshi nari, deshi wa ni nari

Gordie Sensei recently wrote an article "Who's the Teacher? Who's the Student?" as a following piece to Ando Sensei's July 2009 newsletter Yoshinkan Aikido Ryu. In it he noted Ando Sensei quoted Shioda Sensei as frequently using the proverb 'shi wa deshi nari, deshi wa ni nari' or 'The teacher becomes the student; the student becomes the teacher.' Ando indicated that Shioda often told his students, "You must become teachers!"

This brought back wonderful memories of my time staying with Fred Haynes Sensei and his family and training for my San Dan (3rd Degree) exam in Georgetown, Ontario. Fred Sensei noted his job is to share the art and train people to become teachers.

A lineage or passing of tradition from O'Sensei to Shioda Sensei, Ando Sensei and Fred Sensei has been passed and onto the instructors at the Shuharikan and continues with us sharing the art and training people to become teachers.

The May 1999 edition of Utne included an article titled "The 20th Century: What's Worth Saving?" listed Aikido as one to take into the 21st century.
Another highlight was in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, where the security chief, Tasha Yar (played by Denise Crosby), gave an exhibition of the "ancient Earth art called Aikido." This in the 24th century! I hope this story becomes reality.

I owe a great deal to my Aikido Sensei (teachers); the first being Kris Nelson and then Kathy and Alvin McClure, and in the last 15 years, Alistair Thompson, Fred Haynes and Jim Stewart, as they've all helped me start and continue my training.
The Shuharikan is proud to continue the tradition and has promoted multiple individuals to Black Belt and Instructor rankings.

I will always be a student of the art and will continue my training and have the opportunity, responsibility and privilege of teaching and sharing the art with those who will carry on the tradition.

A wonderful friend and mentor, Mary Texer, shared with me an insightful article by Chris Luebkeman, Director of the Foresight and Innovation Group at Arup Group, which perfectly captures the idea of tradition and lineage.

He said, "'A hundred years after we're gone and forgotten, those who have never heard of us will be living with the results of our actions.' It is extremely important for us to remember...that we decisions every day that are going to impact so many others."