Guest lecturer and Aikido Sensei Jay Carvalho visited campus on October 6 to demonstrate and discuss body mechanics for the benefit of Mr. John Perreira's Medical Physiology students and the Portsmouth Abbey community at large.
Carvalho is a third-degree expert in Aikido, a Japanese martial art often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy." The origins of Aikido are based on the loving protection of all things, or, as it is know in Japan, Budo. With the aid of two students from his Dojo (a Japanese term which refers to the formal gathering place for students of a martial arts style to conduct training, examinations and other related encounters), Carvalho utilized various techniques to demonstrate center of gravity, forces applied and body mechanics to a large group of students and faculty. He explained that he is always cognizant of "maintaining a triangular stance while being aware of the circle dynamics of my body. The circle, square, and triangle are omnipresent in the stance." Finding the center of gravity of your opponent is key. "No matter where you grab the body, you have to think about how it affects the center," he said.
The audience was aghast at the ease with which the Sensei ("teacher" or "master" of martial arts, in this case Carvalho) was able to flip, twist and hurl his "attackers" into the air, landing at the other end of the mat with a slap or a thud. Students were especially pleased to see "Mr. P" work with the Sensei, agreeably taking a few tumbles of his own.
Carvalho explained that the art of Aikido is based on body dynamics and, although described as a "powerful martial art," the purpose is to receive an attack - not to harm an opponent, but to remove his inclination to fight. "It's not about you," he explained. "It's about the situation." He also emphasized the need to be calm while fighting. "There is always going to be a certain amount of aggression, but as long as I understand it, I can control it." In addition, Carvalho Sensei demonstrated the art of Aikido with swords, and how body balance is the key to swordsmanship. It's a "very intuitive" discipline, he added.
Carvalho, who originally had wanted to be in the Special Forces, began his training in Aikido in 1993 within a residential training program at Enshinkan Dojo, in Newport, RI, under the direction of Damon Apodaca Sensei. He chose to pursue Aikido because "...it made sense" to him. He said that when he first saw it performed, "there was something about it that [he] related to naturally."
However, this does not mean that Carvalho has not taken his knocks. In addition to tendinitis, bone spurs, two broken toes, and a number of torn ligaments, he has separated both shoulders several times. He does explain, though, that most people don't immerse themselves with the same passion that he mustered for the discipline. One can practice Aikido and remain intact; the benefits include psychological well-being, physical health, and self-improvement, as well as intellectual growth and spiritual enrichment of the Budo practitioner.
After running his own dojo, called Mushin Aikido, in Tiverton, RI, for three years, Carvalho Sensei accepted the position of Dojo-cho (head of a training facility) at Newport Aikikai (now called Aikido of Newport).
View photos of Aikido Carvalho Sensei's demonstration.
