Some of us Aikido practitioners often dream of going to Japan in order to perfect our skills in the art created by O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba. Many actually eventually make the trip for a few weeks, some for a few months. Fewer of these individuals decide to settle there for an indefinite period of time, that is my case. This long term pilgrimage allows us to explore the roots of Aikido, make the acquaintance of many masters and, if we are lucky enough, to establish solid and enduring relationships with them on and beyond the tatami. However, the normal order of things is that we always find ourselves assuming the role of the student. In fact, one would never think in Japan to transgress this position. There are some cases however when, a bit in spite of our own will, this situation can change quickly and dramatically. The account I am going to give today describes precisely one of these occurrences. During several months training intensively at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, I have had the opportunity to make a lot of acquaintances and I even got the opportunity to develop real friendships. It is from one of these precious friendships that the adventure I will relate today started.

Everything starts on a hot June day while I am cleaning up my lab. It is shortly after my last students have left the school for a well-deserved summer break marking the completion of their last tests for the International Baccalaureate exam. As I am finding my way in the middle of cardboard boxes containing brand new glassware, my phone starts to ring. On the other side is my friend Jordy Delage, the owner of the martial arts equipment shop budo Export. Without wasting much time, he starts a confused explanation about Hoshi-san, his father in law, a chief inspector in the Tokyo police and renowned 7th Dan Kendo practitioner. Jordy tells me that Hoshi-san wants him to give an Aikido class in the police station dojo in order to prepare his troops for an upcoming Aikido demonstration. Jordy has called me because he reckons he does not have what it takes to face a police squadron on his own and he therefore wants us both to lead the operations...