Mary
Heiny Sensei
6th Dan
Aikido Autobiography
For more than thirty-nine years, Mary Heiny Sensei has followed a path
of physical and spiritual inspiration as a student and teacher of Aikido.
She started this journey in 1965 after watching Osensei teach a class
at Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. The effect of this first encounter has
inspired her through long hours of training and study
As
I watched, a part of me could not believe what I was seeing and
sought a rational explanation while another part of me understood
immediately that this man had attained a profound understanding
of nature and possessed amazing power. |
After studying
at Hombu Dojo from 1968 to 1973 with Osensei’s direct students and
with Hikitsuchi Sensei, 10th dan, in Shingu, Heiny Sensei returned to
the United States and began teaching at the University of California in
Santa Cruz. In 1976, she went to Seattle and opened Seattle School of
Aikido. After nine years, she turned that dojo over to her students and
left to begin another journey
I
worked to develop an atmosphere in which students would, with
me, approach Aikido as a living process to be engaged in rather
than merely a series of rigidly unvarying forms to memorize. I
emphasized that the techniques of Aikido are intended as tools
for us to use in examining the nature of power, to engage in uncompromising
self-scrutiny, and to realize our potential as powerful, compassionate,
creative, self-aware human beings. I also emphasized that good
technique is necessary to accomplish this. Diligent physical training
must be combined with a thoughtful examination so that lessons
of one’s life inform one’s training. |
Heiny Sensei
was invited to the Ottawa Aikikai in Canada in 1987 where she worked for
three years developing the club into a full time dojo. When the school
had grown to her satisfaction, she handed it over and embarked on another
period of personal trainingand increased activity in teaching seminars
and workshops in Canada, the US,and Europe. In 2001, Heiny Sensei returned
to Seattle.
Heiny brings to every class, workshop, and seminar she teaches not only
her years of aikido training and teaching, but also her extensive experience
and study of Japanese culture, language, Shinto and Buddhist philosophies,
and Non-Violent communication. She strives always to communicate the beauty
and challenge of Osensei’s desire that we use Aikido to become empowered
as creative, compassionate beings and learn to appreciate each other as
members of one human family. |