I have spent the last week of September in Yoyogi, to participate in the organization of the 14th International Aikido Federation Summit. I took this opportunity to sit down with several instructors and conduct some video interviews. The following video is a discussion that I had with Patricia Hendricks, 7th Dan Aikikai.
I met Patricia Hendricks for the first time a few years ago during the 12th IAF Congress held in Takasaki. Although I did conduct a number of interviews back then, I was not able to ask her due to how busy our schedules were, so I was delighted to see that we would meet again for the upcoming congress. Given that one of this year's emphasis would once again on the place of women in Aikido, I could not resist but ask her if she would accept to grant me an interview.
Patricia Hendrick is well-known around the world for being one of Saito Morihiro's closest students, and she is one of the few individuals who are allowed to teach his particular style of weapons. I must confess that I was a little apprehensive before talking to her, because saddly, I found that the prominent representatives of the so-called Iwama style that I knew in France were often rather dismissive of other lineages of Aikido, while at the same time knowing very little about Ueshiba Morihei's actual training experience. I was very quickly reassured when I started to talk with Patricia, as I found her to be the polar opposite of those indiviuduals I knew. She was friendly, open-minded, and very willing to speak honestly about the practice and teaching of Aikido. When I mentioned this to her and about the individuals I knew, she rolled her eyes and laughed.
I hope that you enjoy this interview and that you get the chance to train with her in future.
Part 2 of the interview is available to my supporters on Patreon and YouTube.
