It's cross posting time from my
Deaf Aikido blog.
It’s amazing how some people actually believe that when you have an English aikido student practicing aikido in Japan the student will invariably "suffer" on missing out what was said by a Japanese aikido instructor would be the equivalent of an American deaf aikido student who misses out what an American aikido instructor said in his dojo. Not so and not quite the same thing. It's apples and oranges here.
However, one high ranking English speaking aikido instructor (5th or 6th Dan, and have written a few books on aikido, I believe) who teaches aikido in Japan actually thinks this way. I had the fortunate opportunity to engage in a forum debate regarding the issue on communication.
From this debate it soon became apparent to me that some people, even in high places in the aikido community, seem to come off a bit dense when it comes to giving proper respect to those who cannot hear and the idea that hearing aikido students “suffer” on an equal footing as deaf aikido students in not being able to understand what was said by an Aikido instructor’s because of his/her foreign language during his/her talks. Balderdash. Just because this aikido instructor is a high ranking aikidoists does not mean he knows the secret of the ying and yang of the world. Read below my comments I responded to (his quotes):
quote 1: Is being deaf really that much of a handicap? At least with respect to Aikido.
My response to quote 1:
It's only a handicap if senseis or instructors insist on talking to those who can hear but do not take into consideration of those who have hearing impairments or are deaf by not providing an interpreter or at least know how to sign (or provide other means of communication). Out west, as in America, as you may know, Americans tend to talk and explain certain concepts (or even stories) about aikido in more technical details rather than solely by examples alone as many do in Japan. If the flow of information through speaking is so important to hearing aikidoist students, why not the same for deaf or hard of hearing aikidoist students? Is this not discrimination? Or ignorance? Perhaps the senseis of the west need to learn not to have the habit of speaking at all? So that all would be on equal footing in receiving the same information from their sensei? Who really need to adjust to the situation? The student or the aikido instructor?
quote 2: My point is that being deaf should be no more of a handicap in Aikido then training in a different language.
My response to quote 2:
In the case for Japan, as I said earlier, I understood what the scenario could entail for a foreigner training in Japan with no understanding of the Japanese language. Observing a technique whether one understands a language or not is different from a sensei or shihan communicating verbally to his/her students. You choose to go to Japan to learn Aikido, which is fine, but you also would have the opportunity to learn the language to speak and listen and grow with them as a hearing person and become more cultured in Japan.
quote 3: In fact those that have are probably far more sympathetic to the problem. And yes I have met and know hearing impaired students of Aikido, Judo, Iaido, you name it.
My response to quote 3:
The question is, did those senseis or sempais talk while on the mat to his/her students? And if there was a Japanese deaf student on the mat, did he or she also enjoyed the same conversational equality between a sensei and his/her hearing students?? That's my question. Why bother talking if it's mainly a visual demonstration of techniques to be followed by martial arts students regardless if they are deaf or not?
quote 4: And yes there is a little bit of disbelief here. Yet another group of special cases, not my vision of what Budo has to offer. Still if you and others feel the need - by all means.
My response to quote 4:
It's the proper acknowledgement about a deaf/hoh aikido student's communication needs if ever a sensei feel the urge to speak as he were. Is aikido not about teaching techniques visually? Why consider them as "special cases"?
quote 5: Main reason is that overcoming the barriers is part of the Budo practice.
My response to quote 5:
Suppose you have a roomful deaf aikido students where a hearing sensei talks to them as if they were hearing people walking around on the dojo mat to and fro and from afar? Would it be an "oxymoron" moment? A total waste of effort. And certainly not a budo moment. Budo is when techniques are performed by the sensei in a visual format would be a better time spent by the observing group of deaf and hearing aikido students.
quote 6: Mike, I think xxxx was saying that training in a country where the language is completely different can be assimilated to being deaf, of course without the actual physical impairment.
My response to quote 6:
I understood that already. It's not quite the same thing on what I was trying to point out.
quote 7: I too train in Japan, and whilst I do speak some Japanese(enough to get me by on the train or in a restaurant), I am by no means fluent though.
