A story of impact from Sachiyo Hotta
Meet Sachiyo Hotta - a member at both the NY Aikikai and Aikido of Westchester. She holds the title of Shihan of ikebana, and we were lucky enough to have her arrange the flowers for the kamiza and for Doshu at our 60th Anniversary Summer Camp.
Sachiyo was born and raised in Japan and lived there until college. She left Japan because she “felt disappointed in some aspects of Japanese culture.” Aikido has helped her return to Japanese culture and confirm her identity as a Japanese person. We asked Sachiyo about the impact that the NY Aikikai and her aikido practice has had in her life. Thank you, Sachiyo, for sharing your heart, talent, and kindness.
Why did you start aikido?
In 2008 I started Aikido practice after I had been working for many years in the US as a native of Japan. I was facing an identity crisis. I had lost my confidence and felt anxious in my life. I was mentally and physically weak. I was wondering “ Why I am here?”
Talk about your beginnings in aikido…
I am quite introverted, not confident in myself, and not good at blending in with people. However, when I started Aikido, my sensei, senpai, and friends warmly welcomed me at the dojo.
As a beginner, I was carefully instructed by my seniors. I felt bad about taking up the other person’s practice time, so I tried to improve as soon as possible.
It did not take long until I was fascinated by the art of Aikido. I spent a lot of time training, practicing at two dojos. On weekdays, I took morning classes at the New York Aikikai, met Aikido friends, and enjoyed coffee at a cafe on Fridays. And on weekends, I practiced at Aikido of Westchester. I practiced almost every day until the COVID-19 pandemic.
I enjoyed and appreciated this routine. I was relieved to have a "place for myself" outside of work, and I was mentally refreshed. I realized that having a place that has nothing to do with work is very important for mental stability.
I have also attended seminars and visited various dojos not only in the United States, but also in Japan, France, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, and more. Interacting with local aikido people has been a unique and wonderful experience.
What else have you gained in your aikido training?
Through my training, I have gained physical and mental strength. In addition, Aikido is a unique martial art in that it does not have competitions; rather, it reflects your mental state. If I throw hard, I will be thrown hard; if I practice slowly, my opponent will respond slowly. If I practice carelessly, I will get injured. To practice happily, I must trust my partner and practice sincerely.
This manner has trained me to control my emotions. Aikido taught me the value of cooperation, trust, and mutual support, and I learned about the importance of respect and being humble.
I feel that I have become more mentally relaxed and I have grown more accepting of things as they are. While I enjoy practicing Aikido, I am still learning and exploring the world of Aikido. It is a lifelong practice.
Please join Sachiyo in contributing to our year-end fundraising campaign. With a $10,000 matching gift from an anonymous donor, all gifts of all sizes are matched up to $10,000 until December 14.