Begun 20110913.
This website is controlled by Brandon Williamscraig who feels strongly about the ongoing disinclusion of Bruce Klickstein from the practice of aikido around the world. Except as indicated (opinion from Facebook, etc.), the following reflects the public record established during the procedings of the Aikido Association of Northern California (AANC) and is provided for the purpose of asking that other aikido practitioners uphold the decision that removed Klickstein from teaching aikido.
Statement forthcoming.
In 2010-2011 Kilckstein was invited to teach again at a seminar in memory of Saito Morihiro Shihan conducted by Paolo Coralini Sensei in Italy. The material below refers to that public seminar, the flier for which may be found here:
or downloaded here:
The following responses developed on various websites. Please click the right pointing arrow to open the relevant cards.
On Facebook
Bruce Klickstein, a man who lost his rank and was banned by the Aikido community from teaching Aikido due to HIGHLY unethical behavior is listed as a participating teacher. I think is vitally important that this man not be accepted back into the Aikido fold simply because many folks have forgotten what he did. Write to the Takemusu Aikido Association of Italy and let them know how you feel about this travesty. info@taai.it
Make your e-mail to the attention of the President, Paulo Corralini
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Jamie Leno Zimron and 8 others like this.
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Cherie Cornmesser I have heard about this person's past. Definitely not something that should be forgotten or let go. -
Keith Larman I hope they do the right thing. Too many are uncomfortable with the topic and choose to ignore it. And that simply isn't right. -
Allan Kaplan Are you speaking of the 2012 seminar <http://goo.gl/mJ5CL>? -
Autrelle L. Holland Agreed -
Allan Kaplan Maybe also a letter to Hombu & Doshu.
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Jim Alvarez Done, let see what comes back... -
Geoff Yudien It appears that Bill Witt Shihan is scheduled to be at the same event, which is in May of next year. Perhaps people should write to him, also, and suggest that he not participate if Mr. Klickstein will be in attendance. -
Tobin E Threadgill I'm shocked that Klickstein would have the bald faced temerity to consider attending. It says a lot about the man and his lack of shame. And, who the hell thought it would be a good idea to invite the SOB. -
Allan Kaplan Evidently, Bruce has done well in the leadership/motivation realm. He always was quite charismatic. http://goo.gl/dHc5u
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George Ledyard Geoff, I wrote to Witt Sensei but have not heard a reply. I think anyone who knows him personally would be more persuasive.
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George Ledyard Allan, That was why he got away with everything for ten years. He was apparently confronted by parents on a number of occasions but convinced them that it was his first and only time and promised never to do it again. They let him off each time. It was only when the whole thing finally broke in public that at a huge meeting, a number of the victims stood up and became aware of each other. I loved the fact that he travels internationally, especially the Thailand trips...
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Dallas Lloyd Wasnt he looking at jail time ? Or did he get off light already ? If there are minors there wouldnt he be in violation as a sex offender or is he even registered -
Allan Kaplan Yeah, George, I'm sure there's been lots of entertainment for him overseas. I wasn't there, but I remember the meeting and all.
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Elizabeth Lynn George, I support this action, but I think it will only have an effect if people who are part of this group respond. Letters from people who might be expected to attend but will not if BK is teaching would be most effective, I believe. -
Geoff Yudien Mr. Klickstein is on Facebook. I've written directly to him as follows, and will report back if he responds: "I note that you are listed as a featured instructor at a seminar to be held in Italy next May. I was wondering if you could tell me if, at present, you are a member-in-good-standing of the Aikido community, and whether you currently hold the rank of 5th dan, as indicated in the promotional materials for the seminar."
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Rob Liberti He was iwama style right? Wouldn't you write the iwama folks? -
George Ledyard Hi Lynn Sensei,
Yes, I believe that would clinch it... but I also believe that the Iwama folks are quite protective of their organization and its reputation. I do think they would respond if they thought something was damaging their organization's good name. -
Gary Welborn Everyone has choices...life is about choices, some of these result in obvious mistakes with most of us learning and changing from these. Some folks choose actions that are not choices rather are hard wired in to the behavior. Hard wiring can't be changed by the passing of ten, twenty or more years. -
Alejandro Villanueva Better kill him then, Gary. -
Graham Farquhar Wasn't it Saito Sensei himself that stripped Klickstein of his rank and threw him out of the organisation? If this is the case surely not a fitting testimonial to Saito Sensei's memory. I don't know if Pat Hendricks is available, but I am sure she would be a more fitting Instructor. -
Eva Fenrich Normally I want to keep out of MA politics... but this is clearly a cause to act... I see it very much non-fitting for a memorial seminar to let someone teach who has been thrown out - for a darn good reason - by the teacher who's memory is celebrated at this seminar.... -
Marc Abrams I just sent private e-mails to all of the participants expressing not only my outrage, but my desire to see all of us boycott all of them from that point forward if they do not dis-invite Klickstein. -
Alejandro Villanueva Boycott? Corallini et al.? Uh?
