Ulrike Serak Shihan

FROM DANCE TO AIKIDO

After completing my studies in dance and movement theater at the German Sport University in Cologne, I began training in aikido. I trained under Asai Sensei (now 8th dan) until I achieved my 1st dan in 1984. As the representative of the Aikikai Honbu Dojo in Germany, he connected us to the source of aikido. I became familiar with aikido through his authentic teaching at his dojo, and I owe a great deal to those early days. In Berlin, I practiced under Gerd Walter Shihan, and after thirteen years of daily training, I opened my first dojo.

NEW PATHS

Of all the masters I visited regularly, Seigo Yamaguchi Sensei made the biggest impression on me. I also trained with him during my first stay in Japan. Wanting to continue on this path, I travelled to see Christian Tissier, Yamaguchi Sensei’s closest student in Europe. I have been attending his courses in Europe since 1993 and regularly invite him to Berlin.

Today, I often feel that his teachings are filling a gap for me. Specifically, they fill the gap left by what I practiced years ago with Yamaguchi Sensei, but was unable to fully understand at the time.

ZEN ASPECT IN AIKIDO

I have been interested in Zen since the age of 30. However, it took several years and a few ‘detours’ before I became truly familiar with it and started practicing regularly. Once I embarked on this journey, it felt very familiar and natural, and my annual visits to the Japanese monastery, Hosshinji, became an integral part of my practice. I am very grateful to have shared the lives of the nuns, monks, and Seishins there for so long.

For me, the Zen aspect of Aikido lies in not allowing the mind to dwell anywhere. This is different from focusing my attention, because then I miss everything that is not directly within it. Keeping an open mind also means not using my own ideas, notions and concepts as a benchmark for training, no matter how convincing they may be.