Featured School
Interview with Matthew Lynch of Mashuu Dojo
Property Type: Aikido
1. Who is the dojo’s founder and what prompted him/her to build the school? Is there any rich history behind its making?
Matthew Lynch founded Mashuu Dojo in 2003, as the only licensed branch of the International Shinkendo Federation in the San Fernando Valley. Sensei Lynch is a direct student of the Headmaster and Founder, Toshishiro Obata, and has been studying from him for over ten years. Obata Sensei encouraged him to open his own school to help spread Shinkendo.
2. What forms of Japanese martial arts do you teach in your school? Can you please share with us the history behind them?
Our dojo is a licensed branch of the International Shinkendo Federation, founded by Toshishiro Obata. Obata Sensei founded Shinkendo to create a way to teach all facets of proven, legitimate Japanese Swordsmanship under one roof. Up until that time, schools in Japan only taught one or maybe two facets of sword (drawing exercises only, or sparring but no target-cutting… etc). Obata Sensei had studied from many of the major schools in Japan, then left for America to consolidate his knowledge into one comprehensive school which could teach everything.
We also teach Aikibujutsu, more commonly referred to as Aikido, based on the concepts that Obata Sensei has learned, both at the legendary Yoshinkan headquarters in Japan, and in his own studies.
3. What are the principles and concepts that you uphold and try to instill in your students?
There is a rich and full philosophy contained in Shinkendo, but in a nutshell, we strive to apply the strategies of swordsmanship to everyday issues. Learning to be patient, balanced, to have no preconceptions, and do only what makes sense when facing any problem, great or small. All combat training comes down to distance and timing, and that certainly applies to most challenges in life.
4. Why do you think it is important for people to learn martial arts?
I do not think it is important for all people to learn martial arts. One can find deep meaning, enrichment and fulfillment in anything that is studied deeply. If you find yourself drawn to martial arts, you should pursue that sincerely and earnestly, but that is true about whatever moves you, be it martial arts, extreme sports, knitting or flower arrangement.
5. What difficulties and obstacles have you encountered so far with regards to teaching martial arts and how did you overcome them?
The greatest challenge that I have faced as a teacher is learning patience. When I opened my dojo I very much wanted to teach my first students absolutely everything on the very first day! Enthusiasm is of course a great thing in an instructor, but without the patience to pace your teaching it is very easy to overwhelm a new student and give him too much too soon. To this day, I continue to apologize to my first students for how tough they had it those first months! Thankfully they stayed with me, and now I am much more patient and able to build a strong foundation with my newer students.
6. What advice and/or insights can you share with our readers who want to pursue their interest in the Japanese form of martial arts?
Find a teacher who will meet your personal needs. Really, the art itself is far less important than the instructor who is teaching it. We always joke that studying from an excellent teacher in the school of ‘Climb-Tree-Throw-Rock’ is far better than learning ‘the best martial arts in the world’ from an inferior teacher. Be patient. WATCH a class and observe how the instructor interacts with the students. Judge the character and quality of his students. That is ultimately the best way to judge a teacher: by his students. Then and only then should you decide if that school is right for you.
7. Can you give a short biography of your instructor(s)?
Mashuu Dojo’s head instructor is Matthew Lynch, a Senior Student and Instructor at the Shinkendo World Headquarters in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. He has been studying Japanese Swordsmanship under Headmaster Obata for many years and holds high ranks in Shinkendo and Toyama Ryu styles of swordsmanship. Obata Kaiso often refers to Matthew’s technique as being very honest and pure, because Matthew practices only Shinkendo, and no other martial art. Thus, he has no bad habits to ‘unlearn’ and no other influences to taint his training. It is this pure and uncompromised training that he presents to his students at Mashuu Dojo.
Sensei Ben Maloney teaches the Aikido classes, with the assistance of Sensei James Sarrett. Long time students of Matthew Sensei, they agreed to study Aikibujutsu at the source in Little Tokyo. They were granted teaching license by Master Obata Toshishiro directly, and now Mashuu Dojo is proud to offer this practical and historically accurate version of Aikido.
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