My response to quote 7:
And you will have the opportunity to grow in learning Aikido in Japan as would learning the Japanese language over time, one day, you will be able to understand completely the Japanese language. And when that happens, you will not feel left out whenever a Japanese sensei or shihan speaks. You'd have the advantage over deaf Japanese aikido students attending the same dojo where you practice. You have that opportunity (a deaf aikido student does not).
quote 8: There is a misconception that the Japanese do not talk when they teach, that is far from true, many of the Sensei that I have studied under frequently stop and discuss aspects of the technique, or highlight specific points.
My response to quote 8:
And since Aikido can be learned visually, so why the need to talk? Whether it's a Japanese language where one cannot understand it to an English language where we (in the USA) can understand by listening, except for deaf aikido students, and enjoy the conversational benefits in listening to a sensei talk. And when there are American deaf aikido students attending an American dojo, why bother talking? Does budo mean only a one way street on respect and acknowledgement?
Budo didn't teach disABLED practitioners back then unless there is a history about it that I'm not aware of.
quote 9: I am frequently left sitting as an observer, oblivious to what is being said (in one ear and out the other or worse, completely over my head ), so for us foreigners over here, unless we are fluent, we suffer the same unbalanced information flow.
My response to quote 9:
You have the opportunity to learn the language as you are doing now, until one day you will become fluent. From day one you pick up Japanese words. You accumulate them until one day you understand the instructor. But whether you understand the language or not, if aikido can be instructed visually, then why bother the talking? That's the point I'm trying to get across.
quote 10: For the record, my xxxx is xx (years old) and wears two hearing aids, he keeps them in whilst he does keiko too, taking ukemi along with everyone else.
My response to quote 10:
Wearing a hearing aid(s) is not necessary unless the sensei is the talkative type. But if his hearing aid does not afford him to understand Sensei's verbal instructions, stories, or discussions about the technique, then why wear a hearing aid in the first place? And why would an instructor insist on talking to the rest of the students knowing that there is a deaf student on his mat? It's merely a discriminatory practice committed by the aikido instructor.
All in all going to a different country to learn a martial art and not understand the language spoken there is not the same as being deaf and not hear anything at all, much less have the opportunity to learn the spoken language as could a hearing person. It's a skewed analogy at best. Overcoming adversity is going to a different country to learn a martial art while deaf but never get the opportunity to hear and learn a different language. That's true adversity. Try wearing ear plugs, don't learn to speak the language, and stick with the program and then perhaps a hearing person will understand what overcoming adversity is truly like. Ever try teach aikido techniques to a deaf and blind person? Or a person with cerebral palsy and deaf? It's been done. I'd call that overcoming true adversity in life never mind not being able to hear or understand a different language. It all boils down to acknowledgement and respect to his/her fellow aikido students' needs. Aikido is about harmony, no?
quote 11: The way I'm reading what you're saying, if I have a deaf person in my class, I shouldn't speak to any students out of consideration for the non-hearing person. I guess then that if I have a blind student, I shouldn't demonstrate any techniques either.
My response to quote 11: You can. Just repeat the technique again while a blind student is in contact with you. Nothing wrong with repeating a technique for a blind student. Or even better, let the blind student be your Uke, the receiver of your technique while your students observe your next round of techniques. As in aikido, you blend, and that's how you can solve your problem.
quote 12: And if I have a blind student and a deaf student in the same class?
My response to quote 12:
A deaf student can see your techniques and follows them. No big deal. For a blind student you can show him/her the techniques again but allow the blind student to touch and feel your movements instead. Or at least show the techniques the first time with a blind student first, if possible, for all aikido students to see just so that you don't have to repeat those techniques again for that blind student. Remember, blend.
quote 13: What if I have a student who learns much better with verbal instruction than visually?
My response to quote 13:
That's fine. Flexibility is the key.
quote 14: Should I ignore her needs because that's not really a handicap?
My response to quote 14:
Depends on exactly what those needs are you're talking about. It's good to be aware of any potential needs or at least acknowledge the student's condition in the first place. Each situation is unique. Trying blending.
Now, after all that, what I'm trying to convey is that if an instructor goes on a spiel while on the dojo mat telling a story or a situation or anything else outside of doing demonstrations on techniques then what can the instructor do to insure that his or her deaf student(s) won't miss one of your talks?
Blend and become one. You are the instructor. You figure it out. It's your responsibility. Not the student.
