Robert Nadeau (aikidoka)

Not to be confused with Robert Nadeau (science historian).
Robert Nadeau
Native nameRobert Nadeau
Other namesBob Nadeau (en)
NationalityAmerican
StyleAikido
TeacherMorihei Ueshiba
Other information
Notable studentsGeorge Leonard[1]

Richard Strozzi-Heckler
Dan Millman

Richard Moon[2]

Robert Nadeau (born March 10, 1937) is an American aikido teacher holding the rank of 8th dan and master teacher(Shihan) in the Aikikai. He is well known as a pioneer in the energy and awareness aspects of aikido,[3][4][5][6] having dedicated his life's work to understanding and translating these principles handed down by Ueshiba into fields beyond aikido, including psychotherapy, personal development.

Early life and martial arts training

Nadeau began training in martial arts at the age of 16 and began studying Aikido with American instructor Robert Tan.[7]

Training in Japan (1962–1964)

In 1962, Nadeau left police work and traveled to Japan to train at Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo under the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba.[8] He trained under the full roster of Hombu instructors active at the time, including Nidai Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Seigo Yamaguchi, Sadateru Arikawa, Kisaburo Osawa, Koichi Tohei, and Hiroshi Tada.[8]

His contemporaries at Hombu Dojo included Yoshimitsu Yamada, Seiichi Sugano, Mitsunari Kanai, Kazuo Chiba, Mitsugi Saotome, Nobuyoshi Tamura, and Roy Suenaka.[8] Nadeau described Yamada, Sugano, Kanai, Eddie Hagihara, and Henry Kono as particularly close friends during this period.[8]

Beyond his regular training, Nadeau developed a personal relationship with Ueshiba after asking a philosophical question that prompted the founder to invite him for private conversations.[9]

Robert Frager, a fellow American student at Aikikai Hombu Dojo in the early 1960s, recalled that Nadeau, whom he called a "soto deshi", was among the first foreign practitioners he encountered there: "Robert Nadeau was there; in fact, he was the first one I trained with."[10]

These meetings, which included trips to Iwama, covered the philosophical and spiritual foundations of Aikido, particularly Ueshiba's concept of opposing forces drawn from Shinto cosmology.[9] Nadeau also served as publisher of an English-language Aikido newsletter while in Japan.[9]

At the conclusion of his training in from 1962-1964, Nadeau received a certificate of authorization as an Aikido teacher, signed by Morihei Ueshiba and Kisshomaru Ueshiba.[9][11] Nadeau returned to Northern California

Teaching career

After training in Japan Nadeua was granted a teaching

teching certificate signed by Morihei Ueshiba and Kisshomaru Ueshiba.

Upon his return to Claifornia he opened a series of martial art schools sharing space with first Professor Sig Kuferat and later Richard Bunch through whom he has had on-going contact with several notable Ju-Jitsu schools[12] and which eventually led to the formation of the California Aikido Association.[13] He is one of three division heads of the California Aikido Association and is also the founder and head instructor of City Aikido of San Francisco, Aikido of San Jose, and Aikido of Mountain View, CA. Nadeau has taught workshops in the United States, Switzerland, Israel and New Zealand.

Teaching philosophy

Fundamental among these teachings was the concept of "two forces" that combine to produce a new identity and "levels" which progress from limited to enhanced capabilities and awareness. Nadeau refers to the process of moving from one level to the next as an Alchemical transformation. According to Nadeau, this progression occurs in the "functioning realm", i.e. in a manner that improves functioning in everyday life.

He was reportedly told that if he could understand the secret of Aikido, Nadeau could accomplish all the very same incredible techniques that O Sensei performed himself in just three months.[14]

Morihei Ueshiba spoke of Izanagi (male) and Izanami (female), the two great forces that, in Shinto mythology, created the islands of Japan. Or again, he spoke of Fire - Water - Steam as another example of two forces combining to yield a third transformed entity. These alchemical concepts have infused Nadeau's teaching since his return from his studies with Ueshiba in Japan in 1964. As a reminder of these direct transmissions, Ueshiba presented Nadeau with several scrolls, one of which has been translated as "Do the aikido that cannot be seen with the human eye."

Publications

  • The "Moon Sensei" YouTube channel publishes an educational video magazine centered around the ongoing evolution of Robert Nadeau's teachings
  • "O Sensei's Process, This DVD provides an outline of O-Sensei's approach to training in a step-by-step process.[15]

Further reading

References

  1. ^ Leonard 1999.
  2. ^ Moon 2026.
  3. ^ George Leonard, The Ultimate Athlete. Revising Sports, Physical Education and the Body, The Viking Press 1975.
  4. ^ Richard Strozzi Heckler, The Anatomy of Change. East/West Approaches to Body/Mind Therapy, Shambhala Publications 1985.
  5. ^ Aikido in America pg 57
  6. ^ Stone, John (1995). Aikido In America. Frog Books. p. 57. ISBN 1883319277.
  7. ^ "Robert Tan".
  8. ^ a b c d Pranin 1999.
  9. ^ a b c d Bell et al. 2024.
  10. ^ Erard, Guillaume (2022-04-25). "Interview with Robert Frager, 8th Dan, direct student of O Sensei". guillaumeerard.com. Retrieved 2026-03-08. Robert Nadeau was there; in fact, he was the first one I trained with.
  11. ^ "Study with Founder".
  12. ^ 1965 Black Belt Magazine. March 1965.
  13. ^ "California Aikido Association".
  14. ^ "Aikido: Expression of Yin and Yang in Motion". GuillaumeErard.com. 2007-04-13. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  15. ^ "O Sensei's Process, http://blog.aikidojournal.com/2011/06/16/new-dvd-on-o-senseis-process-by-robert-nadeau-sensei/

Sources

  • Nadeau, Robert (1999). "Interview with Robert Nadeau". Aikido Journal (Interview). Interviewed by Pranin, Stanley.
  • Bell, Teja; Herr, Laurin; Moon, Richard; Noha, Bob; Spence, Susan; Yoder, Elaine (2024). Aikido: The Art of Transformation: The Life and Teachings of Robert Nadeau. Park Street Press/Inner Traditions. ISBN 979-8888500712.

Further reading

  • Perry, Susan (2002). Remembering O-Sensei: Living and Training with Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido. Shambhala. ISBN 9781570629327.
  • Siegel, Andrea (1993). Women in Aikido. North Atlantic Books. ISBN 9781556431616.
  • Suenaka, Roy; Watson, Christopher (1997). Complete Aikido: Aikido Kyohan: The Definitive Guide to the Way of Harmony. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 9780804831406.
  • Leonard, George (1999). The Way of Aikido: Life Lessons from an American Sensei. Dutton Adult. ISBN 9780525944133.
  • Leonard, George (1975). The Ultimate Athlete. Viking. ISBN 9780670738458.
  • Fields, Rick, ed. (1994). The Awakened Warrior: Living with Courage, Compassion & Discipline. New Consciousness Reader. TarcherPerigee. ISBN 9780874777758.
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