William Gleason (aikidoka)
Encyclopedia
William Gleason is the American
author of two books about Aikido, spirituality
and kototama. He holds the rank of 6th dan
in Aikido
and is the founder and head instructor of Shobu Aikido in Somerville, MA, USA. Gleason teaches seminars worldwide.
Morihei Ueshiba
("O-sensei"), the founder of Aikido, had died the year before Gleason arrived in Japan. Gleason wrote in his account about his intensive training with the founder's immediate students and uchi-deshi
, including Takeda, Kisaburo Osawa
, Watanabe, Koichi Tohei
, Mitsugi Saotome
, Masando Sasaki, Seishiro Endo
and second doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba
. He describes training most often and intensely with the late Seigo Yamaguchi, who became his mentor and friend.
Gleason received his 1st degree black belt in 1972 from Kisshomaru Ueshiba
. In 1998, Gleason received his 6th degree black belt from Mitsugi Saotome
.
Gleason founded Shobu Aikido of Boston in 1980. Shobu Aikido of Boston is a nonprofit organization and a member of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba
(ASU), under the direction of Mitsugi Saotome. Several of Gleason's students have opened their own Shobu Aikido affiliated dojos around the USA.
In 2005, Gleason began the Shobu Okugyo Teacher Training Center, a unique forum designed to integrate the spiritual and physical aspects of Aikido. The seminars are 5-day retreats where students do meditation and aikido twice per day, macrobiotic cooking, and reading, discussion and practice of kototama.
His second book was Aikido and Words of Power: The Sacred Sounds of the Kototama which discusses the sounds of kototama in the practice of aikido. The five vowels represent various dimensions and stages of awareness, whose different powers are revealed through aikido practice. Gleason presents physical routines that provide an introduction into the Kanagi, Sugaso, and Futonorito levels of spiritual development. Gleason notes that Aikido is often being approached as a purely physical discipline, but it is a truly profound spiritual vehicle for those who approach it with sincerity of purpose.
Gleason self-published a 2008 DVD entitled Aikido and Japanese Sword that demonstrates the sword movements that underlie many Aikido techniques and how this is an essential element to understanding martial practice.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author of two books about Aikido, spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
and kototama. He holds the rank of 6th dan
Dan rank
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
in Aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
and is the founder and head instructor of Shobu Aikido in Somerville, MA, USA. Gleason teaches seminars worldwide.
Biography
Gleason lived in Tokyo, Japan from 1969–80, where he trained in traditional aikido and Japanese sword at the world headquarters of Aikido, the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Gleason wrote a brief account of his training at the dojo, describing the training environment and people involved.Morihei Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
("O-sensei"), the founder of Aikido, had died the year before Gleason arrived in Japan. Gleason wrote in his account about his intensive training with the founder's immediate students and uchi-deshi
Uchi-deshi
Uchi-deshi is a Japanese term for a live-in student/apprentice who trains under and assists a sensei on a full-time basis...
, including Takeda, Kisaburo Osawa
Kisaburo Osawa
, was an influential aikido teacher who taught for many years at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo and was a close advisor to Kisshomaru Ueshiba....
, Watanabe, Koichi Tohei
Koichi Tohei
was a 10th Dan aikidoka and founder of the Ki Society and its style of aikido, officially Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido , but commonly known as Ki-Aikido.-Koichi Tohei and aikido:...
, Mitsugi Saotome
Mitsugi Saotome
is a Japanese aikido Master Instructor currently living in the United States.Mitsugi Saotome is a master in the martial art of aikido and is a direct disciple of the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba....
, Masando Sasaki, Seishiro Endo
Seishiro Endo
, born 1942, is an 8th dan ranked Aikikai aikido master teacher. Endō is among the few living people who studied directly under aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba....
and second doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba
Kisshomaru Ueshiba
was a prominent Japanese master of aikido. He was the son of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikido, and became the international leader of aikido after his father's death.-Early life:...
. He describes training most often and intensely with the late Seigo Yamaguchi, who became his mentor and friend.
Gleason received his 1st degree black belt in 1972 from Kisshomaru Ueshiba
Kisshomaru Ueshiba
was a prominent Japanese master of aikido. He was the son of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikido, and became the international leader of aikido after his father's death.-Early life:...
. In 1998, Gleason received his 6th degree black belt from Mitsugi Saotome
Mitsugi Saotome
is a Japanese aikido Master Instructor currently living in the United States.Mitsugi Saotome is a master in the martial art of aikido and is a direct disciple of the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba....
.
Gleason founded Shobu Aikido of Boston in 1980. Shobu Aikido of Boston is a nonprofit organization and a member of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba
Aikido Schools of Ueshiba
Aikido Schools of Ueshiba is an aikido organization founded by Mitsugi Saotome upon moving from Japan to the United States in 1975. ASU's headquarters dojo is the Aikido Shobukan Dojo in Washington, DC where Saotome initially taught...
(ASU), under the direction of Mitsugi Saotome. Several of Gleason's students have opened their own Shobu Aikido affiliated dojos around the USA.
In 2005, Gleason began the Shobu Okugyo Teacher Training Center, a unique forum designed to integrate the spiritual and physical aspects of Aikido. The seminars are 5-day retreats where students do meditation and aikido twice per day, macrobiotic cooking, and reading, discussion and practice of kototama.
Publications
Gleason wrote two books, the first book was The Spiritual Foundations of Aikido. Based on research that began during his 10 years in Japan, Gleason wrote this book to introduce the underlying spiritual principles of Aikido. This is the first book in English to address the kototama (word souls) and teachings of Shinto and Aikido. Morihei Ueshiba had intended that his martial art would give form to profound spiritual truth and saw Aikido not as a fighting method or as a competitive sport but rather as a means of becoming one with the laws of universal ki, or life energy. Ueshiba's teachings were subtle and used esoteric Shinto terminology and are therefore difficult to interpret, especially by Western audiences. This book has been translated into four languages.His second book was Aikido and Words of Power: The Sacred Sounds of the Kototama which discusses the sounds of kototama in the practice of aikido. The five vowels represent various dimensions and stages of awareness, whose different powers are revealed through aikido practice. Gleason presents physical routines that provide an introduction into the Kanagi, Sugaso, and Futonorito levels of spiritual development. Gleason notes that Aikido is often being approached as a purely physical discipline, but it is a truly profound spiritual vehicle for those who approach it with sincerity of purpose.
Gleason self-published a 2008 DVD entitled Aikido and Japanese Sword that demonstrates the sword movements that underlie many Aikido techniques and how this is an essential element to understanding martial practice.