O Sensei was a holy man who worshipped God, Allah the One God and at a point around the age of 50 his heart was opened. At that time he developed Aikido. Once Allah opened his heart, his movement was always manifesting love, not confrontation or fighting. Outwardly it appeared as fighting but in reality it was love. He developed Aikido to show God's way of harmony and love for one another and that in God's light there is no discrimination.
However, after O Sensei, none of the Aikido teachers follow his way. They think technique only, they forget about God and they think what they are doing is from their own power. Therefore no matter how good their technique, none of them can even approach the level of O Sensei. Therefore anyone Allah sends to us to train, thanks to our connection with Shaikh Hisham and through him our connection to our grandmaster, Shaikh Mohammed Nazim al-Haqqani, we are asking God's support in our training to take us higher in our spiritual stations. And in this way, InshaAllah, rather than only reaching the level of self-discipline that is related solely to the body, we hope that now, with the connection to the shaikh and to Islam, we are also going to be able to purify our hearts. And in this way, Aikido when done properly, is completely in harmony with Islam.
Therefore Aikido and Ken-jutsu is of service to Allah and to His Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and for helping people. The sword is a symbol for penetration into the truth of God's creation. We don't practice the swordsmanship for fighting others with the sword, but to cut our own ego. The sword is straight and sharp and thereby represents the Sirat ul- mustaqeem, God's straight way. It is a sharp and piercing weapon for cutting through the ego and piercing into the truth, for piercing through falsehood and imagination and for uncovering the reality, the deep truth in our hearts. That is what O Sensei discovered. He always was in deep prayer to Allah. Four hours a day he would pray to God up to the time of Fajr. All Aikido practitioners need to focus on is purifying the heart, not on worrying about who is champion. As O Sensei used to say, "Aikido is for the purpose of making mankind one family, Allah's family."
Finally, the manners and etiquette of Budo (Japanese for martial ways) originate in the adab of Islam so that the training of Aikido is helpful in developing correct adab and etiquette with the Shaikh. It is of the utmost importance that all of us strive to establish the best possible relationship with the Shaikh through correct adab. It is significant to note Shaikh Nazim came and gave us his blessing and Shaikh Hisham continues to support us.
The location of the new Dojo for
Ken-jutsu (sword) and Aikido, opened by Shaikh Hisham on February 24, 1994 is:
If anyone wishes to train with us, they are welcome. Regardless of the shape they are in or their age, it makes no difference, all are welcome, with the blessing of the shaikhs. And everyone is welcome also to attend the Khatm Khwajagan, held every other Thursday night after evening practice.
Shaikh Hisham Kabbani speaking on the value of martial arts at Dojo exhibition
"Shaikh Hisham gave a sohbet on the purpose of the sword arts in learning spiritual discipline and control of the ego, at the Kagami Biraki Ceremony for the Jihad ul-Akbar Dojo, on January 13, 1994."
Sensei Jamaluddin demo'ing sword katas
"Sensei Jamaluddin Kruhly demonstrates the art of Ken-jutsu for Shaikh Hisham and Hajji Nazihe and an audience of about 300 people."
a caseful of trophies
"Aikido practitioners need to focus on purifying the heart and not in worrying about who is champion," says Sensei Jamaluddin Kruhly. Even with this lack of emphasis on "winning," his Dojo has had to look for a new case to put all its trophies., who wears the honorary hakama as sign of his accomplishment,
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