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Marc Abrams Alejandro, Why not? Anyone who supports Bruce Klickstein's participation in this event should be shunned as well. It is nothing less than explicit support of a sexual predator who has harmed others.
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Alejandro Villanueva Budo Police. Budo Judge. Budo Jury. And Budo Executioner.
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George Ledyard Alejandro, It isn't a boycott of these other teachers... It is simply a matter of not participating at an event at which a man like this appears. I would not be on the same mat with him, I would not be in the same room with him. Absolutely nothing against the other participants or the organization. But folks over there need to understand the damage this man did. it simply is not forgivable. I don't know if anything similar has occurred in the Italian Aikido community. But given the scandals with the Catholic Church, it would be as if a group of respected Churchmen here invited a Priest who had been abusing minor parishioners to appear alongside them at a respected symposium. People would freak out and rightly so.
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Marc Abrams Alejandro, spend some time, face-to-face time with some victims of this type of abuse and then talk to me about your position. Better yet, I can only hope that maybe some of his victims might even be willing to privately communicate with you
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Within the last few years, the Takemusu Aikido Association "elect[ed] to reinstate this page to acknowledge [Bruce Klickstein's] positive contributions to Aikido." The TAA's President & Chief instructor is Bill Witt Shihan; its Secretary is Hans Goto Sensei; and its Treasurer is Aviv Goldsmith Sensei.
www.takemusu.org
Bruce Klickstein first arrived in Iwama in the early 1970s as uchi deshi for the first of several long stints. He hosted Saito Sensei to his own dojo in Oakland, California, accompanied him throughout the world as interpreter, deshi, and tomo. During the mid 1980s, Saito Sensei stayed with him in hi
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Deb Frizzell-Morrison likes this.
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Geoff Yudien Among some of the other prominent members of the TAA are Hoa Newens Sensei, Bernice Tom Sensei, and Judith Robinson Sensei.
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Geoff Yudien At this point, Don, I'm just posting it. I may comment later. If you have a view, by all means feel free to set it out.
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Geoff Yudien Now I'll say something. Just now, after 3 years, it seems that the TAA may have decided to take the page down. I wonder why...
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Geoff Yudien I've been trying to attach a link for the cached copy of the page but can't seem to be able to do it. For anyone interested in viewing it, search with Yahoo, using the search terms "Klickstein", "Saito" "Aikido" and "1970". It should be the first link showing. Press "cached" and it should bring it up.
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Geoff Yudien t's mostly pictures with captions. Best to look at it. I'll try to send you the link by pm.
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Geoff Yudien For background regarding Bruce Klickstein, see: http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20277"
www.aikiweb.comBruce Klickstein Teaching Again? General
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http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showpost.php?p=292475&postcount=50
See Fred Little Sensei's description of the events that lead to Bruce Klickstein's loss of rank and removal from the roles at the Iwama dojo (hamoning). A persuasive argument as to why this man should never be teaching again.
www.aikiweb.com
The AikiWeb Forums serves the Internet Aikido community as a repository and dissemination point for sharing and discussing the Japanese art of Aikido.
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Michael Hacker I met the man in Chicago a number of years ago. He was part of a sleazy multi-level marketing scheme and was trying to schmooze me into joining. After finding out that I lived in Japan and was training with Saito sensei at Iwama, he walked away and never spoke to me again.Tuesday at 10:29pm · · 3 people -
James Kelly George, I've been off aikiweb for years (who needs the aggravation?) but this thread is almost enough to bring me back. The innocent until proven guilty defense is moot. This is not a discussion of BK's rights re. the state, but individual aikidoka's right to association. Are there no more lawyers in aikido? I'm not a fan of trial by mob, but having seen similar behavior in a Zen community I used to be a part of, and after being near the Clint George incident (and specifically how is was treated as if it never happened) the fact that this guy is even on the radar is sickening. Keep up the good fight.Tuesday at 10:50pm · · 3 people -
Linda Eskin I found it heartening that so many influential people are taking a clear stand, and in a civil, direct, and thoughtful manner. Most points that occurred to me have been made, but far more eloquently than I could have managed.Tuesday at 11:36pm ·
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Geoff Yudien Eloquent! (BTW, is this the same Fred Little who was a renowned tennis pro?)Yesterday at 12:39am ·
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Tamon Mark Uttech Thanks for posting this George, I agree that some past experiences need to be kept in view.Yesterday at 5:44am · -
George Ledyard Geoff, Fred Little is a highly respected member of the Aikido community. He is a scholar and also has a koryu background. Very big deal in my opinion.. but I doubt he is much at tennis, although I might be surprised...
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