Questions to Hussey Sensei

I met Brendan Hussey about two years ago know. He is a talented judo man whose preoccupation has turned to aikido training. Originally he was trained in the Seidokan line, but broke off to form his own dojo-laboratory and methods. He has been an inspirational teacher for many of the dojos in the Austin. His class is a potpourri of students and instructors from many different martial arts and dojos in the area. He has been a great inspiration and friend.



Why did you start training?

Parental pressure and lack of connection to mainstream sports.

(His father was a boxing and judo teacher)



Why do you continue to?

It is my chosen Do.



Do you have a phrase(s) that sum up your ideal of martial arts practice?

Become a servant to the art before trying to be a master of it.



What do you like to see in a practice?

Exploration and enthusiasm.



What do you not like to see in a practice?

Selfishness



How do you define aiki?

To connect to the flow of energy , movement and the moment



What adjective would you say your technique 'feels' like?

It has been described as "full"



When does a practice become not-aiki?

When intention is wrong,it changes mind and body.



Do you have a favored technique right now?

Not a conscious one.


What is your favorite practice related book?

"Soul Sword" by Vernon Kitabu Turner



What is rank? What does rank reflect?

It is the measuring of steps . Sometimes it reflects much or at times little.



What principle have you been focusing on in your practice lately?

The constant presence of waza when in aiki-movement



What is your relationship to kata?

Not really any.



What is your relationship to a competitive feeling in training?

After practicing with it for many years, it's now a distraction mostly.



How has your vision of practice changed as you have gotten older?

Less externally goal oriented, trying to be less self conscious.



Do you have another hobby or art form that you think about in martial arts terms and ideas?

Work is an area I try it apply aiki to.



Do you see any problems with the way aikido is practiced in the world at large, and do you have any recommendations for change?

There is overemphasis on the throw which creates tunnel vision. Showing other possibilities , atemi, controls ,connects to other Arts. O'Sensei was as famous for what people could not do to him as for his throws.



What martial art besides the one you practice do you think is interesting?

Yoga as an art of internal balance



What inspires you?

Many things ; people,art , music , travel ,martial arts and any combination of those things.



Do you have any aspirations for your art, dojo or organization for the future?

To continue to develop in my practice ,with students and anyone interested in Aiki



Anything on your mind you would like to add?

Thanks for asking for my participation.

Please remember your first teacher is gravity.It taught you balance before you had words. It is still teaching you, even after you have words.