Today, I’m speaking with Reuven Lirov, 3rd Dan

Today, I’m speaking with Reuven Lirov, 3rd Dan.

Weiner Sensei: What led you to Aikido?

Reuven-san: A seminar and a black eye. You know it’s funny, I’ve thought about this a lot since opening my dojo and reflecting in conversation with other senseis. I began training at four years old in Judo and Jujitsu under my father with my two older brothers and New Jersey. At 8 or 9 years old I added Hwa Rang Do for about 5 years and competed regularly in both. When I went to University, I began training under a student of Dan Inosanto in Silat, Savate, Jeet Kun Do, and Muay Thai. All of these arts are beautiful in their own right, but I felt that something was lacking and I wanted to find something built on traditional principles. I probably visited over 20 dojos looking for both an art and a sensei I could really devote myself to.

I found Stickles Sensei’s dojo, Aikido Schools of New Jersey, by chance and to this day owe much of who I am to Stickles Sensei and my sempai at that dojo. The initial meeting with Stickles Sensei was different from the rest; he and I sat outside the dojo in old plastic chairs while he smoked his trademark cigar and tried to have me convince him of why I would be a worthy addition to his dojo. This was intriguing to me and I signed up on the spot. I’ll be honest, I almost quit after my first day on the mat.

My first class was very basic, Tai No Henko, Ai Hanmi Katatetori Ikkyo Omote and Ura, coming from hard contact martial arts and Judo, I thought I might be wasting my time. I spoke with Gary Pike, who was Uchi Deshi (a live in student) at the time and he told me to give it one more shot by attending a Grand Re-Opening Seminar at Aikido of Red Bank that Yamada Sensei would be leading along with Sensei Stickles.

Halfway through the seminar I was still doubting my decision, but then, during a round of Shihonage practice with Karen DePaola Sensei (at the time I had no idea who she was of course), Yamada Sensei provided me with exactly the encouragement I needed to pursue Aikido. He noticed that I was positioning myself behind the elbow, which we both know is improper since the hands can slip and lead to a nasty elbow strike to the face. Yamada Sensei very quickly demonstrated to me that this was a mistake (a black eye I was very proud of) and I was hooked. About three months later I moved in after Gary and became the last Uchi Deshi of Stickles Sensei for about two years before he passed away. I will always have great admiration, love, and respect for that man.

Weiner Sensei: How would you describe class at your dojo?

Reuven-san: Kihon (Basics). Since our dojo is fairly new, most of our students are Yukyusha, so kihon is how was spend much of our time. I try to teach and run my dojo by Stickles and Yamada Sensei’s example, so I emphasize keiko over talking while trying to keep the energy and mood high on the mat.

We generally break down technique into three components: Kuzushi, Tsukuri, and Kake. It’s a throwback to Judo I know, but old habits and all that. Plus, it tends to help students break down the importance of first taking balance and establishing dominant position and minimizes the importance of which throw or lock you do.

Once we establish a level of comfort with a technique, we’ll start experimenting to determine where it’s least effective and what to do then. Essentially, we break down our training into three types: Kihon, Musubi, and Kumitachi. Much of our time is spent on basics (Kihon) and Musubi (blending/fluid).

Weiner Sensei: What advice can you offer brand new students?

Reuven-san: Take a private lesson if it’s available (our dojo only signs up new students after a private lesson). Often times the thing that scares of new students the fastest is getting dropped into a class of students without any idea of what they should be doing. Private lessons are a great way to spend 1 on 1 time so that the student can understand how and why we do what we do. For example, in our dojo, we line up in rank order so that kohai can easily identify who to ask for help or who they might want to train with that is sempai. It also helps to get a crash course in some of the Japanese language that’s used when we bow into and out of class. This also gives me an opportunity to learn more about what it is they are looking for and make sure that everyone on the instruction staff knows how to teach a class for everyone while still addressing their needs.

Weiner Sensei: What advice can you offer senior students on the path to Shodan??

Reuven-san:Take care of your kohai. The fastest I ever learned was when I was helping others. It helped me examine how I approached and understood technique to better implement when I trained with my seniors. It’s easy to forget that, like children, kohai are the future of Aikido and while it’s easy to expect respect and deference on the mat (even if it is well earned), should be a result of the effort sempai put into the development of their kohai. It’s the most important lesson I ever learned from my sempai and senseis over the years. No dojo survives without new kohai to become sempai and no kohai survives without sempai who are committed to them as much as to their own training.

Weiner Sensei: What does it take to be a committed student?

Reuven-san: Consistency. Each of my sempai across disciplines that is truly committed to their art decides that it is quite simply, a part of them. It’s in their soul; they live and breathe Aikido from the moment they wake to the moment they sleep. This doesn’t mean that they spend the entire day thinking about Kotegaeshi of course. It means that the principles of Aikido inhabit them and affect how they interact with their loved ones and those around them. I jokingly tell my students that train with their spouses that they will never find a less expensive and proactive form of marriage counseling.

About my Guest:

Sensei Reuven Lirov has been practicing and teaching Aikido since 2008 and currently holds a Sandan, or 3rd degree black belt and a certified assistant instructor, Fukushidoin through the United States Aikido Federation and Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. Reuven spent two years as a full time apprentice, or “uchi deshi” to Rick Stickles Shihan at Aikido Schools of New Jersey.

He has been practicing martial arts since the age of 4, including 4 years of competition level Muay Thai and American Combat Karate, and holds rank in Judo, Hwa Rang Do, and Jujitsu (Sandan). Reuven brings over 22 years of martial arts training and instruction to students.

Reuven travels extensively to train around the world with top Aikido instructors, including Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei, the head of the United States Aikido Federation, as well as the USAF Technical Committee, and Hombu Dojo staff. A New Jersey native, Reuven graduated from Rutgers University with a Masters in Clinical Psychology, focusing on marrage and family counseling.

Reuven has also been featured in film for his stunt work and martial arts experience. Check out his dojo here.

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