Late afternoon sunlight slants deeply across the main room of the Shinjinkai dojo on North Ravenswood Avenue. The highly polished, wooden floor of the school’s main classroom is set off by the golden light as I watch two kenshi (swordsmen), dressed in traditional hakama (split-skirt trousers), perform a sometimes-graceful ballet, until one or the other makes a flawed move: parry, thrust, strike. A third student serves as a teacher and referee, giving them feedback on what he sees them doing wrong and right. They are studying Mugai-ryu iaihyodo (a Japanese sword art). These are young men on the “warrior path.” They are serious and earnest in their focus, obviously deeply dedicated to the mastery of this work. These students are training in the traditional warrior martial arts as practiced at Shinjinkai of the Japanese Martial Arts Society.

Meido “Keith” Moore, or Moore Sensei as his students call him, sits down cross-legged across from me at a traditional, black-lacquered Japanese tea table. There is a set of four small, handle-less porcelain teacups and an artistic arrangement of branches and silk flowers. It is obvious to me almost instantly that this man’s energy is somehow different then most. His presence is keen and deliberate, though not at all self-conscious. It is the posture of grace and tranquility that reminds one of a cat sitting calmly yet alert, enjoying a moment in the warmth of the sunlight.

Moore is the proud bearer of the traditions of aikido introduced to Chicago by his late teacher, Fumio Toyoda Sensei. Like his master before him, he is now head of a clean, well-kept, orderly school of the martial art of aikido. He explains that he was only a humble, part-time student when he first began his personal, spiritual, and warrior journey into aikido. Beginning in 1986, he would dutifully report to his post at the dojo every day, performing many lowly functions as his service in lieu of tuition. In this way, he fell under the profound influence of what he considers one of the great teachers and innovators of aikido in the world, Toyoda Sensei.

Moore says that “Ai-Ki-Do” (eye-key-doe) literally means the harmony of the spirit—chi or ki (a vital force, internal power, mental/spiritual energy). Modern aikido came into being in the 1930s, founded by Morihei Ueshiba, who was influenced by Takeda Sokaku. Takeda’s family traditions harkened back to the days of the samurai, and these, along with his own innovations, came to form the core of what became known as Aikido around World War II.

What is aikido? Moore Sensei explains that elements of several fighting traditions went into its development. Moore describes it as “an eclectic mix of family and regional martial art traditions.” Integrating multiple schools of the Japanese traditions, it is a powerful force to be reckoned with, teaching practitioners to use an attacker’s aggressive energy against him. It integrates the fighting moves of sword- and spear-fighting, jiu-jitsu, and other disciplines, according to Moore.

As in other forms of martial arts, there is much more to aikido then learning the fighting arts, or budo. It is as much a spiritual discipline as it is a warrior art. Moore explained that those who think it is all about “feet and fists” are projecting a Western attitude toward the form, which does not fit with the ideas of the teachers and true followers of aikido.

“Yes, the fighting aspect is about violence, and how to commit it. Of course, we must admit to this. True followers know that with their knowledge, they also have a great responsibility to those in the society around them to understand the meaning and purpose of these skills. Unfortunately, the warrior tradition is often depicted in film as wantonly sadistic. The warrior path is about centering and good judgment. It is about using these skills not only for protection, but for the greater good, when one can,” Moore said.

According to Moore, aikido, like all martial arts, is about focus, intent, and outcome. The idea is to become so well trained in both movement and mind that they respond quickly, as one, ideally without ever thinking about process. In combat, there is no time to focus on processes needed to win. One must focus on the desired outcome, while constantly maintaining intent, inner balance, and, as a given, outer balance. Therefore the pursuit of aikido is not something for everyone. Someone who is not serious should not attempt to pursue the “way.” It takes a very determined person to undertake the intense training required to master aikido, Moore said.

As an example, the Sensei spoke of the other offerings the school had that were seemingly unrelated to fighting arts. A class in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, chanoyu? Who does this help someone who wants to fight? And what about traditional flower arranging, called ikebana? Bamboo flute playing?

Moore said that many samurai warriors were artistically skilled. Contrary to Western notions of these activities, it is understood that balance and form, as well as sensitivity, were critical to the very nature of fighting arts in the East. The ideal samurai in Japanese thought came to be someone who had mastered both the arts of combat and culture. Sounds strange, doesn’t it? But at Moore’s dojo, they understand how important it is to see the world in a deeper way than, let’s say, the point of view of a hotheaded teenager without self-discipline.

“Most people in our society feel life is defined by what you can do. Here, this is about what you are. The quality of your existence is most important,” Moore said.

Important to the study of aikido are kata, or forms of movement. Sometimes looking like choreography for an angular style of modern dance, aikido forms are memorized and integrated into the whole of one’s being: body, spirit, mind, energy or ki. All of these are integrated to make the warrior more aware and more efficient in his functioning.

Today, men, women, and children are all participants in the aikido programs at the dojo. With this wide base of students carrying on this martial arts tradition, the future looks bright as this increasingly important Chicago institution continues to grow under Meido Moore Sensei.

Name: The Japanese Martial Arts Society (Nihon Bugei Shinjinkai) and School

Classes: Evenings and weekends

Sensei: Meido “Keith” Moore, Professional aikido instructor, 5th dan, shihandai, AAA; spent 6 years as uchideshi under Toyoda Sensei

Also: Founder and former director (now serves in an advisory role) of the Association for Tactical Applications (ATA), an organization coordinating defensive tactics and wilderness survival instruction for law-enforcement personnel and civilians

Benefits of aikido: Effective self-defense technique, spiritual enlightenment, physical health or peace of mind

Instruction/Areas of Study Offered:
Aikido
Shinbukan Kuroda Ryugi
Aikido for kids
Mugai-Ryu Iaihyodo

Zen:
Chozen-ji Illinois Betsuin Zen Temple

Tea Ceremony:
Chanoyu (Traditional Japanese tea ceremony)

Traditional Flute:
Shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute)

Flower Arranging:
Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging)

Class Size: 10–15 students per class

Total Enrollment: Approximately 100 students, month-to-month

Location:
Chicago Headquarters
3717 N. Ravenswood #113
Chicago, IL 60613
773.472-3290

Moore Sensei is also the head Aikido instructor at the Midwest Shotokan Karate & Fitness Center
Mt. Prospect
1502 North Elmhurst Road
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
847.788-0200
midwestshotokan@aol.com

Website:
shinjinkai.org
midwest-shotokan-karate.com