Dear Dedicated Aikidoka,
Someone had to initiate this proposal and it looks like it fell to me. So right from the start I want to be very clear — I have no interest in being the "leader" of such an endeavor. This is not about self promotion for myself, my organization or any one organization. That's not the point of such an egalitarian umbrella proposal anyway. I'm just putting the idea out there and letting it go . . .
Those of us who are in positions of leadership or influence should provide for those who are following. This shouldn't be my
effort but OUR
effort. It's about US
— US as in "us" as colleagues in Aikido and "U.S." as in our "United States". The future of Aikido in the U.S. is up to US.
If the consensus is to go for it then I'm willing to join arms in solidarity. And to the extent I can contribute, I will certainly do what I can, as I hope you will. From day one my driving motivation has been, and still is, to help others through Aikido. To be blunt, like many of you I already have a full plate so, as I said, I’m simply putting this proposal out there for everyone's consideration and discussion. I'm willing and happy to continue to do what I can to help facilitate good people with good intentions to come together for a common cause — to possibly better secure the future of Aikido in the United States.
Therefore, I hereby submit this proposal that the current Hombu-recognized organizations, dojos and significant senior instructors in the United States seriously consider joining together now in the spirit of Aikido, and in the intention of the Founder, for solidarity and friendship in order to form a simple, unified umbrella. You can call it an alliance, a coalition, a cooperative, a collaboration — or even an “Aikidocracy” (ai-ki-do-cracy)
a coming together meant for everyone's benefit — with each maintaining full and complete autonomy.
The pages contained within list the benefits, advantages and basic egalitarian structure possible with such an alliance (which, by the way, has also been introduced and working very well in other countries).
The idea of such an alliance has been a subject of many late night talks with many of you over recent years. And with your input and encouragement, I have done a substantial amount of the groundwork and preparation already. And I’m willing to continue to do my part to help facilitate such a coming together — but it must be something that others and you, too, feel is important enough to add your voice and pool your talents, resources and abilities with other like-minded aAkidoka if it’s to come to fruition.
Several years ago, in order to help set the groundwork for such an alliance I began organizing ideas and discussing the pros and cons of such a prospect with many trusted friends, colleagues and Aikido significants across the U.S.. I feel there is now enough grass roots support for the pros idea to be disseminated and considered further.
I have also secured the following URLs at my own expense for this effort — which I would be happy to donate to the cause: