On 4th May 2006 the Dojo Head Paritos Kar Sensei left for Tokyo, Japan, to train in the Hombu Dojo.

Manisha writes:

A fortnight’s over, a month-and-a-half more to go and we miss him already. That’s how long it will take for Paritos Sensei to return from his two-month long trip to Tokyo, Japan.

Of course, Sensei was as excited about his leaving, as we were not! The reason for his excitement – he intended to practice four sessions per day at the Aikiki Hombu dojo, each session being an hour long. But a recent email mentioned five sessions!!

And while Sensei’s away, everyone, but everyone, is trying his / her best to keep things running as smoothly as possible. The evening classes are being taken alternately by blackbelts Ken, Jean and Taka. Hats-off to them. The morning classes are being taught by our dear Julia. She’s always there for us to fall back on, thank God.

Guess who else is putting in an effort by being more regular? Good ol’ Rana Dutta! (Poor Sensei tried so hard to make this happen in his presence.)

Well, all in all, if students are willing to go out of their way to take classes; if Rana is suddenly more regular; if Yulia and Manisha are trying to keep the dojo free of dust (and intruders) so that Sensei doesn’t faint when he returns, its all because of our love and respect for him. Its because we all know that he’s giving us so much more than we’re giving him, and its not just aikido I’m talking about. Thank you Sensei.

[Our senior dojo member Kenneth Dekleva, a 3rd Dan Black Belt trained under Sensei Bill Sosa, Texas, USA, left New Delhi on 17.05.2006. Below is his letter to us.]

I wanted to share with you and your fellow students how much I have enjoyed training with you in Sensei Kar’s dojo. I felt welcome and I appreciated the strong spirit therein and the good ki extended to me and to each other.

It made for a wonderful learning environment in which to further our knowledge in this beautiful martial art of aikido.

My Sensei – the late Bill Sosa – always told me that we all have an obligation to develop the art of aikido, and to build upon it and make it real and alive. Aikido is a brotherhood and it is also budo. We have an obligation to each other as well as to the martial traditions that O-Sensei left us.

In this light I was also honored to be able to share with you and your dojo training partners some of the practical, ‘street’ aikido techniques bequeathed to me by Sensei Bill Sosa and his son Sensei Ricardo Sosa.

I depart India with wistful feelings, but with joy at having had the opportunity to get to train with you, Sensei Kar, and the other students.

Ken

My name is Alan Nykamp. I am currently staying at a spiritual community Gobind Sadan (The House of God without Walls) and learning a great deal about the truths of all religions and their practical applications in life from my great teacher His Holiness Baba Virsa Singh Ji. I am originally from Michigan, U.S.A.

I decided to take Aikido because it was a physical discipline with a strong spiritual foundation. I was looking for a physical activity, which would also compliment my spiritual endeavor, and Aikido was the perfect match.

I have not practiced any other martial arts regularly before, but I did play college football. When I was younger I also played baseball and loved weightlifting. I also practiced to become a professional wrestler for about 6 months, before I decided it wasn’t for me.

I have been practicing Aikido for roughly 3 months now. I believe I started sometime in May, 2005.

Since practicing Aikido I have a strong sense of well-being and confidence, which allows me to be more open and receptive with people. Also, on a physical level I have lost about 10 kgs and have much more energy than before. Although, we work hard during our training, at the end of the class I feel charged with a great deal of positive energy.

Alan Nykamp
(July’ 2005)

I encountered the word aikido on 1992 while going through a movie review of Steven Seagal. Then eventually I saw the movie and made up my mind if there is anything I want to learn that is AIKIDO.

I am one of those lucky ones practicing aikido since the dawn of aikido in India. My first teacher was Sylvie Wiedmann. But meeting Sensei Paritos Kar is the most memorable aikido experience.

It was a Monday evening when I first met Sensei Kar. Although I trained with people physically stronger then me and European masters naturally of bigger built. May be that could be the reason I never realized the true essence of aikido and the power of big circular movements. After a brief conversation I felt that I am with someone who really understand a student’s mind and who can impart the knowledge. He is not only an Indian who lived and practiced in Japan under some very renowned masters. He is also an excellent human being full of humor and has this amazing capability to laugh under any circumstances. In one word, a true aikidoka with one intention to spread aikido and O-Sensei’s message of peace.

Rana Dutta
(July’ 2005)

First of all, we are very lucky that Sensei Paritos Kar had decided to settle and to open his dojo in New Delhi. Besides that fact that he is a highly qualified Aikido instructor, he is very sincere, dedicated and spiritual person, possessing great inner energy – “breath power”, as he calls it. Many thanks to Sensei for giving us the opportunity to learn real traditional Japanese Aikido in our home town.

Aikido is a defensive martial art with graceful circular movements and potentially deadly techniques. It is amazing to observe how easily newcomers take to Aikido (though it is considered to be one of the most technically difficult martial arts) and get assimilated into it.

I am very new to Aikido and in a very short period of time I experienced its positive influence. I feel more at peace and relaxed, both physically and mentally, and definitely much more energetic, despite intensive training. Being a woman, I would recommend Aikido to women – it will boost their self-confidence and shatter their “weaker sex” complex. I regularly attend early morning classes and for me this is the most enjoyable way to start my day.

I sincerely wish to Sensei Kar all success in his mission to popularize Aikido in India. May this “Path of Harmony with the Universal Energy” becomes a way of life for many people.

Yulia Pal
(July’ 2005)