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| Ian McDonald |
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The following interview was conducted with Ian McDonald, 3rd Dan in Aikido from Brooksville, Florida, who has begun the first base for Hokushin Shinoh Ryu Iaido in the US. It was done by Aaron Hewson while Ian was training in Australia.
A: Ian, where did you first hear of Hokushin Shinoh Ryu Iaido? I: Actually, I was looking for Iaido schools on the internet and I came across Shihan's web site. I emailed him about the opportunity to train in Australia with him. Things happened to work out for me at work and I had a window of opportunity and the money in my pocket for a ticket so I just did it. A: Did you find much information in general on the internet about Iaido? I: There haven't been that many people doing sword arts in the US, only a few scattered here and there. There are a few who really want to learn and do something and I really wanted to learn. I was looking for a qualified Shihan in the US, not finding any and having Sensei invite me over to Adelaide, I though it was a great opportunity. I didn't really want to start my own school and learn a new style and I didn't want to start as a white belt again. I've been doing Aikido since about 1982. A: Is it primarily Japanese fighting arts that your interests lay? I: I was never one into team sports like football and basketball and began doing Shototan karate, which didn't do much for me, except increase my interest in the martial arts. A: Is the Zen Buddhist element of Iaido also of interest to you? I: I do Iaido as a form of meditation or moving zen. At the age of 11 0r 12, I read a book by an Englishman, James Leggie, a yoga practitioner and this generated my interest in Eastern philosophy at the time. It's an age where a lot of kids are confused and looking for something, so over the years I have continued to read various text, although haven't practiced yoga myself. The body only moves so many ways. Once you master your basics you can move on. A: I know we in Adelaide feel very priveleaged to have some one of Shihans calibre that we can train under. How did you find the training? I: I'm going to be the first representative of Hokushin Shinoh Ryu in the US. I hope I can do justice to Shihan. I've been here for two weeks. A short period of time, training each day in waza with a lot of discussion. I really want to correctly interperet the style. All the katas are challenging even though I have been doing martial arts for some time. The more I learn, the more I understand how deep these arts are. You should do something you like, as you are better at these things. I will be practicing Shin-ken everyday practically for ever. It's like putting a seed in the ground, nature takes its course. There is a lot of patience involved: We all interperet things differently but the course should be the same. A: What do you think the practicle applications of the style are? I: We don't seem to initiate the attack, however, when confronted with a situation you may need to move in and attack. A: If you back a snake into a corner it will attack you. I: In football, if try and hold yourself back, that's when you will get hurt and in martial arts, if you are afraid to fall, or attack, or defend, that's when you get hurt. You have to go for it and try to have a good time while training. A: So you want to have a clear rather than a clouded mind with intention? I: Your intention has to be as sharp as your sword and you need to develop an awareness that carries over into your everyday life. A: Will you be teaching Iaido in it's pure form? I: There will be separate classes to Aikido and I'm not sure if I want the kids that are learning Aikido doing Iaido yet. We will be doing seminars. I hope to bring Shihan to the US in March 2002 for some of them. It's up to me to plant the seed. A: Where can interested people contact you? I: I will be posting my address and phone number on the web site and anyone that is in Florida is welcome to enquire. I will have my own web site soon linked into the main Hokushin Shinoh Ryu site. A: Sounds like positive prospects for the future and we wish you all the best.
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