Learning from O-Sensei

Virginia was one of only two women who ever learned directly from Master Morihei Uyeshiba. (The other woman aikido student of O'Sensei's was a Japanese national. I don't know her name.)

Morihei Uyeshiba is the founder of modern Aikido, and was affectionately known as O-Sensei (which means "Great Teacher") by his Aikido students.

She was also taught by Koichi Tohei the man who later founded the Ki Society. At that time he was the manager of O'Sensei's Honbu Dojo.

Virginia was taught by O Sensei that violence is a sort of "temporary insanity", and is best neutralized without more violence. Otherwise it is just one insanity creating another insanity, and no peace comes from it. (Just look at places like The Balkans or the Middle East to see how this insanity keeps on and on.)

Two other now well-known Aikido personalities who passed through Hong Kong at that time and helped at the Hong Kong Aikikai dojo were Henry Kono and Alan Ruddock. Henry Kono teaches Aikido in Canada, and Alan Ruddock teaches in the Isle of Man and Ireland.

There was an occasion where Virginia Mayhew gave a demonstration in a commercial gymnasium on Hong Kong Island to recruit new students.

She demonstrated an Aikido wrist throw on her training partner, and then she slowed it down so the audience could see how it was done.

"Always keep your partner's wrist close to their shoulder", the woman aikido teacher explained. "That way they can be thrown without being injured."

Then she changed the grip slightly and lowered he arm... "If you do it like this, the wrist and the arm will break, here, here and here." She pointed to the wrist, the elbow and the shoulder joints.

A thin, small European man in the audience stood up and clapped with obvious delight at the mention of arm-breaking.

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